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Local tips

(Driving times by car from Casa La Luna, according to Google Maps.)

Nature & walking

• Peñón de Ifach ↗: Calpe's famous 332 m rock, with a footpath through a tunnel to the top. The summit route needs a free online booking (max 300 people a day); bring walking shoes and water. The walk to the top and back takes a few hours. 10 min.

• Las Salinas ↗: salt lake in the middle of Calpe with flamingos and other birds all year, most from May to August. Quietest early in the morning. 6 min.

Beaches

• Playa del Arenal-Bol ↗: wide sandy beach with promenade at the foot of the Peñón. 9 min.

• Playa de la Fossa (Levante) ↗: long sandy beach with promenade on the other side of the Peñón. 7 min.

Jacqueline's tips (food & drink)

• Pizzeria Piazza di Spagna ↗: affordable Italian pizzeria opposite the church, with parking, close to Casa La Luna. Av. Jaume I el Conqueridor.

• Los Dos Cañones ↗: Mediterranean, paella and tapas on a little square by the old church. C/ del Trinquet 2.

• El Arco ↗: Mediterranean-Italian with a terrace on Plaza de la Villa in the old town.

• The harbour ↗: several fish restaurants, such as Restaurante Baydal (since 1941; evenings Fri and Sat only). 11 min.

• Indian Curry Calpe ↗: Indian, down in town by La Fossa beach. Av. Juan Carlos I 32.

• Steakhouse Texas ↗: steaks, spare ribs and burgers, good value. C/ Jardín 3.

• Grizzly's ↗: cosy bar and grill with steaks and burgers. C.C. Biblos.

• La Llar de Bárbara ↗: tapas, by the old church in the village. C/ Mayor 10.

• Ni Hao ↗: Chinese, tasty, with excellent service. C/ Gibraltar 15.

• La Solana ↗: regional cooking in the mountain village of Alcalalí. Approx. 30 min.

• Fish market at the harbour ↗: Mon–Fri around 17:00 you can watch the fish auction from the walkway. 9 min.

Markets

• Calpe weekly market ↗: Saturday 8:00–14:00. Fruit and veg on the car park on C/ Petit in the old town, clothes on Av. Rumanía. 8 min.

• Flea market (rastro) ↗: Wednesday morning until approx. 14:00, between Av. País Valencià and Av. Rumanía. 6 min.

• Altea market ↗: Tuesday morning 8:00–14:00, on Av. de la Nucía and Parking La Basseta. 25 min.

• Moraira market ↗: Friday morning approx. 8:30–14:00, at Parking Les Sorts. 22 min.

• Evening craft markets ↗: summer only (June–September), every evening on the promenade.

Day trips

• Altea ↗: white old village on a hill with the blue-domed church and great views. 29 min.

• Fonts de l'Algar ↗: waterfalls and natural pools in the mountains. Open all year except 1 and 6 January and 24, 25 and 31 December; in winter closes around 15:30. 37 min.

• Guadalest ↗: mountain village with a castle on a rock and views over a turquoise reservoir. 52 min.

• Benidorm ↗: big city with long beaches, shops and the Balcón del Mediterráneo viewpoint. 37 min.

Practical

• Mercadona (Av. Juan Carlos I) ↗: supermarket with a launderette nearby. 5 min.

• Calpe old village (Plaza de la Villa) ↗: shops, terraces and free museums (Tue–Sat). 9 min.

Car hire

A car is very handy in Calpe. The easiest place to rent one is Alicante airport; from there it's about an hour's drive.

Tip: Sunny Cars (sunnycars.com) includes all insurance in the price, with no excess.

Whichever company you choose, look for a full-to-full fuel policy and insurance without excess, and take photos of the car at pick-up. Book well in advance.

We are not affiliated with any car hire company; this is just a tip.