Guardamar Information - Markets
Guardamar Night Market
In the peak season, and various other bank holidays and occasions, Guardamar has a fantastic night market in the centre of town. Whether looking for yourself or holiday shopping for souvenirs you find a fabulous selection of arts, crafts, clothing and delicious foods.
The atmosphere is colourful and you can pick up a bargain, especially if you are prepared to haggle and ask for a better deal. Most stall holders are willing to barter in one way or another and you will be sure to pick up a bargain.
The area surrounding the night market in Guardamar del Segura is the main area for restaurants. Here you will be sure to be able to find something to your taste as there is a fantastic variety of restaurants serving both local in international cuisine.
Whatever you want to eat you will not be disappointed, most the restaurants offer really good food at a great price so whether you want a meal that is typically Spanish, you fancy an Italian (meal of course), you crave a Chinese or you would prefer a steak there is likely to be something that will suit you mood.
As well as the wonderful diversity of restaurants in Guardamar, there are plenty of bars to have a drink in including Spanish tapas bars and some wonderful ice cream parlours (heladarias) to cool yourself down in.
Guardamar Day Market
If like many people (mainly the girls of course) you haven't had enough of shopping then the Wednesday market is well worth a visit. Just a short walk from the Sunrise Apartment in Guardamar it stretches up and down the streets in the centre of Guardamar and has some fantastic bargains.
The weekly Guardamar market will be able to meet most of your needs whilst you stay in our apartment for your holiday in Spain. There is an abundance of fresh, cheap local produce that is perfect for stocking up the food cupboard whilst you stay in our Guardamar apartment. Most of the produce is grown in and around this area of the southern Costa Blanca and is as fresh as it comes.
There is a fantastic selection of fruit and vegetables, you could even buy some fresh fish from the local women selling it from barrows on the street corners.
It is not just fresh produce that you can buy at Guardamar market though, you will also be able to find an amazing selection of arts and crafts from local artists, clothes, shoes, handbags and gifts or souvenirs of Guardamar del Segura for your family and friends back at home.
Information About Guardamar's History
Guardamar Castle & Archaeological Sites
Steeped in ancient history, Guardamar del Segura has many places of archaeological interest that are worth a visit if you want to do something more than just sunbathe.
As you will have seen if you have read our Guardamar information page, most of the ancient remains have been lost, but there are some that are preserved for you to visit and enjoy. These sites include the stunning medieval castle which looms high above the current town of Guardamar.
The site goes back to the 9th and 10th centuries but the current castle dates back to the 13th century when it was built during the reign of King Alfonso the 10th.
Guardamar Castle has officially been recognised by Spain’s registry of Spanish historical heritage as an important historical monument. However, apart from the historical importance of the castle it offers fantastic views of the coast and the wonderful town of Guardamar del Segura and is well worth a visit during your stay at our apartment in Guardamar.
Cabezó Lucero is an Iberian site that was home to an important archaeological discovery. The discovery was a bust of a woman which is now called the "Dame of Guardamar" and features in Guardamar's tourist posters. It is similar to the famous "Dame of Elche", another bust which was also found in this part of Spain.
Caliphate Rabita in las Dunas de Guardamar
There is an important archaeological site which dates from Arab times and is set in las dunas de Guardamar. The site, which is located just a five minute walk from the Sunrise Apartment, is the Islamic mosque of the Caliphate Rabita.
There is a good deal of interest in "Los párajos verdes de las rábitas de las dunas de Guardamar del Segura" (the green birds of the rábitas in the dunes of Guardamar del Segura) that appear on the mosque, and the excavations of this site are worth visiting.
The origin of "Los párajos verdes" must be sought in the Islamic beliefs about the afterlife where, according to a tradition attributed to Mohammed, the souls of Martyrs rest in the crops of green birds in paradise until the final judgment day.
Further information about Guardamar can be discovered in the centrally located "Casa de Cultura" which houses many artefacts which exist that will help to explain much of Guardamar del Segura's interesting history.
