As autumn deepens, November brings a quieter, more reflective rhythm to life on the Costa Blanca. After the busy summer months, the pace slows, and locals and visitors alike enjoy the calm that settles across the region. The air is cooler and fresher, with average daytime temperatures between 17–22°C, and evenings cool enough for a light jacket. It’s a wonderful time for coastal walks, mountain hikes, and exploring towns like Jávea, Moraira, and Calpe without the summer crowds. Cafés are cosy, the sunsets are stunning, and the beaches take on a peaceful beauty that many say is the best of the year.
November also marks a shift in the local landscape, with nature taking on softer tones and local produce at its peak. This is the season for sweet persimmons, crisp pomegranates, chestnuts, mushrooms, and wild game. You’ll also find an abundance of citrus fruits beginning to ripen mandarins, oranges, and lemons adding bursts of colour to the markets. Olive harvesting is in full swing across the Valencian countryside, with fresh oils soon arriving in local shops. It’s a month that celebrates simple, hearty flavours, perfect for slow-cooked stews, roasted vegetables, and seasonal tapas enjoyed by the fire.
For those who love local traditions, November brings one of the biggest celebrations in the Costa Blanca calendar, the Benidorm Fiestas! This week-long event fills the streets with parades, fireworks, music, and vibrant costumes. Locals and visitors come together for open-air concerts, funfairs, and traditional parades that capture the joyful spirit of Benidorm's Spanish and Expat community life. The celebrations end with the spectacular “Fancy Dress Party,” one of the largest in Europe, when thousands of people in costume fill Benidorm’s streets for a colourful finale.
Overall, November in Spain has a wonderfully local feel, less about tourism and more about community, tradition, and enjoying the simple pleasures of Mediterranean life. It’s a great time to explore new properties too, with the market steady and serious buyers taking advantage of quieter conditions. Whether you’re here year-round or just for the season, this time of year reminds us why life on the Costa Blanca is so special, calm, connected, and full of charm.
The Madres Poderosas (Powerful Mothers) collective in Jávea has renewed its call for the Town Hall to reactivate the bank of affordable rental homes — an initiative aimed at helping local families struggling to find long-term housing. The group, led by president Glendys Cordero, met with the councillors for Housing and Social Services to discuss practical ways to bring the project back to life, including encouraging property owners with vacant apartments to rent them out through the municipal scheme.
The proposal offers reassurance to owners concerned about non-payment or damage by acting as a trusted intermediary between landlords and tenants. The Town Hall is also considering incentives such as reductions in local taxes (IBI or rubbish collection) for those who register their homes with the housing bank.
The initiative aims to create a fairer, more accessible rental market in Jávea — one that benefits both families in need and owners looking for a secure, socially responsible way to rent out their properties.
A British couple has been arrested in Jávea after a police sniffer dog named Kosmo discovered two bags containing 48 grams of cocaine hidden inside their car. The incident occurred on Avenida de la Libertat when the vehicle attempted to avoid a police checkpoint. Officers from Jávea’s Local Police became suspicious after the male driver, aged 57, displayed signs of nervousness and later tested positive for cocaine use.
Kosmo, a member of Jávea’s Canine Unit, quickly detected the drugs concealed behind a passenger seat. Both the driver and his 37-year-old passenger were taken into custody, with the driver also facing charges for driving under the influence of drugs. It remains unclear whether the pair are tourists or residents.
Autumn is mushroom season in the Marina Alta, when locals and nature lovers head into the hills and pine forests in search of wild fungi. Thanks to its rich biodiversity and ideal conditions, the region produces some of the most prized mushrooms in Spain. Among the favourites are the esclata-sang (Lactarius sanguifluus), known for its firm texture and delicate, earthy flavour; the aromatic poplar mushroom (Agrocybe aegerita), often found on fallen poplar or aspen wood; and the striking carob mushroom (Laetiporus sulphureus), nicknamed the “wood chicken” for its colour and taste.
Each species offers a unique flavour of autumn, whether grilled simply with garlic and parsley or added to rice and stews. For many in the Marina Alta, mushroom hunting isn’t just a seasonal hobby, it’s a cherished local tradition that connects people to the land and its natural rhythms.
VillaMia is proud to be one of the sponsors of the upcoming Cancer Care Jávea 2026 Calendar, which raises vital funds for local cancer support services. Cancer Care Jávea is a long-established charity dedicated to helping those affected by cancer, offering counselling, nursing advice, and practical support for patients, families, and carers.
Details on where you can purchase the calendar will be shared in next month’s newsletter. VillaMia is always looking for ways to give back to the local community, so if you’re part of an organisation seeking sponsorship, please get in touch...
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