In summary: Jávea’s famous Blue Door is located in Cala del Portitxol (or Cala Barraca), on the southern coast of the town. It is the door to an old, whitewashed fishermen’s hut, situated right on the cove’s shore, and it remains a private residence. In summer, the cove’s car park has 59 paid parking spaces and a barrier: it’s best to arrive before 9.00 am or walk down from the Creu del Portitxol viewpoint.
If you’ve seen Jávea on Instagram, you’ve seen this door: a white façade, a deep blue door and the turquoise sea in the background. The photo has become so famous that Cala del Portitxol, once a hidden gem for locals, is now one of the most visited coves on the Costa Blanca. Here’s exactly where it is, how to get there and how to take the photo without disturbing anyone.
Index
Where is the Blue Gate in Jávea?
-
The location
Cala del Portitxol (Cala Barraca)
- Where
- The southern coast of Jávea, between Cap Prim and Cap Negre
- What is it?
- The door of a fisherman’s hut
- Property
- Private: photography is only permitted from outside
- Car park
- 59 places, fee-paying in the summer
- In the browser
- "Cala Portitxol, Xàbia"
It is in the row of white huts on the front line, on the side of the cove closest to Cap Negre.
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For the photo
- Best time
- Before 9.00 am or from 7.00 pm
- Best time of year
- From October to May, no queues
By midday in August, there’ll be a queue outside the door.
-
For the rest of the day
- The cove
- Gravel and rocks, very clear water
- Plans
- Snorkelling, kayaking to the island, beach bar
The cove deserves more than just a photo.
The fishermen’s huts
The Blue Door is not a set: it is the door to one of the fishermen’s huts at Cala del Portitxol – small houses built right on the beach to store nets, tackle and boats, and to provide shelter during fishing trips. They are whitewashed with blue window frames, and it is this contrast with the water that makes them look like a postcard from the Greek islands. Many still belong to the families of those fishermen, and are therefore private homes. You can find the whole cove in our guide to Cala Portitxol or Cala Barraca.
How to get to the Blue Gate and where to park
- Portitxol RoadFrom Jávea, heading towards Cabo de la Nao. Use your sat-nav and enter "Cala Portitxol": the roads leading out of Jávea are a maze.
- Take a look at the availability boardThere are real-time display boards at the Consum roundabout and at the junction by the El Trovador restaurant. If it says ‘full’, don’t get off.
- Metered parking, Carrer de la Barraca59 spaces, no booking required, paid parking in summer, with a barrier when full. The final section, Avenida del Tío Catalá, is closed to traffic. You can find prices, dates and opening hours in the guide to the Cala Portitxol car park.
- Alternative: on foot from Creu del PortitxolPark by the Creu del Portitxol viewpoint, on the road, and walk down the signposted path for about 15 minutes. The return journey is uphill and can be quite a struggle in summer.
There are no buses or shuttle services to the cove. You can also get there by sea: by kayak or stand-up paddleboard from the cove itself, or on boat trips along the coast of Jávea.
The best time for the photo
- Early morning (before 9.00). Soft light, calm water and no one in the way. The best option, and you’ll arrive before the paid parking hours start.
- Mid-morning. El turquesa del agua está en su punto, pero desde las 10:00 hay gente y cola.
- Mediodía. Luz dura, sombras marcadas y la cala llena. El peor momento.
- Atardecer (desde las 19:00). Luz dorada sobre las fachadas y la cala vaciándose. La segunda mejor opción.
Fuera de temporada, de octubre a mayo, puedes encontrarla vacía a cualquier hora.
It is a private house
Muchos la buscan como la «casita azul» o la «casa azul» de Jávea: es la puerta de una de estas barracas. Esto es lo más importante de todo el artículo. La Puerta Azul y las barracas de alrededor son viviendas de familias del pueblo, que llevan años aguantando con paciencia la avalancha de visitantes. La foto se hace desde fuera: sin entrar, sin sentarse en el umbral, sin tocar la puerta ni mirar por las ventanas, y sin bloquear el paso a quien vive allí. Si hay alguien en la casa, un saludo y una foto rápida.
Things to do at Cala del Portitxol
Una vez hecha la foto, la cala tiene mucho más: snorkel en sus fondos de roca, la excursión en kayak desde la Cala Portitxol hasta la isla y las cuevas del Cap Negre, o la ruta a pie hasta el Cap Prim y la Cala Sardinera. Aquí tienes todas las activities in Jávea.
Excursions and activities in the area
Tips for your visit
- En julio y agosto, mira el panel de plazas antes de bajar. El parking suele estar completo antes de las 10:00.
- Escarpines: la cala es de grava y cantos, no de arena.
- Sombrilla, agua y protección solar: apenas hay sombra, y el chiringuito se llena.
- Si bajas desde la Creu del Portitxol, calzado cómodo y agua para la subida.
- Haz la foto y deja paso: detrás de ti hay más gente esperando, y dentro, alguien viviendo.
More coves in Jávea
Cala Portitxol car park- Cala el Pom, la cala escondida junto a Portitxol
- Cala Sardinera
- Where to park in La Granadella
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Blue Gate in Jávea?
At Cala del Portitxol, also known as Cala Barraca, on the southern coast of Jávea, between Cap Prim and Cap Negre. It is the doorway to one of the old fishermen’s huts, whitewashed, which stand right on the shore of the cove.
Can you go inside the Blue Door house?
No. It is private property – a fisherman’s hut that is still owned by a local family. You may take photographs from the outside, but you must not go inside, sit on the doorstep or touch the door.
How do you get to the Blue Gate?
By car, take the Portitxol road to the regulated car park at the cove, on Carrer de la Barraca. In summer, there are 59 paid parking spaces; bookings are not accepted and a barrier is raised when the car park is full; the alternative is to walk down the path from the Mirador de la Creu del Portitxol. There is no bus service to the cove.
What is the best time to take photos of the Blue Gate?
Early in the morning, before 9.00, when the light is soft and the cove is empty; or at dusk, from 7.00 onwards, with golden light and fewer people. At midday in summer, the light is harsh and the cove is full.
Why are the huts white with blue doors?
The huts at Cala del Portitxol are old fishermen’s cottages, built to store nets and fishing gear, whitewashed and with blue window frames. It is this contrast that makes them look like a postcard from the Greek islands and has made them famous.
What else is there to do at Cala del Portitxol?
Go snorkelling amongst the rocky seabed, go kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding to Portitxol Island and the Cova dels Òrguens, take a walk to Cap Prim or Cala Sardinera, and have a bite to eat at the beach bar in the cove.