The Dunes of Guardamar del Segura and the Parque Natural
Ingeniero Mira Sits At the Entrance to the Parque Alfonso XIII in Guardamar del Segura
Las Dunas de Guardamar and the miles of beautiful beaches are the things which many tourists will find most striking about Guardamar del Segura and is why they return year after year.
However the current beauty was not always so. In the 19th century the eastern winds (still often felt in the late afternoon) pushed the sand inland from both the sea and the river Segura forming sand dunes which were (and still are) several metres high. The sand from Guardamar's beaches advanced over 1,300 metres where it began to engulf the town itself.
The town was protected thanks to Ingeniero Mira who came up with the idea of planting the dunes with pine trees and other plants at the turn of the 20th, a process which was not completed until 1930 but thankfully halted the progress of the sands and has produced the beautiful nature rich natural park that exists today.
The area today is known as the "Parque Natural" and attracts many visitors yearly. You can sit there and watch it from the balcony of the Sunrise Apartment if you decide to use us to have your holidays in Spain because we are front line to the natural park with beautiful views of the sea and Guardamar Marina beyond.
The Parque Natural and Las Dunas de Guardamar make the perfect place to have a picnic, a stroll, a bike ride or just to sit and enjoy the warmth of the Costa Blanca sunshine.
Guardamar del Segura celebrates a "tree day" which shows the importance of forest and the significance of it to the current residents of Guardamar del Sequra and symbolises the importance of the pine trees to the town for the younger generations of Guardamar.
Parque Reina Sofia At Guardamar del Segura
Within the Guardamar natural park are two famous beauty spots which are rich in flora and fauna, Parque Alfonso XIII and Parque Reina Sofia. Both of these are wonderful places to take a stroll or to go for a cycle ride.
The Parque Reina Sofia in Guardamar del Segura is the home to some wonderful plants and wildlife plus is the home of a beautiful lake. In the park you will find black swans, peacocks, red squirrels and an abundance of other forms of wildlife and plant life.
If you like to get some exercise and enjoy walking in the warm sunshine or would like to escape into the shaded areas of the nature rich park then you will find that taking the time to explore the Parque Reina will be an enjoyable exercise that you will want to repeat often.
The entrance to both of these parks is in the centre of Guardamar del Segura and within the vicinity are plenty of bars and restaurants for you to visit to take snack or a drink before or after your walk.
Guardamar del Segura is a wonderful and interesting town and the area surrounding it is both fascinating and beautiful and the Sunrise Apartment in Guardamar makes a perfect base from which to explore. There are many places worth a visit so ensure that you take your camera with plenty of memory cards (or film if you still use it). It may also be a good idea to take some small binoculars when you come here, that way if you enjoy nature then you wont miss a thing.
Information About the Nightlife At Guardamar del Segura
Guardamar Nightclubs (Discos)
Thanks to the weather in Guardamar del Segura it is really a year round resort, that said however from a point of view of nightlife for the younger generation amongst you the peak summer is the liveliest.
Guardamar is a typically Spanish town which is full of fantastic bars and restaurants, whether you want Greek, Spanish, English, Chinese, Indian, German or Italian cuisine you will not be disappointed. The bars are lively and there is a good variety including Irish bars, one or two karaoke bars and Tapas bars.
There is a diversity of nightlife in and around the area and Guardamar has a selection of nightclubs (discos) and music bars that open throughout the peak summer months in the industrial estate on the edge of town. This includes Disco Gbarlo, Disco Bacanal and the Nova Club, amongst others.
Alternative Nightlife in and Around Guardamar del Segura
For those of you who are looking for "Alternative" nightlife of a more adult nature then you are also catered for in the region.
Just outside of the town is a swingers club called Puerto d'Amore and around 10km back towards Alicante along the N-332 are a couple of "Nightclubs", one called Benis and the other Nancy's.
You will find that in general anything alongside a main road in this part of Spain advertising itself as a "Nightclub" is usually some form of adult club such as a brothel or strip club (true in this case), so be warned before you enter otherwise you may get the surprise of your life!
