What if you spent the festive season a little differently this year? No cold winter days, no frantic preparations or hours spent in the kitchen, but instead enjoying the Spanish winter sunshine, the beautiful nature of the Costa Blanca, delicious food and, above all, quality time together with your family, relatives or group of friends.
Here at Finca Oliva, our cosy B&B in Bolulla, we're slowly getting ready for one of the loveliest times of the year. We want to offer our guests something special over Christmas and New Year too. That's why we're busy putting together festive menus, with something for meat lovers, vegetarians and vegans alike. We're letting our creativity run wild and already thinking about premium festive menus with carefully selected drinks to match. We've been collecting firewood over the past week, the Christmas decorations have come down from the loft, and Mariah Carey is slowly coming out of hibernation ;).
🎄 Celebrating Christmas at Finca Oliva
Christmas doesn't always have to be celebrated in the same way. Perhaps you're dreaming of a few days away with your family, a cosy Christmas break with friends or simply escaping the hustle and bustle of everyday life for a while. Maybe you've had enough of the wet weather and busy pace of life in Belgium, the Netherlands or wherever you're travelling from. At Finca Oliva, we combine the warmth of a family-run B&B with the freedom to celebrate the festive season your own way. We have just two family rooms, making it a lovely idea to book both together and celebrate Christmas or New Year with two families or a group of friends.
We're working on several festive menus so that everyone around the table can enjoy something special. Whether you fancy a delicious meat or fish dish, a surprising vegetarian menu or a completely vegan festive feast, we want to make it memorable. Our menus are carefully put together using fresh ingredients, delicious seasonal produce and, of course, plenty of attention to flavour and atmosphere. For the festive season, we're going all out with premium meats and ingredients. Delicious steaks, fresh tuna steaks, vegetarian creations – nothing is too much trouble when it comes to spoiling our guests at this special time of year. All menus will be accompanied by matching drinks, and we'll be working with the Arraez winery to make the perfect selections.
New Year's Eve at Finca Oliva is truly magical… Away from the crowds, but with views towards the coastline, you can enjoy the fireworks lighting up the horizon while celebrating in peaceful surroundings with your family or group of friends. Once the children get tired, they can safely head off to bed while the adults continue chatting around the outdoor fire with a good glass of wine, or settle down in our indoor Cava Blanca for a cosy evening and a lovely cup of coffee. There are plenty of ways to welcome the New Year in complete peace of mind, without having to worry about tired children complaining that it's time to go home!
And of course, the Spanish New Year tradition of eating grapes cannot be missed: Las doce uvas de la suerte – the twelve lucky grapes. We'll be dedicating a separate blog post and social media feature to this tradition, so keep an eye on our website and socials if you'd like to find out more!
✨ What's there to enjoy on the Costa Blanca during the festive season?
The Costa Blanca is a wonderful destination even in December and January. Temperatures are often pleasant enough to spend time outdoors and explore the surrounding area. And anyone who thinks Spain doesn't have a proper Christmas atmosphere is in for a lovely surprise!
Visiting the Christmas markets
The surrounding villages and towns come alive with charming Christmas markets featuring handmade products, decorations, delicious treats and activities for children. Here are a few lovely places to visit:
Calpe: The annual Fira de Nadal, with Christmas stalls and entertainment in the historic town centre.
Altea: A charming Christmas market with handmade products and a wonderful festive atmosphere in the beautiful old white town.
Benidorm: Christmas lights, a Christmas market and a variety of activities for all ages.
Alicante: Visit the impressive nativity scene, admire the Christmas lights and soak up the festive atmosphere throughout the city.
