The Spanish Costa Blanca (White Coast), situated on the east coast, offers healthy sunshine and cool sea breezes. It is about 2200 km from Amsterdam to Alicante. By plane it takes just 2 hours. There is a good bus service to/from Torrevieja and Alicante. A visit to the city of Alicante, just 8 km away, is highly recommended. Here you can spend a pleasant day shopping or visiting museums and monuments. Also recommended is a trip to the village of Santa Pola with its salt lakes, also just 8 km away. In previous times this was an idyllic fishing town as well as a major Roman port. The 17th century fort houses an archaeological museum and aquarium. From the coast of Santa Pola you can easily access - by ferry - the small island of Tabarca. The island has a population of only 40 people and almost everything is prohibited: camping, water skiing, etc. Nevertheless, hundreds of people visit the island daily. The city wall which surrounds the village has three towers and all streets lead to the church square. The most interesting building is the house of the governor which also houses the only hotel in the village. Another recommended destination for both young and old is the aqua park in nearby Torrevieja (30 km). Here you will find several large swimming pools with slides. You can also enjoy horseback riding (on the beach or take lessons) or visit the golf course in Rojales (10 km). Summers are long in this area (from late April to mid-October) and winters are mild with an average temperature of about 12 degrees Celsius, making the Costa Blanca an ideal year-round destination!