Latest news with #Mediterráneo
The Sun
26-05-2025
- The Sun
Desperate hunt for Brit, 24, who vanished in Costa Brava as his abandoned van found after driving from UK to Spain
SPANISH police are searching for a missing Brit who has vanished after reaching the Costa Brava. The 24-year-old from Manchester had left the UK in a van, which has been found abandoned and empty at a viewpoint overlooking the Mediterranean near the popular resort of Tossa de Mar. 1
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Hunt for missing British man launched by police after his van was found abandoned in Spain's Costa Brava
Spanish police are hunting a British man after his van was found abandoned at a viewpoint off the Mediterranean coast. The 24-year-old was named locally last night as Matthew Chapman from Manchester, almost a month on from his family reporting him missing on April 30. Earlier this week police launched a two-day search near the popular resort of Tossa de Mar involving a helicopter and drones before calling it off late on Thursday. Mr Chapman had travelled to France on May 1 on the Eurotunnel and spent time in Portugal and Spain before his mobile phone signal petered out around 60 miles north of Barcelona. A spokesman for the Mossos d'Esquadra regional police force confirmed a two-day search for the missing Brit was undertaken. She added: 'It was a land, sea and air search which took place on Wednesday and Thursday. 'The investigation into the missing man's whereabouts is continuing.' Officers are said to be keeping an open mind on what could have happened to Mr Chapman who according to Spanish reports had economic problems and was struggling to keep his car valet firm afloat. It not clear what Catalan police are now doing as part of their investigation. The Mossos d'Esquadra force also led the probe into rugby player and X Factor star Levi Davis' disappearance in Barcelona. The last confirmed sighting of Mr Davis was of him leaving an Irish pub in the Catalan capital on the night of October 29 2022 after taking a boat from Ibiza with just £35 in his pocket and no change of clothes. The port search and another in the Llobregat Delta, one of Catalonia's most important wetland zones near Barcelona where police said at the time sea currents could have taken his body or items of clothing, failed to yield any clues. They were organised after four members of cruise liner MSC Bellissima, which docked in Barcelona around eight hours after the pub CCTV sighting, said they had seen a man in the sea wearing the same light-coloured top as Levi and shouting for help in English. A lifebuoy was thrown to him and coastguards in Barcelona mobilised their helicopter called Helimer 203 and a vessel called Salvamar Mintaka. A boat operated by firefighters was also sent to the scene along with police and Red Cross vessels but they were stood down after it was confirmed no-one was missing from the cruise liner and police confirmed no-one had been reported missing in port waters or in the sea off Barcelona. A British tourist went missing at Alicante airport at the end of March after a stag do in Benidorm before being found. Jason Taylor, 36, vanished as he waited for a flight back to Birmingham, sparking a police manhunt which had a happy ending nearly four days later on April 1 when he was spotted walking along a nearby beach. Police sources said after he was found that the fact he didn't have his mobile phone on him had caused him extra complications. Tossa de Mar is about 60 miles north of Barcelona and the same distance south of the French border.
Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Telegraph
Spain's 13 greatest Costas, ranked and rated
Everyone thinks they know the Spanish Costas – with fond memories based on childhood holidays with family and fun-filled breaks with friends. But it's time to think again. With around 3,000 miles of mainland coastline, skirting the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, there is a huge variety of costas to choose from when planning a holiday – and quite a few more secretly sandwiched between the main 13 considered in this list. In recent years, visitors have witnessed the most well-established destinations shift into the 21 st century, with hotel revamps that have replaced the pine and patterns of old with a soothing neutral vibe, adding juice and coffee bars, food trucks and yoga decks. With peak summer temperatures deterring some, it's never been easier to visit earlier or later in the year, too. An increasing number of hotels in resorts are extending their seasons – with some opening all year round to cater for people who want to cycle, hike or go birdwatching rather than spend most of their time on a beach. Or consider the northern coast, which has long been popular with Spanish holidaymakers who go for the more pleasant summer temperatures, the wilder beaches and the superb food. There's always another chunk of Spain 's coastline to explore. Here's my honest review of the major playas on the Spanish mainline. Costa de Almería Best for back-to-nature beaches Stretching for 135 miles in the east of Andalucía, bordering the Tabernas desert, this is the driest and hottest coast in Spain. Resorts include Almerimar, Roquetas de Mar and the more characterful Mojácar. For a more natural environment, stay in the Cabo de Gata-Níjar coastal nature reserve, where the landscape has been formed by a series of volcanic eruptions over the centuries. Mónsul, Los Genoveses, El Playazo and Los Muertos are the highlights of around 30 terrific beaches with crystalline water. There are small hotels in and around San José, Las Negras and Agua Amarga. Insider tip Take a guided jeep tour to see and learn about the volcanic landscape and mesmerising geology of Cabo de Gata. Where to stay The romantic Cortijo Boutique Siete Calas (00 34 674 029231) close to Playazo beach, has double rooms from £174, including breakfast. You can fly from London and regional airports to Almería with airlines including easyJet and Ryanair from £60 return. Costa Tropical Best for secret coves Avocados and mangos grow on the hillsides along the coast in the province of Granada, which is protected by the Sierra Nevada. Coves backed by cliffs have excellent conditions for diving and kayaking, particularly El Cañuelo on the Cerro Gordo stretch – don't be put off by the greyish sand. Stay in Almuñécar, which was an important town in Phoenician and Roman times, the hilltop town of Salobreña or La Herradura. Insider tip Drive up to the Alpujarras for superb hiking and views across to Morocco. Where to stay Hotel Boutique La Caleta Bay (0034 958 511393) is right by the beach in La Herradura and has doubles from £72, room only. You can fly from most UK airports to Malaga with airlines including British Airways and Vueling from £50 return. Costa del Azahar Best for a Spanish vibe Citrus orchards border the sprawling sands along the Costa del Azahar – the orange blossom coast – in the province of Castellónin the north of the Valencia region. Laidback resorts include Vinarós, Benicarló, Oropesa del Mar and Benicàssim, where one of Spain's best music festivals, FIB, is held every summer (July 17 to 19, 2025). Peñíscola is an attractive seaside town with a castle you may recognise from Game of Thrones. Insider tip Take a boat trip to the Islas Columbretes for superb snorkelling and diving conditions. Where to stay The Hotel & Spa Castillo de Peñíscola (0034 964 480914) is right by the beach and has double rooms from £108, including breakfast. You can fly from London Stansted to Castellón-Costa Azahar airport with Ryanair from £40 return. Costa Cálida Best for shoulder season sun Parts of the 'warm coast' in the Murcia region are remarkably unspoilt, with idyllic beaches such as Calblanque, Calnegre and the Cuatro Calas (four coves), a beautiful area in the south near Águilas. The Mar Menor is a huge lagoon separated from the Mediterranean by La Manga, a 15-mile spit of land that is lined with holiday accommodation. For a bit of culture, the cities of Cartagena and Murcia are