Calp Holidays: Penyal d'Ifac, Beaches and Getting There
Provincia de Alicante · Valencia · Spain · 23,326 residents · on the coast
Penyal d'Ifac Natural Park
platja de la Fustera
Platja del Cantal Roig
Platja de la Calalga
Cala del RacóCalp is a coastal town of 23,326 people on the Alicante stretch of the Valencia region, and its defining feature is the Penyal d'Ifac Natural Park, under 2 miles from the centre. Around it runs a string of small family beaches, from Cala la Mançanera, half a mile away, to Platja del Cantal Roig and platja de la Fustera further along the shore. Summers are hot and dry, with July and August reaching 30 to 31°C, and winters stay mild at around 16°C by day. Alicante airport, which has direct flights from the United Kingdom, is just under an hour's drive, so Calp suits both a full beach holiday and a base for exploring the neighbouring coast.
Why go
- The Penyal d'Ifac Natural Park lies under 2 miles from town, Calp's strongest draw for nature lovers.
- Five family beaches sit within 3 miles, with Cala la Mançanera just half a mile away.
- Alicante airport has direct UK flights and is a 58-minute drive from Calp.
Top sights in Calp
Natural park and family beaches
The headline sight is the Penyal d'Ifac Natural Park, a protected area 1.7 miles from the centre and the reason nature dominates Calp's character. It is the obvious first outing, and the rest of the town's appeal radiates out along the shore from it.
The beaches are small and family-friendly. Platja del Cantal Roig is 1.2 miles away, Cala del Racó 1.6 miles, Platja de la Calalga 1.9 miles and platja de la Fustera 2.7 miles. Closest of all is Cala la Mançanera, only half a mile from the centre, handy for a quick swim without the car.
Tours and tickets for Calp and the surrounding coast can be booked directly on this page through the booking cards below.
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Tours & tickets in Calp
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Calp can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Calp
Choosing your base in Calp
Calp sits just 58 metres above sea level and everything worth seeing is close to the water, so the main decision is which stretch of coast to favour. Staying near the Penyal d'Ifac Natural Park puts you within walking distance of Platja del Cantal Roig and Cala del Racó, while the area towards Cala la Mançanera keeps you closest to the centre.
For a livelier evening scene, Benidorm is 12 miles down the coast, which makes Calp itself the calmer choice by comparison. The page shows live hotel prices so you can compare options across town.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Calp and the villages around it is a hire car from Alicante (ALC), about 58 min away.
Best time to visit Calp
When to visit Calp
- 16°CJan21 mm
- 16°CFeb35 mm
- 19°CMar18 mm
- 20°CApr17 mm
- 22°CMay43 mm
- 26°CJun16 mm
- 30°CJul4 mm
- 31°CAug28 mm
- 27°CSept49 mm
- 25°COct51 mm
- 21°CNov9 mm
- 17°CDec13 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
The most pleasant months are June, July, August and October. June brings highs of 26°C, while July and August are the hottest, at 30 and 31°C by day with nights around 23°C. July is also the driest month, with just 4 mm of rain.
The wettest spell comes in autumn: September sees 49 mm over 9 rainy days and October 51 mm, though October still offers warm days of 25°C. Winter is mild rather than warm, with January and February peaking at 16°C, and April is notably settled, with only 2 rainy days.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16°C | 9°C | 21 mm | 8 h |
| Feb | 16°C | 9°C | 35 mm | 9 h |
| Mar | 19°C | 11°C | 18 mm | 11 h |
| Apr | 20°C | 13°C | 17 mm | 12 h |
| May | 22°C | 15°C | 43 mm | 12 h |
| Jun | 26°C | 19°C | 16 mm | 13 h |
| Jul | 30°C | 23°C | 4 mm | 14 h |
| Aug | 31°C | 23°C | 28 mm | 12 h |
| Sept | 27°C | 20°C | 49 mm | 11 h |
| Oct | 25°C | 17°C | 51 mm | 10 h |
| Nov | 21°C | 13°C | 9 mm | 9 h |
| Dec | 17°C | 10°C | 13 mm | 8 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights, ferries and driving from the UK
Alicante is the closest airport, 41 miles away and about a 58-minute drive, with direct flights from the United Kingdom. Valencia airport, also served directly from the UK, is 65 miles away, roughly an hour and a half by car. Murcia airport is the third option with direct UK flights, 86 miles away and about two hours' drive.
Driving down from Calais takes around 1,192 minutes at the wheel, roughly 20 hours, so most people split it over several days. Nearby ferry ports open up island hops: Dénia, 14 miles away, has sailings to Ibiza, Formentera and Palma, and Valencia, 59 miles away, serves Palma, Ibiza, Maó and Tangier Med in Morocco.
By air
- Alicante (ALC)41 miles, about 58 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Valencia (VLC)65 miles, about 1 h 32 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Murcia (RMU)86 miles, about 2 h 2 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 19 h 52 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Dénia (14 miles), Valencia (59 miles), Ibiza (78 miles).
Calp is good for
Around Calp
Easy day trips along the coast
Calp is well placed for short hops. Benissa is 5 miles away, Moraira about 6 miles and Altea, a town of 23,780 people, just over 6 miles. Teulada lies 7 miles off and Benitachell 8 miles.
Inland, la Nucia and Polop are both around 9 miles away. For a complete change of pace, Benidorm, with 70,450 residents, is 12 miles south. Further afield, the ferry from Dénia, 14 miles away, makes Ibiza or Formentera possible.
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Tips from Robin
Practical tips for Calp
Pack for heat in July and August, when daytime highs of 30 to 31°C make early mornings the best time for the natural park.
If you travel in September or October, allow for showers: these are the wettest months, with up to 9 rainy days in September. With around 23,000 residents, Calp is a sizeable town, and car hire from Alicante makes the coastal day trips far easier.
Questions people ask
Which airport is closest to Calp?
Alicante airport is the closest, 41 miles from Calp and about a 58-minute drive. It has direct flights from the United Kingdom. Valencia and Murcia airports also have direct UK flights but are further away, at roughly an hour and a half and two hours respectively.
What is the best month to visit Calp?
June, July, August and October offer the most pleasant conditions. June is warm at 26°C, July and August are the hottest at 30 to 31°C, and October stays warm at 25°C, though it is also the wettest month with 51 mm of rain.
Is Calp good for families?
Yes. Calp has several beaches suited to families, including Cala la Mançanera half a mile from the centre, Platja del Cantal Roig at 1.2 miles and Cala del Racó at 1.6 miles. The Penyal d'Ifac Natural Park, 1.7 miles away, makes a good outdoor outing.
How far is Calp from Benidorm?
Benidorm is 12 miles from Calp, making it an easy day trip. Altea is closer still at just over 6 miles, and Moraira is about 6 miles away, so several neighbouring coastal towns can be reached in a short drive.
Can I take a ferry to the Balearic Islands from near Calp?
Yes. Dénia, only 14 miles from Calp, has ferry sailings to Ibiza, Formentera and Palma. Valencia port, 59 miles away, offers routes to Palma, Ibiza and Maó, as well as to Tangier Med in Morocco.
How long does it take to drive to Calp from Calais?
The drive from Calais takes around 1,192 minutes, roughly 20 hours of driving, so most British travellers break it into several days. Flying into Alicante, which has direct UK flights and is 58 minutes away by car, is far quicker.