The largest rock in the Mediterranean.


This volcanic boulder, known as Penon de Ifach (rock of Ifach) towers to over 335meters and is the largest rock in Mediterranean. It resembles the rock of Gibraltar, situated further south, so much that the Phoenicians gave it the name of the Northern Rock in order to differentiate it. Now it's a Nature Reserve due to its rare plants and the colonies of sea birds that reside there.

The town of Calpe, you won't be surprised to read, was originally a fishing village. Although it has embraced tourism and a large influx of European residents, it still retains its identity through the local fish market held at the port each afternoon and the Saturday market that simply buzzes with activity.

The three golden beaches sweep around the coast ending at the rock. The modern promenade lined with café bars and restaurants allows you to wander along the length of the seafront taking in the large marina and the old fishing port.

For the best views of the town, you can hike up the rock, through a tunnel carved out of the stone. From the top there is a marvelous vista: on a clear day you have a good chance of spotting Ibiza! But if you suffer from vertigo or just can't find the energy, then explore the rock from the comfort of the little ferryboat that sails around it. You can catch it from the marina.


Calpe Tourist Office: Tel. (+34) 965 839 693





Calpe has the most AMAZING back drop of any marina we have been into , very reminiscent of Gibraltar , the " rock" stands hundreds of meters above sea level a big lump of non eroded stone surrounded by mans attempts at recreating natures wonders... Tower blocks

We are wincing at the marina fees ... €89 for the night , no good anchorages nearby, the Norwegian boat we passed in the entrance way was rolling something awful and would have been suffering in the high Westerly winds that came in during the night.

Having had a lesson in drum and bass the night before , I really needed my sleep tonight and just smiled at the man in the office gave him my payment card and watched him fleece me.... I slept like a baby.

To get to Calpe from Alicante we had to pass the infamous BENIDORM ... A place filled with holiday makers , mainly a package deal location £50 gets you a flight and a hotel for the week, it was heaving on the beach aswe sailed on by.

I picked up the phone and rang mum as BENIDORM in Spain was the only foreign country we ever visited when I was a child, my parents then decided that going "foreign" wasn't for them , this was in the 70's !

There was little wind today and we motored all the way with the main raised - now it's easy to hoist we are getting into the habit of putting it up all the time, it's fun :-)

We couldn't raise Calpe marina on the radio when we arrived, so slowly ventured inside, it isn't so big and there wasn't too much room , we soon spotted a white shirted official waving and calling us.

They found us a berth and we filled out the paperwork, the guy on duty knew no English , we can only ask for coffee and toast but as per usual a smile , a laugh and some sign language got us a power adaptor, a key to the showers and a map of the town.



Nelson update : he isn't limping or yelping, but when he is sat outside he is constantly licking his dew claw, I've looked At it closely there is no swelling or infection, so I think I will trim the nail back as it grows just to stop him catching it on things, he's running and digging in the sand quite merrily and back to eating rocks !