Playa Cala del Tio Xixo

The cove attracts snorkellers, confident swimmers and visitors seeking a quieter setting within reach of Benidorm. Its small size creates intimacy but also means space disappears quickly in summer. Early arrival helps, although the winding approach and limited parking make walking or using local transport worth considering. The return uphill can feel demanding in heat.

Rocky entry points and an uneven seabed demand care. The water may look transparent and protected, yet swell can make the stones unstable and the sides hazardous. Visitors should not jump from rocks, and anyone snorkelling should remain visible, avoid boat routes and turn back if wind or waves increase.

Cala del Tio Ximo is a tiny cove at the eastern edge of Benidorm, below the protected slopes of Serra Gelada. Sand, pebbles and rock share a narrow shoreline, creating a natural-feeling contrast with the towers and broad sand of nearby Levante Beach.

Serra Gelada Natural Park is the defining presence, rising directly behind the cove and continuing east along a high cliffed coastline. The paved route towards Punta del Cavall and the Escaleta watchtower begins in the wider Rincon de Loix area and gives walkers elevated views beyond the beach.

Benidorm's Levante district lies close to the west, with restaurants and services concentrated around the urban shore rather than inside the cove. Cala de l'Almadrava is a separate small inlet nearby and should not be confused with Tio Ximo despite their similar rocky character.

The cove is enclosed by low ochre-grey rock and steep scrub-covered slopes. A small patch of mixed sand and pebbles meets clear-looking shallows, while villas and the access road are visible above without dominating the immediate waterline.

Offshore views open across Benidorm Bay, where the city skyline and island create a striking counterpoint to the natural park. Tio Ximo's appeal lies in that abrupt transition: dense resort city a short distance away, then a confined rocky cove at the foot of protected coastal mountains.