Cumbre del Sol

If you’re looking for a private style of tourism that also defines certain way of living, if you are looking for tranquility that speaks from the breathtaking sea views and the hills touched by the sun, visit Cumbre del Sol residential resort. As the name implies, it’s not a town, it’s a residential enclave of detached and semi-detached houses mounted on the hills, overlooking the Balearic Sea, north of Moraira, far north-east of Alicante, if you wanted to locate the nearest airport. Cumbre del Sol shows its unique style in architecture, in the local ambience, in being far away from typical tourist towns, and from everything, really. If you want to feel like a local or spend your holidays in peace and quiet, this is the place to be.

People actually reside here, all year long, in their houses with round towers, with red brick rooftops and wooden portals which remind me of a chocolate bar, with private swimming pools demarkated by column-like balustrades or communal swimming pools among colorful terraced houses. Cumbre del Sol residents rely on one supermarket Pepe la Sal (that bakes one of the best croissants I’ve ever had), one pharmacy, one self-service post office, one tiny coffee shop and just a few restaurants. The Lady Elizabeth School and several padel tennis courts also built their respective local communities here. The real estate agents’ hands are full as more people are interested in settling down in this residential sanctuary. Developers introduce contrast to the architectural style of houses in Cumbre with snow white modern apartments and private villas which rise here and there on the hills.

Tourists come here in search for a different type of tourism, like we did, far away from the crowded restaurants and beaches of charming towns at the bottom of the hills. Vacationing here means embracing serenity and distant locality of Cumbre del Sol which can be reached usually by car as I couldn’t see a single bus stop there. Vacationing here means co-existing in a community of Cumbre del Sol, with its inhabitants from all over Spain and Europe who chose their living here, with its Spanish style villas whose privacy you need to respect, and its communal swimming pools where the vacationing couples or families with kids hang out. The locals mix with tourists here and we liked how it made us feel like locals ourselves. Tourists are confined to their rented house and garden plot private area, cooking for themselves, jogging or hiking up and down the hills, reading books, sunbathing at a pool and mingling with the locals in the Pepe la Sal supermarket or in one of the few local restaurants. If you want to get to a nearest beach or to a more touristy town you need a ride, or prepare for a very long walk.

The nearest beach is Cala de Moraig, supposedly one of the most beautiful ones in this part of the coast. Cuddled by cliffs on both sides, accessible by a long walk from Cumbre del Sol or a bus from further towns, the beach will treat you with a stony waterfront and quite windy currents which go crazy between the cliffs. Yet, indeed, the view is stunning. Make sure you come with a stock of snacks and beverages as there’s nowhere to buy them, that’s how close to nature Cala de Moraig is.

If you fancy an elegant dining experience Restaurante la Cumbre will provide it. Situated on one of the hills overlooking the sea and Cumbre del Sol enclave, the restaurant gives you an impression of entering a private casa with a large swimming pool, to be served an authentic Mediterranean cuisine dinner. And indeed, you will be served authentic Mediterranean meals, with the chef’s modern twist to most of them. Sit in the outdoor area at the pool with the sea view and let yourself be taken care of by the kind and professional waiters tending to your every need, including the service of scaring the annoying wasps away with a special device that serves the purpose (and I’m not joking). We went for sea food from the restaurant menu but the meat fans will be pleased just as well. Gambas, pulpa and fresh fish in different variations is what we had. The restaurant also caters to the little ones with a decent kids menu.

If you prefer more casual eateries and want to hang out with the locals, pop in for cerveza at Como en Casa. During a day this family-run restaurant and bar convenes paddle tennis players from the courts nearby, families with kids from nearby communal swimming pools, tourists looking for lunch (just beware of siesta times as you won’t eat between 4pm and 6pm) and Cumbre del Sol neighbors for whom the Casa is the place to hang out. Those who come here for dinner in the evening can listen to live music performances which Como en Casa invites daily during holiday months. Their delicious paella packed with sea food needs to be pre-ordered at least one day in advance so the owners can fetch for fresh ingredients.

If you ever think of moving to Spain and want to experience calm living in an international community, try your holidays in Cumbre del Sol first. You can truly feel like a local here and make friends with those who decided to reside here in search for the sun, the views and the tranquility. And when the weather is clear you can see the Ibiza island from the hills.