Jávea in January

How is the weather in Jávea in January?

January is the coldest month of the year in Jávea, but still mild: around 12 degrees on average, with afternoons of 16 to 17 degrees and nights of 6 to 7 degrees. The month sees an average of 3.6 days of rain and about 184 hours of sunshine, roughly six hours a day.

These figures come from the nearest official weather station, at Alicante airport some ninety kilometres away. That makes them a useful indication for the region, but not a measurement taken in Jávea itself.

January is slightly cooler than December, which averages 12.5 degrees, but sunnier, with 184 hours of sun against 165 in December. February is a touch milder again, at 12.3 degrees on average, with 2.9 rain days and 179 hours of sunshine.

The sun rises between a quarter past eight and just after eight and sets between ten to six and twenty-six past six. Daylight grows over the month from a good nine and a half hours to a little over ten, nearly three quarters of an hour more by the end than at the start.

For comparison, the January average in De Bilt is 3.6 degrees according to the KNMI, with around 67 hours of sun. Around Jávea you get almost three times as much sun in the same month.

Can you swim in Jávea in January?

For most people it is too cold to swim: the sea is around 15 degrees in January, and a touch colder in February at about 14. These are averages from satellite data, so there is no guarantee for any given day. There is no lifeguard cover outside the summer season, not even at the Arenal.

The same goes for Granadella. Anyone who still goes in during January does so with no rescue post nearby.

Which festivals are there in Jávea in January?

January opens with two national holidays, on 1 and 6 January, and is then full of traditions: on 5 January the Three Kings sail into the harbour, around 17 January it is Sant Antoni, with a funfair and the blessing of animals, and on 20 January the village celebrates its patron saint, Sant Sebastià.

The Cabalgata de Reyes, the Three Kings parade, takes place on 5 January. The Kings arrive by fishing boat around five in the afternoon at the Duanes de la Mar, after which children are welcomed and a parade moves through the village. The route changes from year to year but follows the pattern of the harbour and the old centre. In the days before, children can hand in their letters at the royal camp, whose location also varies.

Around 17 January it is Sant Antoni. Around it runs the Fira i Porrat de Sant Antoni, a funfair of about three weeks on the Avenida Palmela. Around the feast day, animals are blessed, by the harbour on the Paseo Joaquín Sorolla and on the Plaça de la Constitució. The Cremà del Pi usually falls on the Saturday before or after, around eight in the evening in the El Ravalet district, where nuts and mistela are handed out.

On 20 January comes the feast of Sant Sebastià, the patron saint of Xàbia. That day a procession passes the niches holding the saint's statue in the streets of the old centre, and around that date a festive week runs with parades, children's activities and sporting events, among other things.

An overview of all the festivals through the year can be found in our festival calendar.

What is open in Jávea in January?

The regular markets keep running: the Thursday market on the Plaça de la Constitució, the covered Mercat Municipal and the Sunday morning market by the harbour all run year-round. The Museo Soler Blasco is on winter hours and closed on 1 January. Michelin-starred Tula is still shut, and for other restaurants checking ahead is wise.

In winter, the Museo Soler Blasco in the old centre is open Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 1.30pm and from 5pm to 8pm. At weekends and on public holidays it is open mornings only, it is closed on Mondays, and it is closed on 1 January too.

On the first Sunday of the month, the Riurau d'Arnauda hosts the Mercat d'Origen de la Marina Alta, with local produce. It is a young initiative, so check the date and times before heading over.

Part of the hospitality trade closes its doors for a stretch in the winter months. Tula is closed from early December to early February; for other places, checking ahead or booking is the safest choice.

Winter sales traditionally start shortly after the Three Kings, but each shopkeeper decides for themselves when to begin and how long to run them.

What can you do in Jávea in January?

January is good walking weather: the Montgó and the miradors along the coast lie quiet, the beaches are almost empty, and with roughly six hours of sun a day there is plenty to do outdoors. Swimming and kayaking are less of a given.

It is good weather to climb the Montgó, as no winter closure of the natural park is known, unlike the summer closure in times of extreme fire danger. Anyone who prefers the coast can follow the miradors route. Beaches such as the Arenal and La Grava lie quiet in January.

Anyone interested in kayaking at Granadella should first ask whether the operator sails in winter, as there is no guarantee.

At the end of January or the start of February the Granadella Trail is run, an annual trail run starting from Parque Pinosol.

Looking ahead: according to the Generalitat's tourism office, the Vall de Pop is in bloom in February and March, with almond blossom in villages such as Alcalalí, Parcent and Xaló. From Jávea that is about half an hour by car.

Is January a good month to visit Jávea?

Not for a beach holiday: the sea is too cold and the lifeguards are gone. For anyone who wants to walk, stay somewhere quiet and see the village's winter festivals, yes. You get roughly six hours of sun a day, but also the coldest nights of the year and fewer places open.

For long-stayers, January is the heart of winter, and this is what they get: mild afternoons, short days and a village that simply keeps working, with markets, walking paths and festivals.

Anyone after a beach holiday or a whole day by the water is better off choosing another time of year. Anyone who wants to see the village celebrating for itself will find January suits them well.