Camping Azul

If a rainy day should stop beach play, head to the Cova de les Calaveres (20 minutes’ drive), which translates as ‘the cave of the skulls’, on account of the remains that were found here. A decked walkway snakes through atmospherically lit halls with recreated scenes from when the cave was home to prehistoric tribes. The port city of Dénia (half an hour) is overlooked by a castle with imposing stone walls and Moorish elements. From there, take a stroll along the Via Verda de Dénia (it leads all the way to Gandia), or drive the 10 minutes to the Jardín de l’Albarda, with formal gardens, ponds and fountains. Birdwatchers make a beeline for the Albufera Natural Park (an hour), where the freshwater lake, dunes and ponds provide shelter for flamingos and herons. All around the lake are the rice fields supplying the region with the key ingredient for its famed paella.