eating and drinking
If the thought of another day relaxing by the pool or beach begins to pall, there are many things to see and do in the surrounding area. The food alone is worth visiting Spain for – not only the famous tapas but some truly amazing gourmet (and more humble) restaurants where you can enjoy an excellent meal – with glorious sea views if you wish or in more rustic surroundings where you can get great value for money. A three course lunch with wine and coffee can set you back as little as 9 or 10 euros.

Local specialities include Paella (the Valencia area is the best place in Spain to sample this) and other rice dishes such as Arroz a Banda, Fideua, Garlic Chicken and, of course, fresh fish and sea food. The many varieties of chorizo are wonderful either eaten with wine or used in cooking and Manchego (cheese) goes beautifully with a glass of Rioja. Olive oil is good and inexpensive and the selection and quality of fresh fish in supermarkets is astounding. And don’t miss out on bread and ali oli (a delicious garlic mayonnaise), which is served at the beginning of a meal in most restaurants. Even if all you fancy is a coffee, it is hard to find a bad one in Spain.

There are a huge selection of bodegas (wine shops) and some very decent Spanish wines. If you would like to visit a vineyard, the nearest ones are the following:

Enrique Mendoza Viticultor – Winery, vineyards and gardens situated at Alfaz del Pi, ten minutes from Benidorm. Reservations required contact www.bodegasmendoza.com

San Vincente Ferrer – Sample the local Muscatel and Marina Alta wine at this winery in Teulada located next to the Alicante – Denia Railway station.

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shopping
Altea and Denia have a good selection of shops and the La Marina shopping centre (just off the n322 near Denia) is a good option if you want to be under cover. For a larger selection and a wide variety of other things to see and do, you can’t beat Alicante or Valencia. Be aware that siesta is still observed in Spain so either go reasonably early in the morning or in the afternoon after lunch (the shops are open later than in the UK).

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gardens and natural parks
The gardens at Elche (just past Alicante) are definitely worth a visit if you like plants. Valencia has a good selection of parks and there are a selection of natural parks (the Albufera near Valencia is well worth a visit) and places of outstanding natural beauty (Montgo Natural Park, Cabo de la Nao).

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walking and cycling
There are a variety of walks (including the 5 day Costa Blanca Way) in the area and it is popular with cyclists. Details will be available from tourist information. The cooler months are perfect for such activities and the countryside is particularly green with an abundance of fauna and flora.

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art and culture
Both Alicante and Valencia have much to offer in this respect – particularly Valencia. Places of interest include The City of Arts and Science – free to walk round and housing an IMAX laser cinema, the largest aquarium in Europe, the Palau de la Musica and the Palau des Artes. Valencia also has a lovely historic old quarter and some stunning beaches, the best of which is deemed to be El Saler. Attractive churches abound and Alicante is home to an award winning archaeological museum and the Castle of Santa Barbara, which has stunning views over the city.

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useful websites

www.turisvalencia.es An amazing interactive website that is packed with information and inspiration

www.alicante.com Easy to use website covering the main attractions in Alicante

www.moraira-spain.eu key facts, pictures and links to further sites covering other local towns. Very useful for getting a feel for Moraira and the surrounding towns

www.costablancarestaurants.com Useful for getting an idea of what’s on offer. TripAdvisor is also a good source of information and we provide advice on some personally tried and tested budget and moderately-priced restaurants in the area and the odd fine dining experience! We also provide information to our guests about international restaurants and takeaways.

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other activities

hot air baloon flights
Aeroglobo – situated in the area of Elche.
Tel: 0034 660253387

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bowling
La Zona mas Divertida ‘Ozone’ – Ten pin bowling situated off the AP7 at the Ondara- Denia- Javea junction. Tel: 0034 965767914.

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diving
There are several dive centres in Moraira:
Mermaid Diving Centre. Tel: 0034 965744150 www.mermaid-diving.com
Scuba Moraira. Tel: 0034 966492006 www.scubamoraira.com
Moraira Camping Buceo. Tel: 0034 965745249
Vicente Moll Buceo. Tel: 0034 965744257

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fishing
Sport Fishing Javea – Fishing charter located in Javea www.fishing-javea.com

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go karting
La Font Santa – Go Kart hire for all ages on the Moraira to Teulada road. Tel: 0034 965741469 www.kartinglafontsanta.com

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golf
Moraira-Javea Golf Club
Situated between Moraira and Javea (via Benitachell), a 9 hole course, par 72, 6,070 m, Green fees 28 Euros. The course is quite flat, easy to play and not too tiring in the hot summer sun. This all-year course has been attractively planted and landscaped around the greens, has a driving range, putting green, heated swimming pool, tennis and squash courts, club bar and restaurant.
Address: Ctra. Jávea-Benitachell.
Tel: 96 579 2584 Fax: 96 646 0554 More Info

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motorbikes
Funquads – Quad, Buggies, Scooter and Kayak hire in Denia. Tel: 0034 965787228
Trikecentro – Guided trike tours of the Costa Blanca. www.trikecentro.com

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motorcruises
Mini cruise to Benidorm along the coast from Calpe. Tel: 0034 965850052

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shows
Benidorm Palace – Spectacular shows at the famous Benidorm Palace www.benidormpalace.es
Desafio Medieval – Medieval shows for all the family near to Alfaz del Pi www.desafiomedieval.com

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safari parks
Safari Park Vergel – On the N332 near to Pego www.safaripark.es
Rio Safari Elche – Situated near Alicante airport www.riosafari.com

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sailing
Las Antipodas – Catamaran, Windsurf, Kayak and Wakeboard hire near to Calpe www.lasantipodas.com

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tennis
Solpark Tennis – 5 tennis courts near to Moraira open to everyone. Tel: 0034 965740947

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theme parks and zoos
Bioparc Valencia – Open plan Zoo in Valencia www.bioparcvalencia.es
MundoMar Benidorm – Zoo of water based animals at Benidorm www.mundomar.es
Terra Natura – Zoo located in Benidorm consisting of 1500 animals from 200 species in four zones, Pangea, America, Europe and Asia. www.terranatura.com
Terra Mitica – Theme park in Benidorm www.terramiticapark.com

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