Sant Carles de la Ràpita (15,000 inhabitants) is just the second coastal town in Catalonia as you enter it from the Castellón province in the south. In Sant Carles de la Ràpita (or, as the locals call it, Lá Ràpita) we find again a story that avid readers of MiMove area descriptions may have already seen somewhere else in the Mediterranean: a traditional village with deep roots tied to fishery and farming (in this case, rice farming) which has also been endowed with magnificent beaches. The allure and beauty of an easy paced life by the sea have attracted an increasing number of vacationers and new residents and, with this, the town has transformed itself in the last decades into a touristic spot of local fame. New residents are coming in mostly from other parts of Catalonia and from the rest of Spain, but most expats arriving from Western Europe still need to discover the advantages of finding a property for sale in Sant Carles de la Ràpita. However, among the coastal towns of the Mediterranean, La Ràpita is a very special village due to its very particular geography. The town is located right in front of a natural peninsula, the Peninsula de Bañá -nowadays an undeveloped and beautiful National Park-, which forms a natural bay around La Ràpita, sheltering it from the sea tides. For this reason, the waters that bathe La Ràpita’s beaches are particularly shallow and tranquil, which makes them an ideal destination for a family vacation or for those who enjoy fishing, bird-watching and water sports. La Ràpita also has a very large marina, and thereby attracts many sailing aficionados. The most immediate beaches to La Ràpita’s seaside promenade, Playa del Garbi and Playa de las Delicias, proudly display their blue flag and provide all the services necessary for a perfect afternoon of relaxation. However, you should also not miss to spend at least a day in the Playa del Trabucador. This is a completely undeveloped stretch of sand that connects the Bañá Peninsula to the mainland. Since it belongs to a natural park, you will have over a stretch of over 6 kilometers of fine sand in almost untouched state to yourself. You should bring plenty of water and sandwiches to last for the day, since you will not be able to find here one single bar or chiringuito. For those days in which you would like something else than a quiet beach life, you can profit from the many natural beauties that surround La Ràpita. The most obvious one is the Ebro Delta National Park, just a few kilometers to the north. This park encompasses the marshes around the river mouth of the Ebro, and makes up for one of the largest Natural Parks in Europe. It is a paradise for nature lovers and especially for bird enthusiasts. Another alternative for a cloudy afternoon could be a hike in the nearby Montsià mountain range, in which you could profit from some of its fantastic miradors where you can view the wonders of the Ebro Delta. If you decide to buy a property in Sant Carles de la Ràpita, your family and you will be able to enjoy the tranquility of its shallow water beaches every day. The town’s closeness to two natural parks and to an easily climbable mountain range add great hiking and field trip opportunities to enjoy a fantastic natural environment. This is also a town of great culinary value, since its bay is full of mussel and oyster producing traditional farms. Furthermore, La Ràpita is only two hours drive away from Barcelona and Valencia, so it is easy to plan weekend trip if you need to detox from all that peace and quiet. If you just need to fly to London, you could also go to an even closer Reus airport (40 minutes drive). In summary, everything necessary to start an exciting new life by the Mediterranean is waiting for you here. You just need a plane ticket to Barcelona or Reus and an afternoon searching in MiMove for the right property for sale in La Ràpita.
