Calpe: Getaway City

I slept for most of the ride to Calpe, however I'm glad I woke up in time to see us drive through a small town called Xabia (Javea). It is very small, filled with lots of white washed houses. When I looked it up later, I found that it's a perfect place for a quiet, beach weekend get away! When the weather gets warmer in Spain, I really want to go.

Anyways, back to Calpe. I knew I was almost there when I saw the huge rock (pictured above)! Called Penyal d'Ifac, it's made of limestone and is part of the Natural Park of Penyal d'Ifac. Seeing it made me so excited because, like I said, I knew I was almost there and secondly, that was the rock I was going to hike the following day!

My first day there was beautiful: sunny and warm with a slightly warm breeze. The bus stop to the hotel was quite a walk, but I really enjoyed it as I found some nice gems along the way. I spent an hour or so at the beach before checking into my hotel (yes, a HOTEL for only 20 a night! Probably because it was off season, but I'll take it!). I went downstairs, grabbed a free map, and started the walk back into Calpe. My hotel was in between the town and the Natural Park of Penyal d'Ifac -- to me, a perfect location right next to the beach. It about 20-30 minutes of strolling to get back into town. I followed Google Maps and the free map to the old town.

It was kind of magical. I walked through this archway and immediately felt like I was in a different place (archway below).

There was even an old town map to my right as soon as I emerged.

I spent the rest of the day wondering the streets of old town Calpe up and down. I came across a medieval festival for El Puente! It was so cool. When I stopped for some mulled wine, I asked if they had this market every week and the guy said only this weekend - so I'm glad I didn't miss out!

I found a cool lookout point at the Ermita de San Salvador - a small church. I got to see the sunset up here. It involved climbing a lot of stairs and hills -- I'm glad I let myself get lost in little old town to find it!

The whole time I had been exploring old town I was looking for these beautiful Spanish stairs I had seen online. It was getting dark and I was giving up hope that I would ever find them. BUT I DID!

Old town Calpe was beautiful - a very different vibe than the stores and restaurants lined along the water. I really liked it - and like I said before, it felt hidden away and almost magical.

On the way back I stopped at a grocery store and picked up dinner and breakfast to keep my budget. I walked along the beach as the dark set in. It was so calm and still warm...so nice! Valencia involved a lot of walking and lot of sightseeing - trying to see as much as possible. So it was so nice to get to Calpe and spend the day taking my time and really taking in the town at my own pace.

The next day I slept in a bit, but made sure I'd be up and prepared by 10-10:30 to get hiking. The directions to the path from the hotel were really easy to follow thankfully. As I got closer to Penyal d'Ifac, it really loomed up and looked daunting. I had read that anyone could do the hike, but looking up I began to wonder a bit.

However, it really was a doable path! Rocky and a bit slippery on some of the rocks at parts from wear, but very doable. I saw kids doing this hike, and some people even wearing heeled shoes (which, upon completion of this hike, NO ONE should be wearing heeled shoes on this hike -- you are just asking for a twisted ankle). I got to where the path splits in about 20 minutes. I was feeling really good about that, especially after going through this slippery tunnel!

I didn't know which way to go where the path split. I decided to go on what I guessed was the harder route because it looked like it went higher -- and I was right and glad I went there first!

The longer route was definitely harder, much steeper and more rocky. They even had chains on some rocks for balance (look below).

I never felt unsafe though, doing this hike. I loved the challenge of climbing over the rocks and pulling myself up. It wasn't rock climbing as some online sites suggested, more like rock scrambling which is right up my alley. At the top, there were amazing views of the coast and Calpe (and lots of bird poop - be careful where you sit).

After taking some pictures, I went back and did the other track which was very, very easy compared to what I just did. I would highly recommend this hike for anyone -- just take your time and wear appropriate shoes! Heels would definitely have resulted in injury on the harder part of this hike.

The rest of the day I went to the other side of Calpe and spent the day at the beach reading in the sun. It wasn't warm enough to swim, but still really nice to feel the sand between my toes. It was really nice and relaxing, and although I couldn't see the sunset from this side of the rock, I was able to see the colors change as the sun went down.

I ended my evening at a cheap Chinese restaurant (I was going cheap, and it was the cheapest food I could find and it was right next to my hotel). I got an interesting shaped spring roll -- it was twice the size of a normal spring roll and kind of flattened. The soup dumplings I ordered also were interesting -- they were like a mix between a normal soup dumpling and a pork bun. So, bread like outside found in a pork bun but the inside meat was like a soup dumpling. Either way, the food was really good and the people were very nice. The lady even gave me a free calendar on my way out! We now have it hanging in our living room in Madrid.

The next day I had to go home because, well, work! I actually woke up before my alarm went off because it was so windy! Despite the wind, it was still pretty warm though. On the bus back it started raining, so I was glad that the forecast was right and I headed out earlier in the day rather than later! Even with the strong winds, it was still warm in Calpe and when I finally got to the bus stop I stripped off my layers and just waited in my long sleeve shirt and was totally fine. I was worried about leaving at first because the first two buses that came at 10:00, when my bus was supposed to come, weren't going to Madrid! My bus finally did come at 10:15 and I got back safe and sound. For work, I'm used to the buses being late, but when we have booked buses in advance they have always been exactly on time so that is why I was nervous for a bit. But it all went well in the end. I slept for half the way back and there were free movies on this bus, so I watched Into the Woods (didn't really enjoy that much) and Blacklist until I got back. I'm glad I got back before dark so I could have some time to relax at home before work the next day.

In sum, I got some much needed me time and Calpe gave it to me. I would definitely recommend this small town and it's mixture of nature and beach, even in the winter. If anything, more in the winter because there are less people so it's less crowded. I loved my time there and wouldn't mind going back again.