Calpe is a town on the Alicante coast chosen by many to enjoy their summer holidays. Not only known nationally, since there are many Germans, French and English who choose this destination to enjoy the warmth and Mediterranean charm . It presents a wide variety of leisure options . In addition, it has many points of interest , such as the old town, the promenade, the salt flats or the Paseo del Principe. One of the most characteristic places in town is the Peñón de Ifach . We show you the route you can take and everything you need to know below.
The Rock of Ifach
The Peñón de Ifach is possibly the most characteristic symbol of the Mediterranean coast . Widely known and famous, it stands 332 meters high . It offers beautiful views where the sea and the mountains contrast . In addition, it divides the two main beaches of Calpe. It is curious to observe that, from each one of them, the Peñón de Ifach has a different image.
When making the route that leads to the top of the rock, it is important to pay attention to all the aspects that we must take into account in order to have the necessary security measures . Therefore, we show you some of the things you should know if you are thinking of taking the tour.
Route characteristics
The route up to the Peñón de Ifach has approximately 5 kilometers of distance to the top. The duration of the uphill journey is approximately an hour and a half or two hours . It is a round trip that is signposted from the first moment. In addition, before starting the route, there is a small field where we can leave the car . After this point, the climb to the top is done on foot.
We can divide the route into sections perfectly differentiated by the characteristics of the environment. In one of them, we have the option of choosing to visit a viewpoint or continue to the top . In this case, we show you the path that leads to the top.
Route description
The first part of the trail is quite comfortable . It is characterized by integrating sloping sections with a moderate incline , but the terrain is simple. As we ascend, we observe the landscape and we anticipate the wonder that we will see from the top. After the first slope, we arrive at an access point where we can read some general indications and recommendations for the rest of the route. We will talk about some of them below.
We continue along zigzagging slopes surrounded by trees that lead to the famous tunnel . At this point, we can make a stop to observe the views . It is not recommended to continue to those under 18 years of age. However, under the responsibility of legal guardians, and with care, you can get to the top.
The tunnel, with caution
If we decide to continue, it is important to have a flashlight, since depending on the time there will be little light in the tunnel. The limestone that forms it is quite slippery, so it is recommended to pass it with caution, holding on to the rope that is available .
From this point on, the journey becomes complicated , the path narrows and there are sections with a certain level of danger where you have to take extreme precautions. The last 500 meters are characterized by the steepness of the climb . The difficulty is given by the wear of the stones located on the route, which makes them quite slippery.
When we reach the top , we find a rocky surface from which we can observe the Mediterranean Sea , the salt flats and the coastal environment of the area . It is a perfect picture to stay there as long as we consider appropriate, while we catch our breath.
Recommended clothing for the Peñón de Ifach
Given the characteristics of the route, the use of sports clothing and shoes is recommended. It is preferable to use mountain shoes that have a sole with a good grip . This is because much of the journey takes place on slippery stones and slopes with sand.
In addition to sports clothing, it is important to have a backpack where you can have:
- Enough water , because from the access point there are no fountains.
- Some piece of fruit , or food in case we get a drop in sugar or dizziness during the journey.
- Sunscreen.
- Flashlight to illuminate the route if at any point we need it.
- Binoculars if we want to observe the environment in greater detail.
- Plastic bag to use as a temporary trash until we find a garbage.
- Portable batteries to ensure that we do not run out of battery to take photos or make a call if necessary.
Best time and season to visit the Peñón de Ifach
Any time of the year is good to visit the Peñón de Ifach. However, in spring or early autumn we avoid the extreme heat and crowds of the summer months. Let’s decide the date of visit that we decide, something that we must take into account are the hours of light that we have to make the route. It is important to calculate the time well so that it does not get dark. A good option is to go up first thing in the morning, shortly after sunrise.
If we have some experience or we are athletes , we can make the route in the afternoon calculating to see the sunset from the top . From that moment on, the light diminishes considerably , since the area of the route is not illuminated. It is important to have instruments that illuminate the way or get off quickly.
Fauna and flora of the environment
As for the Peñón de Ifach natural park, you can see a rich ecosystem made up of varieties of plants and animals . Regarding the vegetation, the shrub, palm heart or black juniper stands out mainly. We also find well-known aromatic plants such as thyme, rosemary or lavender. There are some plants that stand out especially for their scarce distribution in the Alicante area.
As for the fauna, there are many animals that we can observe in this environment. Among them are :
- Yellow-legged gull.
- Crow.
- Turkish turtle dove.
- Goldfinch.
- Robin.
- Peregrine falcon.
