October from Santander - recommendations please

[Robert&Catherine]

Hi,
First trip abroad in our California is to start from Santander in mid October and then head for some warmer weather….my wife is a bit anxious (don’t think she has 100% confidence in my navigational or linguistic capabilities). Anyway if anyone has done a similar trip and could share itinerary / campsite recommendations it would go along way to help me sound like I know what I am doing! My rough plan was to head for Madrid then Valencia then follow the coast northwards. Duration will be two weeks with maybe 4 or 5 campsites booked.
Much appreciate the benefit of all your collective wisdom. Thanks

 

[Barbara]

Hi,
First trip abroad in our California is to start from Santander in mid October and then head for some warmer weather….my wife is a bit anxious (don’t think she has 100% confidence in my navigational or linguistic capabilities). Anyway if anyone has done a similar trip and could share itinerary / campsite recommendations it would go along way to help me sound like I know what I am doing! My rough plan was to head for Madrid then Valencia then follow the coast northwards. Duration will be two weeks with maybe 4 or 5 campsites booked.
Much appreciate the benefit of all your collective wisdom. Thanks

Route from Santander via Bilbao and Zaragoza is best to Valencia.

You can also go via Madrid then Alicante then Calpe (signed Calp) is on the way to Valencia
Goggle maps are great for planning.

Camping Calpemar | Tu Camping en la Costa Blanca. A 300 metros de la playa de Calpe, cerca del Parque natural del Peñón de Ifach, un enclave ideal para descubrir las sensaciones del Mediterráneo

www.campingcalpemar.com

Close to the town and beach. South of Valencia.

Not stayed on this site but friends have and it is very popular . Close to sea and town which has lots of restaurants. I visit calpe very often but stay in an apartment.

October is the time of a big event.

Fiestas in Calpe: Moors & Christians (October 2025) | Calpe Fiesta Guide & Calendar 2025 in Calpe

Fiestas in Calpe: Moors & Christians (October 2025) | Calpe Fiesta Guide & Calendar 2025 in Calpe Here are full details of the 2024 Moors and Christians Fiesta Program in Calpe, Costa Blanca, Spain, the main events of which take place from 18-23 October 2025.

www.calpeonline24.com

 

[Robert&Catherine]

Thank you I appreciate the recommendations. Will do some googling

 

[Barbara]

Thank you I appreciate the recommendations. Will do some googling

This is another option for Calpe it is further from the town but still not far from a beach. It only seems to have a facebook link. Camping La Merced Calpe Quieter than nearer the town

Camping La Merced Calpe | Calp

Camping La Merced Calpe, Calp. 515 likes · 6 talking about this · 201 were here. ️ Desde 1970 Situado en Calpe, España, nuestro camping te da la bienvenida a pocos pasos de la playa, en un...

www.facebook.com

Calpe is very easy for cycling as lots of cycle paths, also the local busses are good. There are 2 main beaches , one near the town, and a promenade that runs between them along a curved coast.

There are a few sites just for motorhomes and campervans but the vans are very close together on them I would would not fancy staying on one.

I have attached a picture (taken in May )of camping calpemar. it is behind the low level structure which is a supermarket. This end of town is having a lot of new apartments being built so there is noise during the day.