La Marina is basically split into two distinct parts, the old coastal town and beach area, and the purpose built residential development (urbanisation La Marina), a short distance inland on the other side of the main coastal road the N-332.
The coastal part of the town has some fantastic sandy beaches, which even in the peak season are so big that they never get packed, and you can always find a spot away from the crowds to enjoy the sunny weather.
Alicante airport is only 20 minutes drive away. We have a dedicated page on La Marina airport transfers which will help you get from the airport to your accommodation.
La Marina is a small town in an area of protected pine forests and it comes alive during the summer months when people fill the town to enjoy the small but busy beach tourist resort. Clearly, La Marina is a great location for a beach holiday, if that is all you want from a holiday then you won’t need to go anywhere else, as everything you need for a great family holiday in the sun is right here in La Marina.
Enjoy a traditional Spanish experience by visiting the street markets which are held every Thursday and Sunday from 8am to 2pm. Here you will find stalls selling local produce including fruits, vegetables, leather goods such as handbags, shoes, belts and purses.
Road access to La Marina is very good. The AP-7 autoroute (motorway) comes down from Alicante airport and goes south to Murcia San Javier airport. Also the N-332 goes directly past the outskirts of the urbanisation of La Marina and this also goes from Alicante airport in the north all the way down to Murcia San Javier airport to the south.
To the south of La Marina are urbanisation Bella Vista and urbanisation Las Pesqueras, then comes Guardamar del Segura, a much larger coastal town with great beaches. To the north of La Marina is Santa Pola with its miles of sandy beaches and a large town centre. Also just north of La Marina are lots of salt lakes such as Salinas del Brac del Port which create a very healthy atmosphere for people suffering from health problems such as allergies or arthritis.
La Marina is a popular place where many people live all year round especially in the growing La Marina urbanisation which is slightly inland off the coast (and separate from the actual town of La Marina) and just off the N-322. It has plenty of shops, bars and restaurants so you have plenty of facilities on your doorstep that you can easily walk to. There are four supermarkets including SuperValue (the tourist office is opposite here). There is also a newsagent, optician, bank, Cornish Pride and an ice-cream parlour.
In Spanish, the word urbanisation is urbanizacion and means a housing development. La Marina is broken down into three main areas: La Marina, La Escuera and El Oasis. The post code (in Spanish ‘códigos postales’)is 03170.
You may also see it referred to as Marina Oasis and smaller parts include the blocks of Marina Sol, Marina del Mar 1, Urb. Jazmin, Urb. Oasis, Isla Christina, Lo Grane and Residencial Oasis. It is well-designed with plenty of parks and green zones where you can play football or walk dogs.
The La Marina urbanization has all its own amenities, making it pretty much self sufficient, and of course there are a glut of rental properties in the area. There is a local bus service which will take you to the shops, bars and restaurants on the urbanisation. The Vega bus goes to the beach 2km away. A good option is to rent a villa with pool. This means that for most days you can simply laze by the pool, cook on the barbeque and make the most of the superb weather conditions that are enjoyed here throughout the year.
With a car you will be able to get out and about and visit the numerous coastal resorts, as well as attractions like the Rio Safari park between Santa Pola and Elche. You can also get to local golf courses, of which there are plenty in the area. Don’t forget a trip into the city of Alicante where the best shopping area can be found. Likewise for culture, maybe a visit to the Santa Barbara Castle is also ideal.
La Marina is surrounded by some charming little towns and villages such as Daya Vieja, Daya Nueva, Almoradi, Algorfa, Rojales, Formentera del Segura, San Fulgencio and Catral. All have been developed to a degree. If you are looking to buy property, there are plenty of villas and apartments for sale.
La Escuera is strategically located if it’s golf that you would like to play. Fifteen minutes away from La Escuera you will find the La Finca Golf Course with a new hotel and clubhouse where the Spanish Open is played.
Twenty-five minutes away you will find the La Marquesa Golf Course, and Villamartin which has an abundance of olive trees and bunkers making it a challenging course for all levels of ability.
Las Ramblas golf is a short course, very attractive with high trees, ravines and fairways make for a great golfing experience. Campoamor golf is spread over two valleys and has stunning views and a clubhouse to finish the day.
To play at Campoamor you need to have a thirty-six handicap or less and you need to book a week in advance to be able to play. You can hire clubs and electric buggies at the course on the day. All courses have eighteen holes and putting greens and driving ranges. Restaurants and cafes are also located at the courses to refresh yourself after your round.
La Marina’s major attraction is clearly its 11 kilometers of golden sandy beaches backed with sand dunes. The main beach at La Marina is Playa La Marina and is a Blue Flag awarded beach.
The facilities with the restaurants and bars just off the beach are excellent and of very good quality.