Door opening in Mil Palmeras in Orihuela Costa

Mil Palmeras: a blue-flag beach in the south of the Costa Blanca

Mil Palmeras is a coastal locality located at the southern end of the province of Alicante, in the Comunidad Valenciana, within the Vega Baja del Segura district. It sits in a singular enclave, straddling the municipal areas of Pilar de la Horadada and Orihuela: the urban core belongs mostly to Pilar de la Horadada, while its northern boundary links with the Dehesa de Campoamor (Orihuela Costa). It was born as an urbanisation beside one of the most beautiful beaches of the coast and today has an identity of its own. In this guide we go over its most relevant facts: population, economy, festivals, tourism and gastronomy.

General information

Being a locality or district —and not an independent municipality— Mil Palmeras does not have its own official INE figures. Administratively it is split between Pilar de la Horadada (about 24,000 inhabitants) and Orihuela. It is a quiet area that fills up in summer, framed beside the natural mouth of the Río Seco, which runs for some 16 km crossing the municipal area of Pilar de la Horadada. It enjoys a dry Mediterranean climate and is a few minutes from the main town, with very good access via the N-332.

Demographics and nationalities

The character of Mil Palmeras is markedly international. The split by sex is balanced, with an approximate percentage of 50% men and 50% women. Among the most present nationalities, the following stand out:

• Scandinavians, historically much tied to the area (it was especially popular among them in the 1980s).
• Britons and Irish, very numerous groups.
• Residents from other European countries and Spanish population.

Over time it has established itself as a good mix of nationalities, with year-round residents and a notable increase in population in the summer season.

Economy

The economy of Mil Palmeras revolves around three great pillars:

• Residential tourism: the area's driving force, with apartments and new-build homes, many of them on the seafront.
• Hospitality and retail: hotels, aparthotels, restaurants, bars and shops that have grown up around the beach.
• Local services: supermarkets, a pharmacy and a health centre, complemented by nearby Pilar de la Horadada.

Emergency and home security services

Mil Palmeras is made up of numerous homes and apartments, many of them on the seafront, with a very high proportion of second homes that stand empty for much of the year. That is why reliable locksmith services are especially necessary in the area. It is very common for owners who arrive after months away to find the door jammed, or for incidents to arise with keys inside the house at the start of the holiday.

Our emergency door opening service covers Mil Palmeras and the whole of the surroundings of Orihuela Costa, Pilar de la Horadada and Torrevieja, with on-call locksmiths available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. By day or in the early hours, in high season or in winter, there is always a professional ready to act quickly on openings of homes, apartments, storerooms, lock changes and armoured doors, a service greatly valued by the large international community that lives in the area all year round.

Festivals and traditions

Mil Palmeras shares the festive calendar of Pilar de la Horadada, with some events of its own:

• The Patron Saint Festivals in honour of the Virgen del Pilar, in October, with charangas, peñas, float parades, vaquillas and the flower offering.
• The Summer Festivals, on 30 July, which commemorate the separation of Pilar de la Horadada from the former town council of Orihuela, with a great fireworks display.
• Open-air dances and summer events around the beach and the seafront promenade.

Tourism: what to visit

Mil Palmeras offers tourism of sun, beach and strolling:

• The Playa de Mil Palmeras, of fine white sand, crystal-clear waters and a blue flag (which it has held for years), considered one of the best of the Mediterranean.
• The adjoining beaches of Vista Mar (La Cañada) and Playa del Río Seco, which together with the main one form the Mil Palmeras ensemble.
• The seafront promenade lined with palm trees, which gives the locality its name and creates a tropical atmosphere, and which connects to the north with Campoamor.
• The mouth of the Río Seco and the closeness to the coves of Torre de la Horadada, to the south.

Gastronomy

The gastronomic offer of Mil Palmeras combines the produce of the sea with the Mediterranean tradition. Here coexist:

• The rice dishes and the fresh fish and shellfish of the area, the stars of the table.
• Arroz con costra and the traditional stews of the Vega Baja.
• A wide presence of international cuisine, a reflection of the diversity of its residents.

Other points of interest

The name of Mil Palmeras alludes to the palm trees that line its seafront promenade and give it a tropical air. It was born as a private urbanisation around its beach and the tourist development ended up giving it an identity of its own, framed beside the mouth of the Río Seco. Its peculiarity of straddling two municipalities, combined with the quality of its beach —with a blue flag for decades—, makes it one of the most appreciated enclaves of the southern end of the Costa Blanca. A place where having trustworthy 24-hour locksmiths brings the peace of mind that residents and second-home owners deserve all year round.