The Bovalar apartments in Alcossebre, also known as Residencial Bovalar or Residence Bovalar, are one of the complexes with the most reviews in Alcocéber: more than 360 across all portals. They combine two things that do not always go together in the town: a central location, a few minutes from Cargador beach, and a small estate with a pool, garden and lift. We tell you where it is, what it is like and what guests say.
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Where is Residencial Bovalar
Residencial Bovalar is on Calle del Bovalar, in the Cargador and centre area of Alcossebre, the coastal core of Alcalà de Xivert (Castellón). Cargador beach is a few minutes' walk away, and so are the seafront promenade and the streets with bars, restaurants and shops. There is a children's playground nearby and the Sierra de Irta is a short drive away.
The location is the best-rated point on the portals: 9.1 on Booking and 9.0 on Central de Reservas.
Advantages of the area:
- Beach, promenade and centre a few minutes' walk away.
- A small, silent estate, even though it is close to everything.
- According to several guests, it is easy to park in the surroundings.
Drawbacks:
- On TripAdvisor there are old complaints about the noise from an adjoining dog park.
- As in the whole centre, in August there are more people around.
What the Bovalar complex is like
The Bovalar is a residence with a lift, garden, sun terrace and a pool for adults and children, surrounded by lawn. It is one of the few Casa Azahar buildings with a lift, which makes it convenient with pushchairs, suitcases or older guests.
The apartments have 2 bedrooms and room for 6 people. Some have a bit of a sea view from the terrace. According to the listings and reviews, they have:
- a well-equipped kitchen;
- air conditioning;
- a terrace;
- wifi;
- access to the communal pool and garden.
The pool works seasonally: in October, for example, Booking marks it as temporarily unavailable because of the end of the season. If you travel outside summer, confirm it before booking.
What guests think of the Bovalar apartments
8.1/10 weighted average across booking sites · 365 reviews
| Website | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Booking.com | 8.0/10 | 231 |
| 4.1/5 | 51 | |
| Tripadvisor | 3.7/5 | 13 |
| Atrápalo | 7.4/10 | 6 |
| Central de Reservas | 8.6/10 | 64 |
Public scores from each website, checked on octubre de 2026. They may have changed; see the source for the current score.
With 365 reviews, the Bovalar is one of the complexes in Alcocéber with the most ratings, and the scores are high and consistent across portals, with one exception:
- Booking.com (8.0/10, 231 reviews) gathers most of the ratings. Location (9.1), staff (8.7) and cleanliness (8.4) stand out; the lowest score is for wifi (6.7).
- Central de Reservas (8.6/10, 64 reviews) is the most favourable portal, with cleanliness and services at 8.6.
- Google (4.1/5, 51 reviews) appears under the name "Apartamentos Bovalar - Casa Azahar". The topics Google summarises from its reviews are the pool, the sofa bed, the kitchen and the towels.
- Atrápalo (7.4/10) has only 6 reviews.
- TripAdvisor (3.7/5, 13 reviews) is the lowest rating, with reviews that are largely old, including the complaints about noise from a dog park next to the building.
What guests like most. The closeness to Cargador beach, the promenade and the centre is the most repeated point, followed by the character of the estate: small, quiet and silent. The pool is another strong point: large, well kept, with a lawn area and long opening hours. Guests describe spacious, clean apartments with a well-equipped kitchen, and several mention air conditioning and comfortable beds. The ease of parking and the attention from Casa Azahar are also appreciated, and the number of customers who return over several years stands out.
What is criticised. The most repeated complaint is the sofas and sofa beds, old and uncomfortable. Next come lift breakdowns in high summer, some mattresses that are too soft or worn, the pool showers and other small maintenance details, scarce or worn kitchenware in some units and weak wifi.
The profile is varied: families, couples and solo travellers, almost all Spanish, with quite a lot of loyal clientele.
Our assessment
The Bovalar offers an unusual balance: you are in the centre, but you sleep on a quiet estate with a pool and garden. The high ratings and the number of guests who return back it up. Its weak points are specific and well known: sofas, the odd mattress and upkeep of details.
Strengths
- Central location, a few minutes from Cargador beach.
