Calpe Costa Blanca

Calpe, best known for it’s impressive rock (the Peñon de Ifach),  is also the home of three excellent beaches, two sandy ones and a pebble beach at the foot of the rock itself near the port, all of which are popular in the summer with tourists and locals alike. During the winter the pebble beach is a favourite for children wishing to throw stones into the sea whilst the sandy beaches are ideal for kite flying on windy days.

Near the port there are a few restaurants specialising in seafood which have spectacular fish displays and are worth a look even if you don’t fancy fish for lunch, they also offer reasonably priced “Menu del Dia”s and try to tempt you in with free glasses of wine or sangria.

The rock itself is a volcanic rock standing 1,000 feet proud of the sea.  It is a wildlife reserve and makes a pleasant morning or evening walk when it isn’t too hot.  There is a picnic area, an information centre and toilets just before the path starts to wind up to the rock itself.   There are viewing points along the path some with seats so you can have a rest part way up. The path itself passes through 300 species of plantlife including pine trees so affected by the wind that in places they seem to grow horizontally.  It is also home to about 80 species of birds

The rock used to be owned privately and in the early 1900’s it’s owner, Senior Vicente Paris Mola, cut a tunnel through the sheer rock face at a height of about 180m to provide access to the other side which is now used by 1,000s of people every year.

Once you pass through the tunnel the path is more difficult becoming a little more like a climb and should only be attempted by the physically fit, however if you decide to continue to the top the views are spectacularly rewarding.  Caution: if you intend to climb to the top be sure to set off before 10am and take plenty of water to avoid heat exhaustion.

Population 29,666

Alicante Airport 76.95 Miles / 123.84 KM

Valencia Airport 80.22 Miles / 129.1 KM

Town Hall Website