Marine fauna and flora at less than four metres

You can complement our kayaking routes with a spot of snorkelling in shallow waters along our coastline, where you'll get to see schools of Mediterranean rainbow wrasse, dreamfish, painted combers, octopuses, groupers, sea urchins and even starfish. 

What's more, extensive Posidonia meadows serve as a refuge for all these species and provide an excellent biodiversity. These Posidonia meadows are renowned for their oxygen production, with a single hectare converting the same amount of carbon dioxide into oxygen as five hectares of the Amazon rainforest. They're also a great source of protection against currents and can retain sands along the coast.

Blue Costa Blanca

The Costa Blanca is blue, just like the colour of the eighty-one flags that certify the quality of the waters along its two hundred-plus kilometres of coastline. In fact, Alicante is the province with the highest number of blue flags in the whole of Spain. 

And as if this wasn't enough, you can enjoy more than one hundred and seventy beaches and coves throughout the route. There are beaches with fine sand or pebbles, beaches hidden behind dunes, beaches on the edge of pine forests or under steep cliffs, beaches lapped by calm waters, beaches lashed by the wind, urban beaches and hidden beaches.

Interpretation of the route

Costa Blanca by Kayak is divided into twelve stages. You can do the ones you fancy at your own pace. The departure and arrival points have been carefully selected so that you can start and finish the stage on the same day. Basically, you can set out on the route from any coastal town in the province. 

Each stage includes a description of the route, the miles covered and the location of the spots where you'll have access to wind and wave forecasts. 

What's more, we've designed symbols that will help you easily identify kayaking-related features such as narrow straits, caves, cliffs, no-way-out sections, snorkelling areas, sandy beaches, rocks in water, etc. You'll also find useful details such as tourist information points, ports and first aid stations. 

If you prefer GPS, you can download the tracks of the various stages here.

Before setting off, here are some tips and the fifteen basics for sea kayaking

Find out the weather forecast for the area and the sections you intend to cover. Avoid kayaking when there are weather warnings. We recommend leaving details of your route with someone back on dry land. Remember not to veer from the planned route. 

Below is a list of everything you should take with you to ensure a safe and comfortable time at sea:

15 BASICS FOR SEA KAYAKING

1. Paddle and spare paddle
2. Spray skirt
3. Life jacket and whistle
4. Rescue bag with quick release
5. First aid kit and sun protection
6. Hand bailer
7. Paddle float
8. Map of the area (paper/digital)
9. Weather forecast for the day
10. Torch
11. VHF radio
12. Waterproof bags
13. Season-appropriate clothing and a change of clothes
14. Food, water and rubbish bags
15. Repair kit
    

While at sea

Always stay alert about where you are, respect the rules and follow weather forecasts.

In an emergency 

If you're in a dangerous situation, send out the distress signal MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY on channel 16 of the VHF. 

If you need urgent help, but you're not in imminent danger, send out the signal PAN-PAN on channel 16 of the VHF. 

Mobile phones are NOT an alternative, as they have limited range and reception. What's more, they're difficult to locate. 

If you roll over, do not leave the kayak. If you fall into the water and cannot re-embark, stay in a foetal position, do not swim and keep calm. 

The human body loses heat thirty times faster in water than in air. Make sure you know and can forecast the water temperature. This is a good measure to prevent hypothermia from setting in.

Respect other users 

By beaches and coves there may be more users, so mutual respect is the best approach. 

If you come across sections marked with buoys, respect the entrance and exit channels, as well as the no-navigation section. 

If there are no sections marked out with buoys and you want to disembark, do so perpendicular to the coastline/beach/cove and always respect other users.

Best practices 

• Enjoying the sea is coming into contact with a natural environment that must be kept intact. Fully respecting the basic rules helps the sea be a great source of wellbeing and health for everyone.

• Respect the environment and do not throw any rubbish into the sea. Remember that rubbish doesn't get back to the shore by itself.
• Do NOT light fires.
• Remember that you won't be alone on the sea, so respect other users.
• Respect the flora, the fauna and the marine environment. Marine ecosystems are fragile and suffer from human activity.
• NEVER throw plastic, glass, packaging and containers into the sea. The sea is not a rubbish dump.
• Do not take anything home except for photos and great memories. Leave everything as you find it and so that the next people find it as it should be.
• Help preserve and conserve our rich natural and cultural heritage.