We start our trip from Santiago Bernabéu cove in Santa Pola, to head south. This stage is one of the longest of the entire Costa Blanca by Kayak route. It takes us to Torrevieja, passing the beaches of Elche and Guardamar del Segura. One of the peculiarities of the journey are the large areas of dunes that will stay with us throughout. Let's paddle!
We recommend starting the route early as we can expect 16 miles of paddling. After boarding and passing through the port of Santa Pola, we find ourselves facing the two long central beaches of the city, Gran Playa and Playa Lisa, then Tamarit beach and La Gola beach.
Once past the La Gola beach spur, we see a pier where we recommend disembarking to visit two points of interest: the Santa Pola salt mines barge and, just 50 metres to the west, an old bunker. These defensive constructions, or machine-gun nests, were built by Republican militiamen to protect this former salt jetty.
From here, you can enjoy good views of the great salty mountains created by salt extraction from the extensive Santa Pola salt flats.
At 1.2 kilometres we find the Goleta, natural drainage for the salt flats, and the mouth of the Vinalopó River We take a closer look to see if we can disembark and visit the Torre del Tamarit or Torre de l'Albufera, located in the central area of the salt mines.
Long sandy beaches take us from the Moll de les Salines to El Pinet, the first of the three beaches in the south of the municipal district of Elche, designated as non-urban for the protection and preservation of its environmental characteristics.
The setting is almost like a movie, with dunes that keep a watch on us during our journey. We recommend stopping for food and walking along part of the platforms and wooden walkways that will make us enjoy this natural phenomenon.
From this point we discover a wilder environment, typical of an area less occupied by civilisation, the dunes and pine forests of La Marina. Next we arrive at the municipal district of Guardamar del Segura, at the mouth of the Segura river where the sport and fishing port of the municipality is located.
We will continue along the els Vivers beach, with its landscape of sand dunes and pine forest. In less than 2 kilometres we will reach the urban beaches of Guardamar, the Babilònia, Center and La Roqueta, to follow the natural beaches of Montcaio, Camp and Ortigues, each with their own special charm.
The beaches will lead us to the urban heart of La Mata. We will paddle through the small Cervera cape.
After Cape Cervera, Cala del Moro welcomes us to Torrevieja, if we look inland we will see the Torre del Moro, watchtower.
Now, if sea conditions allow it, we can enter and leave the coves of Torrevieja, taking the chance for some RockHopping, playing among the coves, boulder and rock beaches, Mojon beach, La Higera beach, Cala Redonda, Cala del Gambote, Cala de los Trabajos and Cala Cornuda, will lead us to the tip of Salaret.
Next to this small point we will reach Playa de los Locos, the final point of today's stage.