Urbanova, the seaside campsite that’s making a comeback in Alicante

The signage, warnings, and patrols have not been adequate. Urbanova, the Alicante neighbourhood that seemed to have calmed down last April, is once again home to the same scene that many thought was over: a row of caravans parked facing the sea, with chairs, tables, awnings, and even a tent that someone made up. The famous parking area next to the beach, which looked empty in the summer after the Alicante City Council’s information campaign, is once again full of caravans this fall.

Six months ago, the City Council’s Department of Security started an education campaign to stop this practice after locals had been complaining for months about the trucks still being there. The Local Police did that, and they warned that if someone parked or camped illegally in a public place again, they could face fines. The council also said that there would be two Neighbourhood Police officers on duty to keep an eye on things. Residents say that over time, the controls have become weaker and the police presence has gone away.

Travellers who are loyal

There are motorhomes from many European countries parked in the lot, and the mood is quiet and friendly. A lot of people come back to this place every year, not knowing that parking is not allowed here. José Martins, a Portuguese visitor travelling with friends and returning for the third year in a row, says, “We’re here because we come from Portugal; we’re caravanners, and we like to wander.” “We really like Alicante. The sea is warm, the sun is nice, and the food is good.” “It’s all very beautiful,” Martins says.

There are both old and new faces among the caravans. Paul Fehrenberg, a German tourist, talks about how he has been coming to the area for decades. “I came here for the first time with my parents when I was three years old, in 1957. The Urbanova neighbourhood is great; it’s nice, convenient, and I have everything I need. Fehrenberg smiles as he cleans the windows of his car and says, “I like the beach, the sun… it’s a great place.”

Urbanova was a new place for several people. Some buddies told Arsenio Rumour to come from Coimbra. “This is our first time here.” They said it was a tranquil spot, and it is. Plus, it’s free, which is a big deal. Rumour says, looking out over the horizon, “I really liked it; it’s a spectacle.”

Another German tourist, Thomas Schäfer, found out about the location online. “I’m going around Spain in my camper van. I was in Valencia and wanted to travel to Guardamar, but the campsite was full. I liked that I could stay here for a few days. “The beach is great, and it’s a very convenient place,” says Schäfer.

A problem that doesn’t have a clear answer

For the last two weeks, the same thing has happened every day in Urbanova: a steady stream of caravans coming and going without leaving the site completely empty. The problem of caravan parking in Alicante is still not solved, even in this sandy location. There are no public places in the city set aside for this kind of tourism right now, so people with cars are looking for other places to park on beaches and in residential neighbourhoods.

In 2021, things became worse when the only official motorhome parking area on Playa de San Juan closed. This space was never fixed up after being used for events like Cirque du Soleil. The University of Alicante’s Institute of Tourism Research was asked by the Alicante City Council in January of this year to look into the economic effects of motorhome tourism and come up with feasible solutions. The government has thought about making municipal land available for this usage, although it has been ruled out that it would be on the oceanfront or second line.