Day Out Calpe and Moraira
A trip to the seaside towns of Calpe and Moraira in the Costa Blanca North makes for a great day out. It gives a true taste of what the area has to offer and the scenic drive from Calpe to Moraira is stunning. It is the restaurants which keep people returning to both of these places time and time again as they enjoy quality fresh fish straight out of the sea!
Calpe, also know spelt without the 'e' as Calp, is instantly recognised by the mighty Penon de Ifach, the huge rock which rises 332 meters out of the Mediterranean sea. The Rock of Ifach was as declared a nature reserve in 1987 now provides a safe haven for a variety of birds and unusual flora and fauna. There are quality sandy beaches, kilometres of sea front promenades, excellent local shopping facilities including a large street market and a wealth of bars and restaurants offering all kinds of cuisine.
The tranquil town of Moraira remains the most unspoilt coastal town of the area. Moraira has an exclusive affluent feel to it which is confirmed by the little 'castle' on the sea front. The small marina, the promenades, viewpoints and small shopping district along with the 8 kilometres of blue flag beaches, some sandy and some rocky, add to the charm of this seaside resort.
Places to stop during a day out at Calpe and Moraira
- Calpe: has two fantastic long sandy beaches, the Rock of Ifach natural park and the
- Scenic Drive: from Calpe to Moraira along CV746 with lots of possible stops for admiring the views!
- Moraira: has a selection of sandy and shingle beaches, a fantastic marina and a restored castle.
Places of Interest
Calpe Beach North End Playa Levante
N38o38.554 E0o04.330Parking: is in any of the marked spaces on the side of the road and is free.
From here: walk onto the long sandy beach and it's promenade.
Places of interest and things to do at the Playa Levante
- Relax on the beach!
- Stroll along the promenade.
Calpe Beach South End Playa L'Arenal-Bol
N38o38.545 E0o03.024Parking: is in any of the designated car parks and is charged for by length of stay, this is the coordinate for the Plaza Colon parking.
From here: the beach and promenade is right beside the car park.
Top tip: to avoid paying for car parking and driving through the busy streets of Calpe Town park beside the Salinas and walk.
Places of interest and things to do at Playa L'Arenal-Bol
- Relax or walk along the beach!
- The town is directly behind the beach, there are many shops, bars and restaurants to enjoy.
Calpe Parque Natural del Penon de Ifach
N38o38.347 E0o04.352Parking: is on gravelled car park area and is free.
From here: the entrance to the natural park is right beside the car park.
Places of interest and things to do in Rock of Ifach Natural Park
- Follow the marked walking trail around the park, through the tunnel in the rock and onto the seaward side of the Penon de Ifach for some amazing views! It normally takes a whole morning or afternoon to do the whole trail, so just go as far as you want, then turn around and come back!
Calpe Parque Natural Las Salinas
N38o38.542 E0o03.810Parking: is in any of the spaces on the side of the road and is free.
From here: you are right beside the salinas natural park.
Top tip: this is a good place to park for free, as you can walk to the town or to the L'Arenal-Bol beach from here.
Places of interest and things to do at the Salinas Natural Park
- Admire the pink flamingos!
- The tourist office is on the opposite side of the road if you want some more information.
Calpe Scenic Driving Route
N38o38.560 E0o04.089Parking: this isn't a car park, but the coordinate for the start of the scenic drive to Moraira.
From here: follow the road along the CV746.
Top tip: the coordinate for the finish of the scenic drive in Moraira is N38o40.875 E0o07.095.
Places of interest and things to do along the Scenic Driving Route
- Stop and admire the views, anywhere marked as a Mirador is a designated viewpoint.
- Stop and visit some of the small coves and beaches marked as Cala, Playa or Platja.
Moraira Beach North End Platja del Portet
N38o41.303 E0o08.758Parking: is on gravelled car park area and is free, it gets very busy here during the summer and parking spaces are very hard to find.
From here: walk down onto the beach.
Top tip: the car park quickly becomes flooded when it is raining!
Places of interest and things to do at Platja del Portet
- Beach: small sandy beach.
- Promenade: short tiled walkway.
- Selection of cafes and restaurants.
Moraira Beach South End Platja de Platgetes
N38o41.148 E0o07.561Parking: is in the car park or in any of the designated spaces along the main road and is free.
From here: the beach is in beside the car park.
Places of interest and things to do in at Platja de Platgetes
- Beach: part sandy and part rocky.
- Shopping Parade: a selection of restaurants and a few small shops beside the car park.
Moraira Car Park
N38o41.344 E0o07.911Parking: is in the large car park and is free, there are other car parking spaces in the roads around here which are marked with blue lines and are pay and display spaces.
From here:walk towards the sea and turn left for the rebuilt castle, restaurants, marina and shopping streets, turn right for the sandy beach and shaded promenade with seating area.
Top tip: the car park is closed on Fridays as it is the site of the market.
Places of interest and things to do from Moraira Car Park
- Castle: was built in1742 and still has the shield from the Royal Borbon family over the doorway.
- Marina: lined with restaurants offering excellent fresh fish dishes.
- Shopping Area: boutique style shops occupy the streets behind the marina.
- Beach: sandy beach to relax on.
- Promenade: you can walk along the whole of the sea front from the marina to the beach.
Moraira Scenic Drive to Calpe
N38o40.875 E0o07.095Parking: this isn't a car park, but the coordinate for the start of the scenic drive to Calpe.
From here: follow the road along the CV746.
Top tip: the coordinate for the finish of the scenic drive in Calpe is N38o38.560 E0o04.089
Places of interest and things to do along the Scenic Driving Route
- Stop and admire the views, anywhere marked as a Mirador is a designated viewpoint.
- Stop and visit some of the small coves and beaches marked as Cala, Playa or Platja.