For those who want to dance the night away until daybreak there is an abundance of Nightlife in Torrevieja which is only a short taxi ride away. The cosmopolitan city of Alicante is also a good place to go for a different night out; both are easily reached from our apartment in Guardamar where we also have details of English speaking taxi companies.
Sporting Activities in and Around Guardamar del Segura
Guardamar Marina de las Dunas
The Marina in Guardamar del Segura is a beautiful place to sit and watch the world go by on one of the many sunny days that Guardamar enjoys. Why not just sit in the little open air snack bar and have a drink and a bite to eat or go into the main restaurant here whilst deciding what you want to do next because there are plenty of opportunities for the more active visitors to this region of Spain and the Costa Blanca.
If you are feeling a little more active and would like to partake in some sports, Guardamar can offer you every possible sea sport imaginable including sailing, windsurfing, water-skiing, underwater diving, canoeing and jet skiing. All this and more can be found at the Marina de las Dunas. Although reliant upon numbers, you can also take a ferry from here to the Island of Tabarca.
The Marina de las Dunas is a wonderful tourist area for Guardamar del Segura. It is located at the mouth of the river Segura and its unique natural environment simply adds to the beauty of this area of the Costa Blanca.
There are 498 moorings and all the services and facilities you would expect from a top-ranking marina. Also you will find that there is 2 km of the new navigable river course for small boats which offers a risk-free place for sea sports. This is the ideal place for starting or for ending any day at sea. Fishing is also a popular pastime with locals and you can fish from the beach, harbour wall or river which is where many locals can be seen at dawn and dusk.
Golf in Guardamar and Other Sports Facilities
Guardamar del Segura has two main sports centres from which you are offered a large variety of sporting activities; "Las Rabosas" and the magnificent Municipal Sports Centre, which has an Olympic swimming-pool, 3 football pitches, basketball courts, five-a-side soccer pitches, tennis courts, pelota courts and covered sports.
Another extremely popular sport in the area is Golf. Our Guardamar apartment makes the perfect location for a golfing holiday in Spain because many of the finest golf courses on the Costa Blanca surround the Sunrise Apartment.
Some of the golf courses that you would be able to easily visit if you book your golfing holiday in Spain with us are La Marquesa Golf Club, Las Ramblas Golf Course, Alicante Golf Club, Real Campoamor Golf Club, Villamartin Golf Club and La Finca Algorfa Golf Club.
Enjoying Nature in Guardamar and the Surrounding Costa Blanca
Walking & Cycling Holidays in Guardamar del Segura
As briefly mentioned above, Guardamar del Segura and its surrounding area is home to some beautiful walks, what better way to enjoy the surrounding countryside of the Costa Blanca than on foot.
Walking is a fantastic way to stay fit whilst exploring the area and topping up on your tan. When adding those little personal touches into the Sunrise Apartment we have tried our best to think of everything to help make any walks you take even more enjoyable.
The Sunrise Apartment comes equipped with books and maps of Costa Blanca walks and mountain walks. We also have included binoculars a compass and even a small portable world band radio to keep you company on your journey. There are ample picnic facilities within the apartment too should you wish to make a day of it.
Most of the walks around the area can also be cycled around so for a faster way to explore you could always hire a mountain bike. There are some great tracks through the forest, you can ride along the river, or just cycle around the town.
Las Dunas de Guardamar and Guardamar Beaches
It will be no surprise that the thing which brings tourists to Guardamar del Segura every year is the sunshine coupled with some of the most beautiful beaches that you will find on the white coast (Costa Blanca).
Sun worshippers will enjoy lying on the soft sand as the heat of the Spanish sunshine bakes on their tan, and those looking for a romantic holiday away with their partner can enjoy walking hand in hand along the 14km of golden sand beaches that Guardamar has to offer.
Guardamar del Segura is host to a number of European blue flag beaches too and is loved by families from across both Spain and the rest of the world. La Roquetta and El Centro are two of the beaches that families seem to love the most as the promenade, lined with restaurants, snack bars, ice cream parlours and shops is right there should you need it.