Calpe – Peñón de Ifach.
It is impossible to talk about the city of Calpe without mentioning the Peñón de Ifach.
Nature created, one of its finest masterpieces, with this striking headland—where beauty, location, marine life, and an exceptionally mild climate all come together. Perhaps its only true comparison would be the Rock of Gibraltar.
There are two clearly distinguishable parts of the Peñon de Ifach: the upper part, made of limestone with steeper vertical walls, and the lower part, composed of more clay-based materials, with gentler slopes and of more recent formation.
Interestingly, the younger portion of the rock lies beneath the older layers, not because of local formation, but due to a massive landslide that originated in the nearby Sierra de Oltà.
Despite being surrounded by urban development, the Peñón de Ifach still preserves much of its natural biodiversity. Many of the plant species found here have drawn the attention of botanists from all over the world. The same can be said for the wide variety of bird species nesting in its crevices, including Eleonora’s falcon, the peregrine falcon, the European shag, the gannet, the pallid swift, the yellow-legged gull, the greenfinch, and the kestrel. Reptiles and lizards, though fewer in number, have also made this striking rock formation their home.
Until the late 19th century, the Peñón belonged to the municipality of Calpe. It was later privately owned by various individuals before being acquired by the Valencian Government shortly before being declared a natural park.
Though one of the smallest natural parks in Europe, its bioclimatic conditions, the nature of its soils, and its unique location give this promontory an extraordinary diversity and richness in flora and vegetation.
Tickets available: For boat trips around the Peñón with underwater viewing
For boat excursions from Calpe to Benidorm
For boat excursions from Benidorm to Calpe
F. J. Villaplana
Exbenidorm
