The Costa Blanca, which is located within the region of Valencia, is home to the popular fishing village of Calpe or Calp as it is now named. Calp is a popular tourist destination due to its beautiful sandy beaches, and variety of amenities. Calp is ideally located within easy access of the A7 motorway and the main N332 road which links much of the coast.
Calpe has a wonderful mixture of old Valencian culture and modern tourist facilities. It is a great base from which to explore the local area or enjoy the many local beaches. Calpe alone has three of the most beautiful sandy beaches on the coast.
History
Calp has a rich history, and is steeped in culture due to its location along the coast. The town has attracted settlers over the centuries including the Iberian´s and Roman´s.
Calp is home to the famous Peñon de Ifach (Calp Rock) landmark. The Peñon de Ifach stands 332m high and is now a nature reserve, providing a home to sea birds.
It is a genuinely tough and dangerous climb. From the top, magnificent panoramic views can be had. On a clear day, the island of Ibiza is visible.
The town centre is also home to the Museum of Archeology and the Fiestas Museum.
Excursions
Calpe has a wonderful modern marina that sits alongside the old fishing port; from here it is possible to take boat rides around the rock and to the nearby resort of Benidorm.
Calp is part of the Marina Alta, an area which attracts more expatriates than almost any other part of the Costa Blanca North, especially it’s principal coastal towns of Denia, Javea and Moraira. It has numerous attractions including several golf courses, tennis clubs and an exciting range of gastronomic experiences from the 3 Michelin starred “Quique Dacosta” in Denia to local tavernas offering “Menu del Dias” for a few euros. It also has some of the best beaches in Spain, many of which fly the prestigious Blue Flag awards indicating purity of the water and safety. As there is a large expatriate population English is widely, although not universally, spoken. There are also bars, restaurants, supermarkets, shops and clubs which cater specifically for the British expatriate community. The wonderful climate is of course the attraction for many, with over 300 days of sunshine a year and generally mild dry weather even in the winter months.
Calp enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, with cool sea breezes in summer and protection by surrounding mountains against the cooler North winds in winter. The area averages nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine each year and the average temperature easily exceeds 20 degrees.
In 1986 the World Health Organisation recommended the climate of the area as one of the most equitable in the world - neither too hot in the summer nor too cold in the winter. On average it can boast 325 sunny days each year, making it an ideal all-year-round destination.