Local Info & Town Hall (Ayuntamiento) Calpe

Calpe


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You know you’ve reached Calpe when you see the magical rock, the Peñón d’Ifach, mysteriously rising from the sea. 

This famous landmark was once used as a lookout point for pirates, who inhabited the seas along the Costa Blanca.  Today, you can climb the Peñón (which takes a couple of hours and isn’t advisable to do on a hot day) and see the most spectacular views for miles.  Look inland, beyond Benissa and you’ll see the formidable but majestic Sierra Bernia mountains.  To the right you can see as far as Benidorm and to the left the busy beach at Javea. 

The rock is 330m high, extends a kilometre out to sea, and at the base is a ‘parque natural’, where over 300 protected plant species grow.

During the summer months Calpe is a tourist town and is best avoided during August, unless you arrive very early or very late.  Parking can be difficult and the beaches are very crowded.  But, visit earlier or later in the season and you’ll find it a much more enjoyable experience. 

You can visit the main beach, Playa Arenal Bol, which is backed by restaurants and bars, has children’s play areas, toilets and plenty of room for everyone.  There’s also another beach, Playa la Fossa, the other side of the rock, which again doesn’t get overcrowded out of season.  If you enjoy snorkelling there’s a fantastic small rocky beach called Playa Cantal Roig (near the port).

The port is a great place to while away a few hours and there are some incredible seafood restaurants to be found.  At less popular times of the year waiters will stand outside offering you free drinks to entice you in.

And of course, there are plenty of other places to eat in Calpe.  Many cater for the Spanish, offering local paellas and menus del día, although other international food can be found.

Calpe is also a thriving town, with several large supermarkets, plus a selection of smaller shops ranging from DIY stores, to clothes shops to toy and book shops.  The town also has branches of all the main banks and there are plenty of estate agents if you’re thinking of buying or renting a property.

Calpe is a large sprawling town, which is too large to walk from one end to the other (unless you’re feeling very energetic).  If you enter at the Altea end you’ll come across the traditional old town (where a great market is held on a Saturday).  Next, you’ll pass the main beach to your right and on your left you’ll see the salt lakes, which are home to many migrating birds and date back to Roman times.  Continue past the rock either down to the port or the other beach or drive left and you’ll find the urbanisations and holiday complexes.

Despite its high rise hotels and apartments Calpe has a certain character about it.  Although large, it’s nothing like Benidorm, and seems to manage to get the balance of traditional Spanish life and the tourist industry just right.

Town Hall (Ayuntamiento)

Avenida Ifach 12, Calpe, 03710  -  965 833 600

www.aytocalpe.org

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