Jávea beaches and coves: the complete guide

Xàbia has about 25 kilometres of coastline between Cap de Sant Antoni and Granadella, and just one sandy beach: the Arenal. Everything else is gravel, tosca (fossilised sandstone) and pebble coves wedged under cliffs — which is exactly why its water is among the clearest on the Costa Blanca. In 2026 three of them fly a Blue Flag: the Arenal (regained this year after sewerage improvements), La Grava and Granadella.

This guide covers the 8 official beaches and coves of the municipality from north to south, plus three worth knowing about (Francés, en Caló and the closed Ambolo), with data from the municipal tourism portal and the 2026 regulated-access rules. The coves of neighbouring municipalities — Moraig and Llebeig in Benitatxell, Baladrar and company in Benissa — have their own guides, linked at the end.

Comparison table

Regulated cove access in 2026

From 2 June to 6 September, plus the weekends of 12–13, 19–20 and 26–27 September, car access to Granadella and Barraca–Portitxol is regulated: paid parking at €9 per vehicle per day, 9:00–19:00, with 130 spaces on Calle Pic Tort (Granadella) and 59 spaces on Calle Barraca (Portitxol). When they fill up, barriers close the road.

Alternative for Granadella: the tourist train from the La Guardia Park estate car park, 3 July to 13 September, hourly departures 10:00–14:00 and 16:00–19:00 (€6 adults, €4 under-12s and concessions). No public transport reaches Portitxol: either arrive early or walk down from the Creu del Portitxol viewpoint.

Cala Ambolo remains closed due to serious rockfall danger, by land and by sea, with a guard at the access and fines. That is not advice; it is a ban.

The beaches, north to south

La Grava

The urban harbour beach in the Duanes de la Mar district: 290 metres of gravel with a promenade, restaurants, toilets, sunbeds and a Red Cross post. Blue Flag. Medium occupancy: the beach for anyone staying at the harbour who wants swim, stroll and dinner without the car. Guide: La Grava beach.

Primer Muntanyar (Benissero)

Almost 2 kilometres between the mouth of the Gorgos and the Arenal: 1,600 metres of tosca and 400 of gravel, semi-urban and open, with beach bars, sunbeds, a bus stop and Red Cross. The rock still shows the marks of the tosca quarries that built much of the town, and at its southern end lie the Banys de la Reina, a pool cut from the rock by a 1st-century BC Roman fish-salting works. Good snorkelling a step from the centre.

El Arenal

Xàbia’s only sandy beach and its busiest: about 480 metres of coarse sand and shallow water in the middle of the bay, with every facility (Red Cross, first-aid post, showers, toilets, an accessible bathing point, kayaks, sunbeds, parking) and the promenade with the most restaurants in town. Blue Flag regained in 2026. The Parador stands on Punta del Arenal; the Punta del Castell viewpoint is at the southern end. Guide: Arenal beach.

Segon Muntanyar

South of the Arenal, 1,700 metres of tosca shoreline, semi-urban and low occupancy: the alternative when the Arenal is packed. Restaurant, bus stop, parking, mooring buoys and a rocky seabed for snorkelling; the Séquia de la Nòria viewpoint is along the way. No sand: towel on the flat rock.

Cala Blanca (Les Caletes)

At the end of Avenida Ultramar, two coves of gravel, rock and boulders joined by a short promenade of about 100 metres: Caleta I (about 80 m) and Caleta II (about 40 m), the latter sheltered by an arm of tosca reaching into the sea that keeps its water almost always calm and crystal clear. The second is also reached by stairs from the Les Caletes viewpoint. Parking and bus; good snorkelling. Guide: Cala Blanca / La Caleta.

Cala Sardinera

On the north face of Cap Prim, on foot only (SL-CV 98 trail from Creu del Portitxol, 1 km) or by sea. About 200 metres of gravel and boulders, no facilities, and the largest concentration of mooring buoys on the coast. The cove for anyone who wants silence. Full guide: Cala Sardinera.

Cala de la Barraca (Portitxol)

Xàbia’s postcard: 900 metres of gravel, boulders and rock between Cap Prim and Cap Negre, facing Portitxol island (300 metres, of great botanical and archaeological interest), with the white fishermen’s huts and their blue doors. Red Cross, restaurant, kayak hire and sunbeds. Very high occupancy and regulated summer access (59 paid spaces). Highly recommended for snorkelling and diving. Guide: La Barraca – Portitxol.

Cala del Francés

A small boulder cove next to Portitxol, no facilities, reached on foot. The escape route when Barraca is bursting: same sea, a fraction of the people. Guide: Cala del Francés.

Cala Granadella

The most famous cove on the Costa Blanca: 160 metres of gravel and boulders in a semicircular bay closed off by the Morro del Castell, with Blue Flag, Red Cross, restaurants and kayak hire. Reached via the Granadella road, which leaves the Cap de la Nau road about 2 km before the lighthouse; the viewpoint and the trail to the Castell de la Granadella start from the car park. Very high occupancy: in summer, arrive before 9:30 or take the tourist train. Guide: Cala Granadella.

Cala en Caló

Tiny and spectacular, wedged into the rock south of Granadella, with postcard turquoise water. Not reachable on foot or by car: sea only, usually by kayak or paddleboard from Granadella (hire available). No facilities.

Cala Ambolo — closed

Once Xàbia’s naturist and wildest cove. It has been closed for years due to serious rockfall risk, with access banned by land and sea, a guard on Calle Igor Stravinsky and fines. Admire it from the Torre del Ambolo viewpoint; don’t go down. Guide: Cala Ambolo.

Which one to choose

• With small children: the Arenal, no contest (sand, shallow, accessible, facilities).
• Without a car: La Grava or Primer Muntanyar from the harbour; the Arenal from its own district.
• Snorkelling: Portitxol and Granadella if you accept the crowds; Cala Blanca (Caleta II) and Sardinera if you don’t.
• Escaping the August crowds: Segon Muntanyar, Cala del Francés or Sardinera.
• Sunset and dinner: La Grava (harbour) or the Arenal promenade.
• Kayaking: Granadella → en Caló; Portitxol → Sardinera round Cap Prim.

Practical tips

• Water shoes everywhere except the Arenal: tosca and boulders punish bare feet.
• The Red Cross publishes daily sea conditions and flags per beach (linked from xabia.org).
• The Portitxol slipway is closed from 1 March to 30 June for protected wildlife.
• Best time: June and September. July and August are the regulated-access months with “very high” occupancy at Granadella and Portitxol.

Neighbouring guides and more on Xàbia

• Jávea guide · Nature and hiking · Heritage · Fiestas
• Cap de la Nao and Cap de Sant Antoni, the two capes framing the coast
• To the south, in Benitatxell: Cala del Moraig and Cala Llebeig
• Further south: Benissa coves · To the north: Dénia beaches and coves
• 🗺️ All the coves of the Costa Blanca — the index by municipality, from Dénia to El Campello