- A lift, uncommon in buildings in the area.
- A large pool with lawn, garden and sun terrace.
- Small, silent estate.
- More than 360 reviews with high, consistent ratings.
Weaknesses
- Sofas and sofa beds that could be better.
- Occasional lift breakdowns in summer.
- Weak wifi according to Booking.
- Uneven kitchenware between apartments.
Who it is ideal for. For families with children who want a pool and the beach close by without depending on the car, for couples and for older guests who appreciate the lift. Also for groups of up to 6 people. Remember that the Bovalar, like the other Casa Azahar buildings, does not allow pets.
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Tips before booking at the Bovalar
- Outside summer, ask about the pool. It works seasonally and in autumn it may be closed.
- If you work remotely, bear in mind that wifi is the lowest-rated aspect on Booking; a mobile data plan can serve as a backup.
- If the sofa bed counts as an extra bed, check the arrangement: it is the most repeated complaint and, if there are six of you, it is worth knowing.
- If you have fixed dates in summer, book in advance. There is quite a lot of clientele that returns year after year, so do not leave it until the last moment.
Around the area and things to do from the Bovalar
Beaches. Cargador beach is about 850 by 70 metres, with fine sand, a dune system with sea daffodils, full accessibility and a Blue Flag without interruption since 1987. There is a sailing club and paddle surf hire. Along the Senda Litoral, a wooden walkway, you reach Romana beach, also with a Blue Flag. To the north is Les Fonts beach, with its freshwater springs, next to the marina.
Serra d'Irta. The Serra d'Irta Natural Park is close. From Cala Blanca and the lighthouse start route 2 (12.8 km, easy) and the red route (8.5 km), and by bike the Ruta del Cranc follows the coastal track to Peñíscola (13.2 km). Another short outing is the climb to the Santa Llúcia i Sant Benet hermitage, route 5, 1.3 km from the Montemar estate. In summer, driving onto the park's coast requires reserving a space in the GVA Parcs Naturals app.
In town. You have the seafront promenade, the Tuesday evening market in season and the tourist office in Plaza Vistalegre. For food, local cuisine is based on rice dishes, suquet de peix and the tomata de penjar from Alcalà de Xivert.
When to go to the Bovalar
The Bovalar works especially well in summer, when the pool is open and Cargador beach has lifeguards and all services. According to AEMET norms for the nearest station, average highs are around 29-30 °C between June and August, and the sea is around 25 °C in high summer. In June and September the town is quieter and the beach less crowded. Out of season, the central location is still an advantage, but the pool may be closed.
Quick comparison with other buildings in the centre
| Building | Lift | Pool | Bedrooms | Average portal rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovalar | Yes | Yes, with garden | 2 | 8.1/10 |
| Mare Nostrum | Yes | Shared | 3 | 7.0/10 |
| Mallorca | Not stated | Communal | Spacious | 7.7/10 |
| San Benet | Not stated | Yes | 1 (Booking listing) | 8.9/10 |
How to get there
Take the AP-7, exit 44 (Alcossebre-Torreblanca), or the N-340 and CV-142. Approximate road distances: Castellón, about 50 km; Valencia, about 120 km; Zaragoza, about 255 km; Madrid, about 465 km; Bilbao, about 565 km. Nearest airports: Castellón (about 22 km), Valencia (about 123 km), Reus (about 145 km) and Barcelona (about 230 km). By train, Alcalà de Xivert station is about 10 km away. You will find everything in our guide to getting to Alcocéber by car.
Alternatives near the Bovalar
If the Bovalar has no dates, Casa Azahar manages other buildings in the Cargador and centre area:
- Mare Nostrum Apartments: right in the centre, 2 minutes from the Cargador, with a lift, a pool and 3-bedroom apartments for 8 people.
- Residencial Al Andalus: a large garden with adult and children's pools, about 7 minutes from the beach.
- Sunset Villas: 3-bedroom villas with a private garden and barbecue, about 400 metres from the Cargador.
Very close to the Bovalar is also the Mallorca apartments building, and in the centre you will find Residencial San Benet. See all the complexes in the directory of Alcocéber apartments.