both rich in history. Insider tip In San Pedro de Pinatar at the top end of the Mar Menor, you can slather yourself with mineral-rich mud for a natural spa treatment. Where to stay The Colina del Emperador boutique hotel (0034 711 042823) on La Manga has double rooms from £117, including breakfast. You can fly from London Luton and Stansted and several regional airports to Murcia International airport with Ryanair from £40 return. Costa Verde de Asturias Best for a coastal and countryside combo Green hills rise up just behind the coast in Asturias, with apple orchards and emerald meadows in between. Crescents of white sand are backed by cliffs along the 200 miles of coastline on the Bay of Biscay, with dainty seaside towns and villages, such as Cudillero and Llanes, along the way. You can hike through spectacular scenery in the morning and flop on an idyllic beach in the afternoon. Children love finding the traces of dinosaurs on the stretch known as the Jurassic coast around the fishing village of Lastres. Insider tip Gorge on Asturian artisan cheeses, particularly the pungent blue Cabrales. Where to stay The CoolRooms Palacio de Luces hotel (00 34 985 850080), a palatial residence just outside Lastres with an excellent restaurant, has double rooms from £159, room only. You can fly from London Gatwick to Asturias with Vueling from £48 return. Costa de Cantabria Best for surfing on unspoilt beaches On the north coast, tucked between Asturias and the Basque Country, Cantabria manages to pack more than 90 beaches into its 140 miles of coastline, including a string of gorgeous bays in the elegant city Santander, the regional capital. The Oyambre Nature Reserve is popular with birdwatchers and has pristine sands. The Dunas de Liencres National Park and the Costa Quebrada Geological Park form a protected area with sculptural rock formations and beaches that are good for surfing. Insider tip Just south of Santander, an old mine is now an animal park where Cantabrian brown bears, elephants and tigers roam around a landscape of eerie limestone pinnacles. Where to stay El Castillo de los Locos (0034 942 810374) overlooking the beach in Suances near Santander has double rooms from £92, including breakfast. You can fly from London Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh to Santander with Ryanair from £30 return. Brittany Ferries sails from Plymouth and Portsmouth to Santander. Costa de Galicia Best for cooler temperatures The coast of Galicia wiggles around the northwestern corner of Spain for 930 miles, the longest of any region in Spain. Oysters and mussels are cultivated in deep inlets known as rías and the long white-sand beaches are reminiscent of both Cornwall and the Caribbean. Temperatures don't get as sweltering in the south, but the region does get more rain. Albariño wine fans might want to stay in the Rías Baixas, while surfers will prefer the wild shores of the Costa da Morte. The coastal cities of A Coruña and Vigo have fabulous beaches if you aren't keen on resorts. Insider tip The Ortiguiera Celtic music festival takes place from July 9 to 13, 2025. Where to stay The glamorous Eurostars Gran Hotel La Toja (0034 986 730025) has a restorative spa with double rooms from £156, including breakfast. You can fly from London Gatwick to A Coruña with Vueling from £50 return; from London Stansted to Vigo with Ryanair from £44 return, and from London Heathrow and Gatwick to Santiago de Compostela with Vueling from £68. Costa Daurada Best for family fun The 'golden coast' – dorada in Spanish and daurada in Catalan – flanks the province of Tarragona in the south of Catalonia. The largest resort, Salou, is handy for the PortAventura theme park, but also makes a great base for trips to the underrated city of Tarragona and the vineyards and villages of the Priorat area. Cambrils, with its gently-shelving beach and lively gastronomic scene, is a favourite for families with young children. Insider tip Head to the Ebro Delta to visit the mussel and oyster farms in the bay. Where to stay Jet2 Holidays (0333 0140236) offers seven nights at the Medplaya Calypso in Salou in June from £561pp, with unlimited access to the Aquopolis waterpark, including half board and flights from Manchester (other airports available). Costa Vasca Best for gourmet breaks Travelling along the coast of the Basque Country, you come upon fishing villages such as Santurtzi, Bermeo, Lekeitio and Getaria, and discover fabulous urban and wild beaches too. It's difficult to eat