Guardamar Del Segura: Beaches, Dunes and History
Accommodation in Guardamar Del Segura
If you’re looking for a hotel in Guardamar Del Segura, you can plan your trip around the topics that interest you most: the beaches, the dune landscape, archaeological sites or routes along the Segura. The town combines coastal and natural attractions with a layered settlement history and recurring culinary and religious traditions.
Beaches, dunes and landscape
The beaches of Guardamar stretch for 11 kilometres and are characterised by fine, golden sand. The dunes and pine forests along the Mediterranean coast cover 800 hectares. Another specific landscape feature is Parc de les Nyores: this protected natural urban park lies in the south of Guardamar Del Segura, 200 metres from the sea, and covers four hectares of natural sand dunes. Together, these figures offer different perspectives on the landscape, from the long coastline to a clearly defined urban park.
Routes along the river and coast
For excursions, there are eight routes described in detail for walking or cycling, as well as a downloadable map to help with planning. The Dunes and River Segura’s Mouth route runs from the Guardamar Tourist Office to the breakwater at the mouth of the Segura. The return journey is 3.2 kilometres long. This gives you a specific total distance to use as a guide.
The Port Route offers a different sequence of landscape features: it follows the right bank of the lower Segura to the northern edge of town and passes through pine forests to the Marina de les Dunes Yachting Club and the fishing port. The Port Route passes a stretch of river where the Segura’s fresh and salt water mix and many species of waterbirds can be observed. The route and birdwatching make the river a destination in its own right, alongside the beach. Conditions on individual routes can change, so check the information before setting out.
Archaeology and settlement history
In Alfonso XIII Park, near the mouth of the Segura, lies the Islamic Caliphate Ribat, next to the Phoenician settlement of La Fonteta. The Ribat is an almost completely preserved monastic monument dating from the Umayyad Andalusian period of the 10th to 11th centuries. Its notable features include 23 prayer cells and a mihrab. La Fonteta, a Phoenician colonial settlement dating from the 8th to 6th centuries BC, is designated a Site of Cultural Interest. Its remains include a monumental wall with bastions, fortified dwellings and evidence of metallurgical activity.
A longer historical perspective is offered by the hill of Guardamar Castle. It was inhabited from the 8th century BC through to the 19th century. The succession of periods represented there ranges from Phoenician and Iberian to Roman and Islamic Caliphate, and then Christian times. The Museo ArqueolĂłgico, EtnolĂłgico y PaleontolĂłgico Municipal also offers insight into the institutional history of a municipal museum: it opened on 13 July 1990 and was recognised as a museum by the Conselleria de Cultura of the Generalitat Valenciana in December 1993.
Regional cuisine and events
Peix de Guardamar combines local catches such as squid, prawns and the renowned Guardamar king prawn with the traditional fishing fleet and the fishing port at the river mouth. Guardamar’s Gastronomy Week has also been held since 2005. The tasting menus must include one dish featuring the small, sweet, dried red pepper and another featuring the Guardamar king prawn.
The Guardamar Themed Historical Tapas Route has taken place every year since 2012 for two weeks during October and November; more than 20 businesses participate. The festivities in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary include a floral offering and traditional Valencian dances in regional costume. The Auroros sing religious songs in the streets before dawn on 7 October and every Sunday in October. These dates and traditions give your trip a seasonal dimension.
Getting around on arrival
Guardamar bus station is a four-minute walk from the town centre. There is a taxi rank and a regular stop for the local town bus service there. If you’d like to include these connections in your journey, check the information before travelling. At the port at the mouth of the Segura, the fish market is open to retail customers; auctions take place Monday to Friday at 10 am. Check the visiting arrangements before planning a visit to the market.
Discover more destinations: Bigastro, Alfafara, Torrevieja, Canyades d'en Cirus, Crevillente, La Vall D'alcalĂ , BenijĂłfar, Els Poblets.
For the wider travel overview: Alicante.
