The most beautiful stretches of Jávea's coast are not seen from the beach but from the water. From Cala de la Granadella you paddle in a couple of hours past cliffs and coves to a sea cave that is unreachable by land. This is the complete guide: how to arrange it, what it costs in time and effort, and how to dodge the notorious parking crush.
Why this particular bay
Granadella is the region's best known starting point for kayak trips, and that is no coincidence. The bay sits sheltered between pine-covered slopes, the water is clear enough to see the seabed while swimming, and within paddling distance waits the Cova del Llop Marí, a sea cave you can kayak straight into.
In that cave and along the way, guides report starfish, octopus and sea urchins, and the trip stops for snorkelling at spots no walker ever reaches. It is more a nature outing than a sporting feat: the distances are short and the pace is relaxed.
Book a trip or paddle on your own?
Standalone kayak hire does not exist at Granadella: the whole offering consists of guided trips run by operators with a municipal permit. Anyone bringing their own kayak may use the public slipway as a private individual. For almost everyone, then, a guided trip is the way to get on the water here.
Factor in the season too. From early March to the end of June, commercial kayaking here is required to stop because the protected European shag nests on the cliffs during that period; the season starts in early July and runs through the summer. Outside those months, trips also leave from other spots along the coast, such as Portitxol.
What a trip looks like
Count on two and a half to three hours on and in the water, setting off from the beach itself. At the village's best rated operator, almost everything is included in the price: kayak, paddles, life jackets, snorkelling masks, waterproof bags, a guide who knows the route and the stories behind it, and photos taken along the way. Trips cost around fifty euros per person.
That operator sets no minimum age; children simply ride along in a double kayak, though basic swimming ability certainly helps. You can read more about the trips and how to book on our page Kayaking to the sea caves.
Parking and arrival
The car park above the bay has around a hundred and thirty spaces, costs roughly nine euros a day and cannot be reserved: once it is full, the access road is literally closed off with a barrier. The access control runs from early June into September. In high season, then, arrive early, well before ten, or take the alternative below.
That alternative is the little tourist train that runs roughly every hour in summer from the La Guardia Park car park down to the beach, for a few euros return. On the way to the bay, signs at the big roundabout and along the road show in real time how many parking spaces are still free, so you do not drive down the hill for nothing.
What to bring and when to go
The beach is white pebble, not sand: water shoes make the difference between enjoying yourself and hobbling around, including when you get in and out of the kayak. Bring water, sunscreen that can handle a splash, and no more gear than fits in the trip's waterproof bag. Mornings are calmest on the water and softest in light.
Afterwards there is no need to rush off: at the foot of the beach sits a restaurant known for fresh fish and paella (booking ahead is wise), and closer to the water's edge a chiringuito for something simpler. That way, the trip easily turns into a full day at Granadella.
More caves and coves nearby
Anyone who develops a taste for this after the trip can go further. Besides Granadella, trips also leave from Portitxol, with a completely different backdrop of white and blue fishermen's cottages and the island just offshore. And on the border with Dénia waits the Cova Tallada, a hand carved sea cave that in summer can only be visited by reservation.
When planning, though, keep transport in mind: no public transport runs to the beach at Portitxol-Barraca, so you are reliant on a car there, with a small car park that also operates with a barrier in summer.