badly, whether you fancy sardines on the beach, pintxos in a gastrobar or a feast in one of the many Michelin-starred restaurants. Elegant San Sebastián is the gastronomic hub, while vibey Zarautz has the longest beach. Insider tip In the bars, check out the freshly-cooked specials on the blackboards rather than just the tempting pintxos on the counter. Where to stay The Palacio Arriuluce (0034 946 181156) is a sumptuously remodelled grand residence in the waterside Getxo area of Bilbao and has double rooms from £269, room only. You can fly from London Heathrow and Gatwick to Bilbao with Vueling from £50 return, and from Bristol and Manchester with easyJet from £90 return. You can also fly from London City to San Sebastián with British Airways from £220 return. Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to Bilbao. Costa del Sol Best for guaranteed feel-good factor Any time of year is good for a break on the Costa del Sol. This 100-mile coastline in Malaga province, from Manilva to Nerja, is great for everything from glamorous poolside cocktails to golf holidays. You may fancy a weekend in Malaga city, focusing on food and art, or spending a few days recharging with yoga on the beach and running along the promenade. The coastal limits are sliding into Cádiz province too, with a cluster of luxury hotels in and around Sotogrande. Insider tip Have a change of scene with a day's riding, cycling or walking in the Sierra de las Nieves National Park north of Marbella. Where to stay British Airways Holidays (0344 493 0787) offers three nights at the newly-revamped Kimpton Los Monteros Marbella from £702pp in June, including breakfast and flights from London Gatwick. Costa Blanca Best for keeping all generations happy In the southeast of Spain in Alicante province, the Costa Blanca – 'white coast' – has been delivering family holidays for more than 50 years, but is always upping its game. As well as Benidorm, resorts include Denia, Calpe, Altea and El Campello, all with boutique as well major hotels. The mountains behind the coast keep it warm for most of the year, as well as providing fantastic cycling and hiking routes. If you like your holiday to have more of an urban vibe, stay in Alicante to alternate sunbathing with tapas bars. Insider tip The red prawns from the historical city of Denia are expensive but super succulent. Where to stay Hays Travel (0800 4084048) offers seven nights in July from £865pp at the Solymar Gran Hotel in Calpe, including breakfast and flights from London Luton (other airports available) to Alicante. Costa Brava Best for dining and Dalí With emerald pine forests on hillsides around little coves with clear sapphire water, the Costa Brava meets all your Mediterranean idyll fantasies. In the northeast corner of Spain in Girona province, from the border with France down to the resort of Blanes north of Barcelona, the 'wild coast' offers everything from full-on resorts such as Lloret de Mar to chic seaside spots including Llafranc, Calella de Palafrugell and Cadaqués, where you can visit Salvador Dalí's mind-boggling home. The legendary El Bulli may be just a memory, but its influence is discernible in restaurants all along the coast. Insider tip The Camí de Ronda is a 27-mile hiking trail along the coast from Sant Feliu de Guíxols to Begur, with attractive places to eat and stay along the route. Where to stay Tui (0203 451 2688) offers seven nights from £607pp at the Zel Costa Brava, including breakfast and flights from London and regional airports. The chic hotel overlooks a gorgeous cove near Tossa de Mar. Costa de la Luz Best for seafood and sherry The Costa de la Luz faces the Atlantic, with never-ending beaches stretching from the Portuguese border down to the Bay of Algeciras, taking in the Doñana National Park and the ancient city of Cádiz. With culture and natural beauty in spades, it is a great choice for both all-inclusive hotels with plenty of facilities and low-key breaks in seaside towns such as Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Chipiona and Conil de la Frontera. For a Boho hipster vibe, Tarifa is a magnet for kiteboarders and windsurfers. The sheer variety makes it a faultless destination, in my opinion. Insider tip The inland hilltop town of Vejer de la Frontera is a gastronomic hotspot. Where to stay Jet2 Holidays (0333 0140236) offers seven night in June at the Barceló Costa Ballena Golf & Spa from £808pp, including breakfast and flights from Manchester (other airports available).
