Journal
Orba, Murla and the Vall de Laguar: Inland Villages Half an Hour from the Costa Blanca North Coast
By Elia Living ·
When the coast feels crowded and overpriced, look inland
Coastal property in the Costa Blanca North has crossed the €4,000/m² mark in Jávea and Moraira. For buyers who want space, greenery, mountain air and a genuinely slower pace of life, three inland locations offer a compelling alternative — and none of them requires you to sacrifice reasonable access to the sea. Orba, Murla and the villages of the Vall de Laguar each deliver something distinct, but all sit within reach of the Marina Alta coast.
This guide covers each location practically: what the villages are like day-to-day, what the drive to the beach actually involves, which services are available, and what the same budget buys inland compared with the coast.
Orba: a proper town in the Orange Valley
Orba is the most practical of the three choices. With a population of around 2,400 — the largest municipality in this guide — it functions as a genuine working town rather than a hamlet, which makes a real difference for everyday living.
The village sits in the middle basin of the River Girona, surrounded by orange groves and almond terraces, 18 kilometres inland from Dénia and Jávea. The drive to either coastal town takes around 20 to 25 minutes along the CV-724 from Ondara — a decent road with no mountain drama.
What Orba has: a health centre with GP appointments (the Dénia public hospital is 15 minutes away), a pharmacy, four banks, a supermarket, hardware stores, a dentist, an optician, a nursery school, and a good selection of bars and restaurants. The La Marina shopping centre in Ondara is a 10-minute drive. For buyers planning to live here year-round, Orba removes most of the practical objections to inland living.
Property prices average around €2,021/m² — roughly half the going rate in Jávea and 45% below Moraira. At a €300,000 budget you are looking at a three-bedroom detached villa with a pool and a garden, whereas the same sum on the coast buys you an apartment.
Orba has a settled international community, with British, Dutch and German residents who have lived here for many years. It is not a tourist village — which is precisely why many buyers choose it.
Murla: 540 residents, Moorish origins and views over the Vall del Pop
Murla is a different proposition entirely. With a population of around 540, it is one of the smallest municipalities in the Marina Alta — a knot of white houses on a hillside in the Vall del Pop, with views across the valley to the surrounding sierras.
The village has Moorish origins, visible in its compact street plan and the ruins of a hilltop castle. It sits close to Parcent and Benigembla, roughly 30 minutes by road from Calpe and Moraira. There is no supermarket in the village itself; for day-to-day shopping, residents drive to Alcalalí, Parcent or the coast — a reality to factor in.
What Murla does offer is authentic Spanish village character at an entry price well below the coast. Listings average around €2,463/m², with typical asking prices around €300,000 for a restored village house with terrace and valley views. The buyers who thrive here are those who genuinely want quiet — retirees, remote workers, or second-home owners who treat the coast as a weekend destination rather than a daily commute.
The Vall de Laguar: three villages, one extraordinary valley
The Vall de Laguar is the most dramatic of the three choices, and also the most remote. The municipality contains four distinct settlements: Campell (el poble de Baix, the lower village), Fleix (el poble del Mig, the middle village), Benimaurell (el poble de Dalt, the upper village) and the former sanatorium colony at Fontilles. The three main villages sit within just 2.5 kilometres of each other on the terraced flanks of a deep valley between the Serra del Cavall Verd, the Serra de la Carrasca and the Serra del Migdia.
The valley sits at around 500 metres above sea level. Dénia is 23 kilometres away as the crow flies, but the road winds — allow 35 to 40 minutes on a normal day, not 30. This is not a commuter location; it is a place people choose deliberately.
The Vall de Laguar is widely known in walking circles as the "Cathedral of Hiking." Its signature route, the Barranc de l'Infern (Hell's Ravine), involves around 6,000 stone steps cut into the gorge and draws walkers from across the Costa Blanca. If you are buying here, you are buying into that landscape.
