Cala del Tio Ximo

Cala del Tio Ximo opens at the foot of the Serra Gelada, on the northern edge of Benidorm's municipal area, inside the Parc Natural de la Serra Gelada. It's a small cove, barely 60 metres long, with fine sand mixed with gravel and a rocky bottom that leaves the water very clear, good for diving and snorkelling. It sits just around the corner from Levante beach, though its character is entirely different: almost no visible development, with the ridge's cliffs as the only backdrop.

Despite its wild look, the cove has lifeguard cover and sunbed and umbrella rental during the high season, though there are no beach bars or restaurants, so anyone wanting to eat there needs to bring their own food.

Getting there

You can no longer drive right up to the cove: the car has to be left in the nearby Rincón de Loix district, with the rest of the way on foot. Despite this access difficulty, it's one of Benidorm's busiest coves during the summer months. It's often combined with a stop at the neighbouring Cala de l'Almadrava, a little further along the same stretch of coast, and both appear among the options in the guide to the best beaches near Alicante.