Perfect for a summer getaway
It has always been the escape route for the people of Alicante , your second residence: San Juan beach is like the mountains for the people of Madrid or the town house for the Castilians. But now, this coastal zone, which extends from Cabo de las Huertas to El Campello , is full of new developments.
Although it is part of San Juan de Alicante , a municipality in the province of 23,000 inhabitants, the part closest to the sea is already considered one of the youngest residential neighborhoods in the city , where many are establishing their habitual residence.
This beach is the second residence of the people of Alicante
“It is like living in the center of Alicante, with all the comforts, but without traffic and facing the sea” . Donatella Tarasco is from Matera (Italy) and she has been in the area for a little over two years. Iván Huerta, from Alicante, explains that San Juan Playa “is closely linked to any Alicante. The urban beach, El Postiguet, is said to be a tourist beach.
That's why we always We have preferred the beaches of San Juan. Years ago, we young people came because leisure in Alicante was dead in summer , since there the bars closed. But now we also appreciate that it is a quieter area, more open to the sea and away from the hustle and bustle of the city ”.
and only to 15 minutes by car or by Alicante Metrolitano TRAM , which connects the city with many of the province's beaches and towns.
As soon as you arrive, what is most striking is its generous 80-meter strip of sand, full of sports areas , on which hundreds of people practice sports at any time of the day.
“It is a beach that offers many possibilities for lovers of beach volleyball : its wide sandy area –which It is very reminiscent of the Valencian Malvarrosa Beach -, has more than 20 networks with their respective tracks. In addition, the weather is so good that we train practically 365 days a year ”.
What better plan than a Mediterranean sunset?
Javier Bosma , from Girona, was Olympic silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics and he has been living in the Alicante neighborhood of holy face , but he goes to San Juan every day, since he is ** coordinator of the Arena Alicante beach volleyball club **, the first one created in this area.
“We teach some 100 amateur players of different levels. We use beach volleyball for students to have a good time, get fit and socialise”.
But here life on the beach is not only on the sand: in its infinite promenade pedestrian, which merges with that of Muchavista beach (which already belongs to El Campello), flanked by a green boulevard and a bike path that runs parallel , you will see a multitude of runners, skaters or cyclists.
Grab your swimsuit or bikini and some sportswear and come with us to San Juan:
To do
- Bathe, of course. Its beach is one of the 566 in Spain that have ** Blue Flag.** Precisely the Valencian Community It is the region with the most beaches with this hallmark of quality.
- Dare with beach volleyball. If you go to this area for a few days, go to one of the three clubs in the area: Arena Alicante, Costa Blanca or Muchavista. If you have never practiced it, you will be hooked. Warning: you may end up at one of the barbecues they organize at sunset or on weekends. They say that once you're in, it's hard to get out.
Its waters shout: bat!
- Play golf in the green lung of San Juan: Alicante Golf, a course designed by Severiano Ballesteros and which was the first in Spain to obtain two environmental quality certificates (ISO-14001 and the Q-Plus) .
- Practice surfing, paddle surfing, kayaking, windsurfing or aquapaddle at the Energy Active Club: They offer introductory or advanced classes and courses. They also organize sunset tours.
What to eat (and drink) and where
- A rice at Casa Julio, one of the most traditional restaurants in San Juan, right on the beach, right on the promenade. Order the lobster with clams and grouper , black or crusted rice, very typical of the area. Their daily menus are also worth it.
- A horchata, granita or ice cream in any of its many ice cream parlors: ** La Ibense **, Kiosco Peret, Mira, El Cantonet de Jijona, Los Artesanos...
- The salad, on the bar and with a D.O.P Alicante wine, from El Laurel Gastrobar. If you want to stay for dinner, ask your room team and let yourself go.
- One of the best daily menus in the area in terms of value for money, always with seasonal products, at Kult Bar. It is not the typical restaurant that you expect in such an area and that is why we like it: It has vegan, lactose-free or gluten-free options. Don't miss their watermelon gazpacho, their beet cream or their original salads, but neither are their takeaway dishes: they are perfect for the beach.
- Rice dishes with vine shoots from the restaurant My home especially the one they call “Iberian paella by Carlos Herrera” that carries Iberian pork ribs, Iberian ham and chickpeas.
- And when you get tired of rice (if that can happen), Pizzería Regina's wood-fired oven pizzas: they have more than 30 different ones and according to the sanjuaneros they are the best in the area. If in doubt, ask the Pirata, with prawns and courgette, or the Varese, with gorgonzola and smoked salmon.
**- The Balfegó bluefin tuna tartare with papaya guacamole and yuzu pearls from Petimetre **, within Alicante Golf. They also have, on request, cauldron style Tabarca , the most typical dish of the Alicante island.
- A fruit and vegetable juice from La Tienda de la Playa: Toñi will welcome you with his best smile and with smoothies named after beach volleyball students.
- The hamburgers in a charcoal oven and with artisan bread (also gluten-free) from Apache Burger Grill: look out for the PB&J, with peanut butter, japaleño jam, bacon and cheddar or the Raclette, only suitable for (very) cheese lovers. They also have vegan burgers.
- a mojito with feet in the sand the beach bar Remember or in the Xeven.
- A cocktail at Barrazero: a nomadic kitchen space with live music.
- A “whatever comes up” in Texaco: one of the best known night clubs in San Juan. On summer Sundays they make paella at noon and barbecue at night and on Mondays they have a bachata workshop.
Where to sleep
- ** Hotel Torre San Juan ** : it is an old manor house from the 17th and 18th centuries, which was the Finca El Espinós. Our favorite spots are the pool and La Pinada , an interior courtyard of hundred-year-old pine trees where they organize events.
- Hotel Alicante Golf : choose your rooms with golf course views.
The best of San Juan? It's not just for vacationers wanting to take a dip. Here you live the beach all year round.
Hotel Torre San Juan