Property types range from compact village townhouses in Benimaurell or Fleix — some starting below €100,000 — to traditional stone fincas with large plots and panoramic valley views reaching €300,000 or more. The villages themselves have basic services (a bar, a small shop in the larger settlements) but not much more; Orba or the coast covers everything else.
The drive to the coast: what the numbers mean in practice
All three locations are within realistic reach of the Costa Blanca North beaches — but "half an hour" is honest only for Orba and Murla.
| Location | Nearest coastal town | Approx. drive |
|---|---|---|
| Orba | Dénia or Jávea | 20–25 min (CV-724) |
| Murla | Calpe or Moraira | 28–35 min |
| Vall de Laguar (Benimaurell) | Dénia | 35–45 min (mountain roads) |
The road from Orba to Ondara and the coast is straightforward. The ascent into the Vall de Laguar involves narrow, winding mountain lanes — manageable once familiar but worth considering before committing.
What your budget buys: inland versus coastal
At €250,000–€350,000, the contrast between inland and coastal is stark. On the Costa Blanca North coast, this range buys a one- or two-bedroom apartment or a modest townhouse. In Orba, it buys a detached villa with pool and garden. In the Vall de Laguar, it buys a substantial stone finca with land and valley views.
Inland properties also tend to offer larger plots — important if outdoor living space is a priority. Building plots and rural land with planning permissions occasionally come to market at prices that have no coastal equivalent.
Practical notes for buyers
Healthcare: Orba has its own centro de salud with GP appointments; Dénia's public hospital is 15 minutes away. From Murla and the Laguar, Dénia Hospital is around 30–40 minutes.
International schools: Lady Elizabeth School and Xàbia International College are both accessible from Orba within 30–35 minutes. From Murla and the Laguar, allow 40–45 minutes. Factor this in if you have school-age children.
Shopping: Orba has a supermarket and all daily necessities. From Murla or the Laguar, the weekly market circuit (Dénia on Monday, Jávea on Thursday) and the La Marina shopping centre in Ondara cover most needs.
Rural property considerations: Land classification in this area can be complex — particularly for fincas in the Laguar. Confirm whether any outbuildings have the correct licences before you proceed, and instruct a local lawyer early in the process. Our guide to rural villa due diligence covers the technical checklist in detail.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How far are Orba, Murla and the Vall de Laguar from the beach? Orba is 18 km from Dénia and Jávea, roughly a 20–25 minute drive. Murla is around 28–35 minutes from Calpe and Moraira. The Vall de Laguar villages are 23 km from Dénia by road but the mountain route means 35–45 minutes in practice.
Q: What are typical property prices compared with Jávea or Moraira? Orba averages around €2,021/m², roughly half the Jávea rate (€3,000–5,000/m²) and well below Moraira. Murla averages around €2,463/m². Vall de Laguar village houses can start below €100,000 and fincas with land reach €300,000+.
Q: Do you need a car to live in these villages? Yes, a car is essential for all three. Public bus connections exist to Dénia and Ondara from Orba but are infrequent. Murla and the Laguar villages have no regular public transport links.
Q: Is Orba viable for year-round living? Yes. With a health centre, supermarket, banks and schools nearby, Orba supports full-time residence comfortably. Murla requires more reliance on neighbouring towns; the Laguar villages are workable year-round but suit buyers who are happy with limited local services.
Q: Are there expat communities in these inland villages? Orba has a well-established international community — British, Dutch and German residents — who have lived there for years. Murla has some foreign residents but is predominantly Spanish. The Laguar villages have a smaller but enthusiastic international contingent, often drawn by the walking and natural landscape.
Q: What hiking is available from these villages? The Vall de Laguar's Barranc de l'Infern trail — around 6,000 steps through a dramatic gorge — is one of the most famous routes on the Costa Blanca North. Orba has access to the Montgo Natural Park trails and the river gorge walks of the Girona valley. Both areas are excellent bases for walkers.