Costa Azahar Apartments, Alcossebre

The Costa Azahar apartments in Alcossebre, known on the portals as Costa Azahar 3000 or the Costa Azahar complex, occupy five buildings with a pool in the Marcolina development, at the far north of the town. It is a quiet area, with views of the mountains and the sea, away from the atmosphere of the centre.

This is an independent informational page: it gathers the location, what is known about the complex and an analysis of its public reviews, which are numerous and allow fairly clear conclusions.

Where the Costa Azahar apartments are

The Costa Azahar complex is in the Marcolina development, in the Irta-Ribamar area, north of Alcossebre, between Las Fuentes marina and the start of the Serra d'Irta Natural Park. On OpenStreetMap it appears as five buildings named "Apartamentos Costa Azahar 3000".

Guests highlight a quiet area with views of the mountains and the sea, and also that it is far from the town centre. On Booking, location scores 6.0 and on Central de Reservas, 5.5: for those who want the beach and centre on foot, it is not the best option; for those seeking nature and calm, it does make sense.

The reference beaches and coves are:

• Las Fuentes (Les Fonts), the northernmost urban beach: 400 metres of fine sand in a bay next to the marina, with lifeguards, showers, a children's area and freshwater springs that rise through the sand.
• Cala Blanca, next to the Alcossebre lighthouse: a small cove of fine sand and pebbles, hard to reach, the starting point of the park's routes.
• The coves of the Serra d'Irta, such as Cala Mundina or Cala Ribamar, with no lifeguards or services.

Advantages of the area: nature at the door, hiking and cycling, views and silence. Guests also mention that it is easy to park.

Drawbacks: the centre and the large beaches are too far to walk; a car is almost essential. Some reviews mention roadworks in front of the complex.

What the Costa Azahar complex is like

Costa Azahar is a complex of five blocks with a pool. From the portals and reviews, the following is stated:

• Communal pool, in good condition according to some guests.
• Lift.
• Terrace in the apartments.
• Parking and ease of parking.
• Air conditioning with a surcharge: it is paid separately and, according to several reviews, it is old and barely cools.
• Pets allowed, according to the services listed on the portals. If you travel with animals, confirm with the operator.

What guests say about Costa Azahar

Costa Azahar has 306 reviews across four portals, with a weighted average of 5.5 out of 10. Unlike other complexes, here there is a single operator, Apartamentos 3000, and many reviews, so the picture is fairly reliable: it is one of the lowest scores among the Alcocéber complexes we have analysed, and it is so on every portal.

• Booking: 5.4/10 from 218 reviews. Sub-scores: staff 7.2; cleanliness 6.1; location 6.0; value for money 6.0; facilities and comfort 5.6.
• Central de Reservas: 6.0/10 from 52 reviews. Price 6.4; services 6.1; cleanliness 5.9; facilities 5.8; location 5.5.
• Atrápalo: 6.0/10 from 12 reviews.
• TripAdvisor: 2.3/5 from 24 reviews. There is also an old listing, "Costa Azahar", with 4.0/5 and 6 reviews from 2011-2012, which we have not included because of its age.

On Google there is no listing of its own for the complex.

What is most appreciated:

• The quiet area with views of the mountains and the sea.
• The pool, in good condition according to some guests.
• An affordable price and, in some cases, the speed in resolving issues.
• Ease of parking.
• The staff, which is the highest sub-score on Booking (7.2).

What some guests point out as needing improvement:

• Air conditioning is paid separately, is old and barely cools.
• Poor cleanliness on arrival.
• Towels not included or paid.
• Apartments needing renovation: mattresses, sofa bed, bathroom, fastenings.
• The distance to the town centre.
• Roadworks in front of the complex, a rigid check-in and check-out schedule and a high deposit.

The guest profile is Spanish families and groups on a tight budget.

Our assessment of the Costa Azahar complex

Strengths. The setting is the complex's great asset: at the foot of the Sierra de Irta, with views and no noise, and with the pool as a meeting place. From what the reviews reflect, the price is affordable and parking is not a problem.

Weaknesses. The reviews, many and consistent, point to apartments that need renovation, to cleanliness that could be better on arrival and to extras that are paid separately (air conditioning, towels). The distance from the centre means you have to get around by car.

Who it may suit:

• Groups or families on a tight budget who prioritise price.
• Hiking and cycling fans, because of the proximity to the natural park.
• Anyone travelling with a pet, if the operator confirms it.

Who it suits less: anyone who wants to walk to the beach and the centre, or who expects a renovated, all-inclusive apartment.

What to check before booking: what the price includes (towels, air conditioning), the conditions of the deposit and the check-in and check-out times, and whether there are roadworks in the area on your dates.

The Serra d'Irta from the Marcolina development

If you choose this area, it is to make the most of the mountains. The Serra d'Irta Natural Park was declared in 2002 and protects 7,743 hectares of land and about 12 km of undeveloped coast between Alcossebre and Peñíscola, with a marine reserve of 941 hectares.

The landscape is dominated by the dwarf fan palm, Europe's only native palm, and by Aleppo pine forests. On the coast you can see Audouin's gull and the great cormorant. Remember that making fires is prohibited in the park and that, in summer, to drive onto the coastal track you must book a space on the GVA Parcs Naturals app.

Excursions from the Marcolina development

By car, the location north of the town is a good base for getting to know the region:

In Alcalà de Xivert you can see the church of San Juan Bautista, with its 68-metre octagonal bell tower, and the weekly market. In the mountains, the Xivert castle, of Muslim origin and modified by the Templars, is another classic visit, and from Las Fuentes marina trips leave for the Columbretes Islands.

When to go

This area looks especially good in spring and autumn, when the heat is less intense and the routes through the mountains are more enjoyable. In summer, the average is around 24.5 °C and the sea approaches 25 °C. If you are interested in a long stay, see the guide to weekly and fortnightly rentals.

How to get to the Costa Azahar apartments

• By car: take the AP-7, exit 44 (Alcossebre-Torreblanca), or the N-340 and CV-142 to Alcossebre; then head north, towards the marina and the Marcolina development. From Zaragoza it is about 255 km (approx. 3 h 30 min); from Madrid, about 465 km; from Valencia, about 120 km.
• By train: Alcalà de Xivert station, about 10 km away, with Media Distancia trains to Valencia and Barcelona.
• By plane: Castellón airport about 22 km away (approx. 25 min); Valencia, about 123 km (approx. 1 h 30 min).

More details in the guide to driving to Alcocéber.

Casa Azahar alternatives near Costa Azahar

Casa Azahar, the local Alcossebre agency, does not manage Costa Azahar 3000, but it does manage these buildings in the same northern area:

• Marcomar Apartments: in the same Marcolina development, 1.3 km from Las Fuentes and at the foot of the Sierra de Irta, with an adult and children's pool and sea or mountain views. Apartments of 1 to 3 bedrooms, up to 8 people.
• Madeira Apartments: in Las Fuentes, 6 minutes from the beach, with free parking, a communal pool, sea views and the mountains nearby. 2-bedroom apartments.

Bear in mind that no Casa Azahar building accepts pets.

You can also see the page for the Meridia apartments, in Las Fuentes, or the full list in the Alcocéber complex directory.