Cala Capitán (Cabo Roig)

Cala Capitán is the beach at Cabo Roig, at the southern end of Orihuela's coastline: a short, narrow cove split by the tiny Isla del Carmen, with rocky headlands on both sides that shelter it from the swell and keep the water fairly calm. It sits in a built-up setting, with direct street access and a promenade, which makes it noticeably more comfortable than a wild cove without losing all of its small-beach charm.

It holds a Blue Flag, has a lifeguard and showers in season, and a small wooden beach bar by the sand. From the cove you get a clear view of the 16th-century Cabo Roig watchtower, built to warn of pirate raids along the coast and now a protected historic monument. It sits at the southern edge of the Marina de Cabo Roig, so a visit pairs easily with a walk along the docks.