The town of Calpe sits about an hours drive north of Alicante on Spain's Costa Blanca. Although the townâs two large beaches are lined with hotels and holiday apartments, Calpe still maintains its Spanish flavour unlike Benidorm to the south.
The first thing most visitors notice about Calpe is the famous Peñon de Ifach, a large rock bearing a close resemblance to the Rock of Gibraltar. The rock stands 332 metres in height and is protected as a Natural Park and home to over 300 species of animal.
Levante Beach
On the northern side of the rock is the Levante Beach. This is where many of the apartments and hotels are, and most of the bars and restaurants are Spanish. Calpe is very popular with Spanish tourists as well as northern European so you can enjoy the Spanish atmosphere without it being spoilt by British pubs and fish & chip shops.
Calpe Harbour
At the foot of the rock is Calpe harbour and the famous fish market. The market itself is not open to the public, although there is a viewing gallery where you can go in and watch the restaurants, supermarkets and other traders bidding for the day's catch. The time the market is open varies depending on the tides. You can sample the local fish at any of the fish restaurants that stand opposite the market and harbour, all cooking fish caught that day, and you cannot get much fresher than that!
Calpe harbour is also home to the yellow submariner. This dual-hulled boat takes you round the base of the rock where you can view the marine life through the glass hull. The trip lasts around 45 minutes and takes you all the way round to the Levante beach.
If you want to explore some of the other coastal towns, you can get one of several small ferries that stop at Calpe, and take you to Benidorm, Altea, Javea and Denia. You will need to check the times of the return trip to Calpe.
Arenal Beach
On the other side of the rock you will find the Arenal Beach, which stretches all the way to the town itself. This is the beach to come to if you enjoy water sports. During the summer you can take part in Paragliding, kite surfing or waterskiing.
Both beaches are lined with shops, bars, restaurants and ice-cream stands, so you never have to go far from the beach if you do not want to.
The Town
The main shopping street starts at the beach and rises up the hill to the old town. The old town is made up of narrow streets and traditional Spanish buildings with the church in the centre. When exploring the old town you will find many quaint restaurants and bars for a refreshing drink or leisurely lunch while you sit and watch the world go by.
Between the old town and the beach is the main town of Calpe. Here you will find just about anything you want from small boutiques and gift shops to department stores and supermarkets. You will be able to sample the local produce, wines and products and find some interesting souvenirs to remind you of your stay in Spain.
