The dunes of Guardamar del Segura are one of the more unusual stretches of the Costa Blanca: a wide belt of sand backed not by hotels but by a dense pine forest, planted over a century ago to stop the shifting dunes from burying the town. Today it is a peaceful natural area threaded with walking paths right beside the sea.
Behind the long, clean sandy beach, trails wind through the pines and over the dunes, with shade, birdlife and small rabbits appearing in the cooler hours. It is a place for a quiet walk and a swim rather than a busy resort beach, and it stretches for several kilometres along the coast.
Sensible shoes help on the soft sand and uneven ground, and the forest offers welcome shelter from the sun. The town of Guardamar itself, at the mouth of the Segura river, adds a castle and a relaxed seaside centre nearby.