Inland from the Costa Blanca North: Jalón Valley, Polop, Jesús Pobre and the villages worth the drive

Hola from the terrace,

The weather is finally cooling down. Time to dust off the trainers, leave the flip-flops by the door, and get inland again.

The sea is still warm enough for a dip, the beaches have calmed down, and the N-332 is no longer a solid queue of hire cars. This is the sweet spot for leaving the coast for a few hours.

I’ve lived between Dénia, Jávea and Calpe long enough to know that most visitors (and quite a few of us who live here) stick to the promenade and miss the bit that actually feels like Spain. The villages are 15–40 minutes away, depending on where you start. No theme parks, no sunbed wars, just markets, wine, fountains with more spouts than sense, and lunch that doesn’t come with a laminated English menu.

Here’s the shortlist I actually use when I fancy a change of scenery.

Jalón Valley (Xaló, Llíber, Alcalalí)

Drive time: about 25–35 minutes from Calpe or Moraira, a bit longer from Jávea.

This is the one I send people to first. The valley is still agricultural with almonds, olives, vines, and the villages have kept their shape. Xaló has a Saturday market that actually feels like a market rather than a tourist-stall crawl. You can pick up local wine, honey, cheese and whatever the farmers have decided is in season that week.

The wine is the real draw. Several bodegas offer tastings if you book ahead (or sometimes just turn up if it’s quiet). It’s not polished tasting-room theatre; it’s more “sit outside with a glass while someone explains why this one tastes the way it does.” Pair it with lunch in the village, and you’ve had a proper day.

Practical bit: Parking is fine mid-week. On a Saturday market day, arrive before 11, or you’ll be walking. Bring cash for the smaller stalls.

Polop

Drive time: 15–20 minutes from Calpe or Altea.

I’ve written about Polop before because it’s the easiest “I’m bored of the beach” escape. The famous fountain with the ridiculous number of spouts is still the main photo stop, and the Sunday rastro is worth timing if you like a rummage. The old streets climb the hill,l and the views back toward the coast are better than most people expect from somewhere this close.

It’s not undiscovered; you’ll see other visitors,  but it never feels like a coach-tour destination. Grab a coffee or a simple lunch in the square, and you’re done.

Practical bit: The climb to the upper part is steeper than it looks on a hot day. Go earlier if you’re walking it properly.

More detail in my earlier post: Discover Polop: The Charming Inland Village and a little Antidote to Costa Blanca Chaos .

Jesús Pobre

Drive time: about 15 minutes from Dénia or Jávea.

Tucked under Montgó, this one is quieter than the others. Orange groves, a small square, and that feeling of having stepped sideways out of the coastal traffic. It’s the kind of place you stop for a coffee and end up staying longer because there’s nowhere you urgently need to be.

Good if you’re already around Dénia or Jávea and want a short inland loop without committing to a longer drive. I also covered it (and a few other in-between spots) in Beyond the Beach: The Delightful Detours In between Calpe, Jávea & Dénia .

A quieter option: Gata de Gorgos or a short Jalón loop

Gata is known for the wicker workshops and a Friday market. It’s useful if you’re based further north. Or just string Xaló and one of the smaller villages together for a half-day and call it done. You don’t need to tick five places off a list.

What I actually do on these days

• Leave after the school run or after a morning swim so the drive is cooler.
• Have lunch in the village rather than rushing back to the coast for a sandwich.
• Check the market day before I go (Xaló Saturday, Polop Sunday, Gata Friday are the reliable ones).
• Keep the day short. These are half-day or easy full-day trips, not “we must see everything” missions.

The inland side isn’t dramatic in the same way the cliffs are. It’s slower, greener in patches, and the restaurants tend to serve what the locals order. If you’ve only ever seen the Costa Blanca from a lounger or a promenade, it’s the bit that makes the place make sense.

More ideas worth the drive

If you’ve still got energy (or fancy mixing a bit of history with the villages):

• Banys de la Reina, Calpe — The Roman site right by the sea (fish ponds, baths and villa remains). Free guided visits most days. It’s one of those places a lot of us walked past for years. Details and booking via Tourist Info Calpe (or the Calpe tourism site).
• Altea old town & Roman remains — Climb the whitewashed streets to the blue dome, then detour to the Els Arcs Roman aqueduct remains (or the newer Roman villa dig site if it’s accessible). Start with the official Altea tourism site or local tourist info.
• Guadalest — The classic hilltop castle village with the reservoir views. Best early or late to avoid the day-trip coaches. Easy to pair with Polop if you’re coming from the Calpe/Altea side.

If you’ve got a favourite inland spot I haven’t mentioned (or a bodega you swear by), drop it in the comments. I’m always collecting the ones worth the drive.

Pull up a lounger when you get back.

Joanne xxx

And that’s the Sun Sea Seekers for this week.

I’m Joanne from Sun Sea Sangria — the Terrace Crew’s notes from the Costa Blanca North. Real life from Alicante up to Dénia: local spots, practical bits, terrace weather, and the odd glass of sangria. No brochure.

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While you’re here:

• Free guides from the terrace → sunseasangria.com/free-expat-resources
• Snoopy’s book, Paws & Mischief → Amazon UK or Amazon.com (Chapter 1 is still free on the site)

See you next time. The terrace is open if you need it.

Joanne xx

Sun Sea Sangria