Shopping facilities and infrastructure
In the immediate vicinity there are Aldi and Lidl, as well as Mas-y-mas, Consum, Mercadona and other supermarkets, which are excellently equipped for everyday needs. The fresh meat and fish counters in particular are outstandingly stocked, as are the high-quality fruit and vegetable assortments.
Anyone looking for a new USB stick, a memory card, a charging cable for their smartphone or a waterproof Bluetooth speaker will find what they are looking for at tien21 in El Verger. The prices are good to sporty, the salespeople also speak English.
A small clinic for non-serious illnesses is located in Pego, a larger hospital in Denia. Treatment costs may have to be paid in advance. English-speaking doctors can also be found in the area and even make house calls.
Surroundings
About 4 km away is the coast, which has sandy beaches almost all the way. You can't miss them, but they are also signposted (Playa/Platja). You can swim and build sandcastles there for free. We spend many hours there every year.
There are also "dog beaches" where you can let your dogs run around. These are signposted accordingly.
In addition to the possibility of hiking directly from our holiday home over Monte Pego, there are many possibilities for sporting activities. At the foot of the mountain there are tennis courts, all kinds of water sports can be practised directly on the beach. If you prefer a more leisurely pace, you can also have a very nice dinner there with a view of the Mediterranean. It would go beyond the scope of this article to list all the gastronomic possibilities; you will discover them yourself during a short excursion along the coast. In our experience, you can't go far wrong. There is a Chinese restaurant in the immediate vicinity with a large and inexpensive buffet.
Very interesting excursions are possible from the port of Denia (30 minutes by car). From there, ferries depart (for day trips) to the neighbouring coastal towns as well as to the Balearic Islands. If you like, you can also book deep-sea fishing tours from there.
Not only nature lovers will like the 1300ha Marjal de Pego/Oliva (5 min), a huge nature reserve at the foot of Monte Pego. You can book canoe tours, guided hikes, bicycle tours or bird watching through a small but excellent provider of outdoor activities (https://www.naturalismolife.com/). If you like, there is also excellent fishing (carp, mullet, barbel, black bass, sea bass and crab).
For a shopping tour (15 min), the large shopping centre (Portal de la Marina) is suitable, where you will find a number of shops as well as restaurants, etc.
There are several amusement parks in the region, the best known is probably Terra Mitica in the direction of Benidorm (45 min).
Cycling is also very popular. There are several cycle paths, but a tour through the Marjal is probably the most comfortable. Bikes can be booked at https://www.naturalismolife.com/.
Friends of sightseeing should make a day trip to Denia (30 min). The remains of a castle from the 11th/12th century are impressive, as is the fish market. In Pego (10 min.) it is worth visiting the large market square, which is bustling with activity in the evenings. The weekly markets there are also very Spanish and invite you to chat and haggle.
Many of the surrounding villages are picturesquely beautiful and sleepy, and the drive there is a little adventure. A spontaneous expedition is definitely worthwhile here.