Discovering Spanish Christmas traditions
Christmas in Spain is celebrated a little differently from the way it is in Belgium and the Netherlands. On 24 December, the Spanish celebrate Nochebuena, Christmas Eve, when families gather for an elaborate festive dinner. On 31 December, they traditionally eat twelve grapes as the clock strikes twelve at midnight. And on 5 January, the Three Kings parade through the streets in colourful processions known as the Cabalgata de Reyes. For children, 6 January is especially exciting, as this is traditionally the day when the Three Kings bring their presents! In fact, Three Kings' Day in Spain is rather like Sinterklaas or Saint Martin's Day in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Enjoying nature and the winter sunshine
Not everyone is looking for busy Christmas markets. Fortunately, our surroundings are also perfect for those who prefer to get out into nature. There are some beautiful walks in our area. The winter sunshine and the sea breeze can be wonderfully refreshing. And don't forget our Oliver Escape Walk! You'll be setting off to find our mascot Oliver, who has been captured. Together with your family and a backpack full of riddles, puzzles, locks and codes, you'll embark on an exciting treasure hunt. If everything goes according to plan, you'll rescue Oliver from the clutches of the terrible Maldito. And as a reward, the whole family can enjoy an ice cream or a drink afterwards. By the way, you don't have to be a B&B guest to take part in the adventure. You'll find all the information at www.findingoliver.com.
From Bolulla, you can plan countless other walks too. There are several hiking apps that provide plenty of routes, and you'll also find traditional signposts and symbols throughout the area to guide you along the way. Bolulla is absolutely full of adventurous little mountain trails and hidden paths. We're always happy to help you find a walk that suits you. Even Finca Oliva has its own walking route on Komoot, in addition to the Oliver Escape Walk.
You start at the Finca and make your way towards Penya de l'Or, where you'll enjoy some of the most spectacular views imaginable from the summit, more than 600 metres above sea level. You can even spot Finca Oliva from up there. And if you shout loudly enough, we'll definitely hear you! As the owners of Finca Oliva, we're always happy to shout back enthusiastically or wave our arms in the air to catch your attention.
Had enough walking? There are still plenty of other activities nearby. Here is just a small selection:
Visit the impressive Fonts de l'Algar waterfalls.
Enjoy a safari adventure in your own car at Aitana, where you can watch the Big Five roaming right past your vehicle.
Walk along the Relleu footbridge, definitely not for anyone afraid of heights!
Explore picturesque Guadalest, with its castle, charming pedestrian streets lined with little shops and its stunning turquoise reservoir.
Take a trip to Altea, Calpe or one of the nearby coastal towns.
Visit Albir, where you can follow the walking trail all the way to the lighthouse and, every now and then, even spot dolphins.
Discover Mascarat or take the beautiful walking route to Toix in Calpe.
And perhaps the loveliest thing of all is simply returning to Finca Oliva after a day out, slowing down and enjoying the evening together. You can relax on our terrace with a cosy blanket or head inside to our Cava Blanca, where you can enjoy a snack, a drink, a board game or simply a really good and gripping book.
And let's not forget our very old Nintendo! It often turns out to be a favourite family activity. Before long, you'll see Mum or Dad transforming back into the little boy or girl they once were, desperately trying to rescue the princess in Mario Bros, dodge ghosts in Pac-Man or stack blocks in Tetris.
And what's next? There's plenty more to look forward to at Finca Oliva in 2027!
The festive season is just the beginning. During the school holidays in 2027, we're planning some more lovely extras for our guests.
February half-term: a wild asparagus adventure!
As winter slowly gives way to spring, we'll head out on a special little adventure: our wild asparagus hunt! Together, we'll explore the countryside in search of wild asparagus growing naturally in the surrounding landscape. A lovely activity for anyone who enjoys the outdoors, wants to discover the local area and experience something typically Mediterranean. And of course, something delicious will be waiting for us afterwards!
Easter holidays: festive menus and an Easter egg hunt
During the Easter holidays, we'll once again make room for good food and lovely moments together. We'll be delighted to prepare special Easter menus, with options for meat lovers, vegetarians and vegans. And naturally, we'll organise an Easter egg hunt for the children too. Because what would Easter be without a little adventure, chocolate and sweets? It's another wonderful opportunity to escape to the Spanish sunshine with the whole family.
❤️ Celebrate the festive season differently at Finca Oliva
Whether you're visiting for Christmas, New Year, February half-term or Easter, Finca Oliva is all about enjoying life, discovering new places, eating delicious food and creating wonderful memories together. We'd love to welcome you to our small, family-run B&B in Bolulla, nestled between the mountains and just a short distance from the coast.
Fancy experiencing the festive season a little differently this year? Feel free to get in touch. We'd be delighted to help you put together a lovely stay, a festive menu and some fun activities in the surrounding area.
Warm wishes from Bolulla!