The Independent
21-05-2025
- The Independent
Spanish islands beg tour operators not to promote secluded cove
The Balearic Islands local authority is asking that media outlets and tour operators stop promoting Caló des Moro, a small cove in Mallorca. The small cove saw 4,000 visitors daily last summer after being featured in influencer content. Its capacity is only around 100 people. The influencer campaign, initially intended to divert tourists to less-known areas, backfired by causing overcrowding in remote and protected locations. The local authority has removed images of the cove from its website and will stop using social media influencers to promote tourism.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Majorca's beaches are turned white with ICE as freak storm hits the tourist hot spot
Majorca was battered by freakish hailstorms yesterday that left renowned tourist hotspots on the Spanish island covered in ice and overrun with flood waters. Tourists and locals alike were sent running for cover as huge hailstones pelted the resort of Porto Cristo, where idyllic beaches turned from golden to white in a matter of minutes as chunks of ice blanketed the sand. Municipalities such as Manacor, Sant Llorenç and Sa Pobla were the worst affected, but large swathes of the islands were engulfed in the deluge. Shocking video footage circulating on social media showed how furniture and tiles on typically sun-soaked decking outside hotels and private flats were smashed by the hailstorms as holidaymakers cowered inside. Spain's state weather service AEMET issued yellow weather warnings for Majorca and Menorca, warning that up to 50 litres of rainfall per square metre drenched Manacor in just half an hour, triggering flash floods. The warnings are in place until this evening with parts of the island now facing between 60 and 70 litres of rainfall per square metre in two or three hours. The culprit behind the rare and destructive weather pattern was put down to what is known in Spain as 'DANA' - short for 'Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos' or 'Isolated Depression at High Levels'. These phenomena form when a pocket of cold air detaches from the jet stream over the Atlantic and settles over warmer Mediterranean air. The resulting clash in temperatures and pressures creates intense instability, often unleashing torrential rain, violent hailstorms, and flash floods over short periods. DANAs produce erratic and slow-moving storms which can dump enormous volumes of water and hail over the same region in hours. In Spain, where the ground is often dry and the infrastructure ill-prepared for flooding, these deluges can create havoc. The storm engulfing Majorca comes days after similar downpours punished towns in Valencia less than six months on from catastrophic flooding in the region which left more than 230 people dead. British holidaymakers were warned against travelling after first-sized hail hammered the popular region in eastern Spain on Thursday amid orange weather warnings by AEMET denoting 'significant danger'. The hailstorm and resulting floods gave way to chaotic scenes as Valencians rushed for cover in a month where daytime temperatures typically hover around 20 degrees Celsius. Scarcely believable footage showed how vehicles sustained damage from the hail as others became stuck amid ice floes several inches thick in Villar del Arzobispo, with residents powerless to free them. Other shocking clips circulating on social media showed the deluge gushing through the typically sun-kissed streets of Guadassequies and l'Olleria. The sudden storm heaped misery on the region's residents, many of whom lost their livelihoods in the historic 'cold drop' that occurred in October 2024, triggering massive flooding which killed 232 people. The authorities' perceived inadequacies in emergency preparation, communication and response to last year's weather phenomenon - referred to by the Spanish acronym DANA - left millions disillusioned. Those flash floods followed days after a historic power outage left almost all of Spain without electricity for hours. Valencians had planned a massive demonstration to call for the resignation of regional president Carlos Mazon, but it was cancelled due to the power outage. Roughly a third of Spain remained under yellow or orange weather warnings over the weekend with AEMET warning of 'very strong storms, with large hail and strong wind gusts in areas of the north and east of the Peninsula'. The agency said the highly irregular conditions bore the hallmarks of a 'cyclonic supercell storm', a weather event which brings severe thunderstorms and hail, but it was later identified as a DANA-induced weather event. It added that the storm was 'spreading anomalously, deviating significantly southeastward relative to the movement of the other storms in its vicinity, which are moving eastward.' The perilous conditions in Spain are symptomatic of a wider trend in Europe, which faced its most widespread flooding last year since 2013. Floodwaters killed at least 335 people in Europe in 2024 - many of them in Spain - and affected more than 410,000, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organisation said in a joint report on Europe's climate last month. Western Europe was hit hardest, with 2024 ranking among the region's ten wettest years in records going back to 1950. Storms and flooding are Europe's costliest weather extremes, last year causing damage exceeding €18 billion euros. Globally, 2024 was also the world's warmest year since records began, as well as the warmest for Europe - the planet's fastest-warming continent. The planet is now around 1.3 degrees Celsius warmer than in pre-industrial times, mainly due to human-caused climate change. Southeastern Europe had its longest heat wave on record, totalling 13 days, while Scandinavia's glaciers shrank at the highest rates on record, and heat stress increased across the continent. Much of Eastern Europe suffered a lack of rain and drought, while floods ravaged western Europe. Nearly a third of Europe's overall river network exceeded a 'high' flood threshold, while 12% breached 'severe' flood levels in 2024. Storm Boris in September dumped the heaviest rain ever recorded in Central Europe onto countries, including Austria, Czechia, Germany and Slovakia.
