All you need to know about hiking the Peñón de Ifach (Calpe, Alicante).
It’s one of the most distinguishable features of the Costa Blanca, a huge limestone outcrop rising from the sea. The Phoenicians (who arrived in the area around 800 BC) called it the “Northern Rock”, in contrast to the Rock of Gibraltar which was the “Southern Rock”.
Today the rock is a natural Park, the Parque Natural del Peñón de Ifach (in Spanish), the Parc Natural del Penyal d’Ifac (in Valencian). It is the smallest natural Park in Spain.
The rock is also one of the most popular hikes on the Costa Blanca. Although only 332 meters above sea level, the views from the top are phenomenal. But this is a hike that people underestimate, it can be tricky and even dangerous.
I cover that in this post. Further below I also include a video where I lead you through the hike in detail.
Preparing for the hike
The park only allows 300 people per day to hike the Peñón and you are required to reserve in advance using this website. It’s free. Note: I came in February and did not reserve in advance…and had no issues getting through. But I’m told that reservations are mandatory during busier times of the year. Always best to reserve.
Wear shoes with good treads because the rocks are slippery. Bring water. And prepare yourself that it will take about an hour to get to the summit of the rock (and about 45 minutes to get back down). So, including time at the top, plan on at least 2 hours to do the entire hike.
Note that minors (under 18), are not allowed past the tunnel area of the hike. So you can’t do the entirety of the hike with children. BUT – you can go up to the tunnel (about a 20 minute hike) with minors and the views from that point are great and very much worth it.
The different sections of the hike up the Peñón de Ifach
From town to the Visitors center
From the town, find Carrer del Peñon. You’ll see all kinds of signs pointing the way to the peak. Follow the street up. You’ll soon come to a wide gravel road. Follow that, it’ll wind its way up and you’ll get some nice views of the town and beaches.
It’ll take you about 10 minutes to get to the Visitor Center of the park. There you’ll find a turnstile that you’ll have to through (as I say, most times of the year you need a reservation and it would be at this point that they verify that you booked your hike in advance).
Visitors center to the tunnel
From the visitors center to the tunnel you’ll be walking on a zig-zagging cobblestoned path. Easy walking with increasingly impressive views the higher you go.
Then you arrive at the tunnel. It’ll have taken you about 20 minutes (from town) to get here. There’s a nice viewpoint and if you’ve come with kids (you can’t continue past the tunnel) you can enjoy the views. Believe me, even if your hike ends here it hasn’t been a waste of time, the views are great.
The tunnel
The tunnel through the rock was excavated in 1918 and is the only way to get through the cliffside to the southern side of the park (from where you navigate your way to the top).
The tunnel is 30 meters long and you should use the chains because the footing is very slippery. Otherwise getting through is easy.
The tunnel to the signpost
This section will get your heart racing a bit.
You’ll be walking on the side of the cliff along a rocky (and often slippery) path. Along the cliff wall are chains that you should use. Straight down are rocks, water and sure death if you fall.
It’s not technically difficult but you have to be aware and careful…and not get distracted by the cacophony of seagulls swirling around you (the rock face is the nesting grounds for seagulls as well as falcons). You’ll see a lot of birds flying around and squawking at you.
It’ll take you about 15 minutes from the tunnel to get to a signpost (35 minutes in total from town at this point). The signpost indicates two directions: 1) you can continue along the cliffside to the Mirador de Carabineros or 2) turn inland to the peak.
The signpost to the peak
It was getting a little later in the day so I decided to head straight to the peak.
You have to look for the red paint marks on the rocks, they indicate the path. You’ll be walking on rocks, sometimes you’ll have to do some light scrambling using your hands. Some say this is the most dangerous part of the hike but I didn’t find it hard and honestly felt a bit relieved to have gotten away from the cliff wall.
Soon you’ll arrive at the peak, a crown of rocks around the dome of the Peñón. The views are incredible but also dizzying.
Altogether, from my start in town to reaching the peak, the whole hike took an hour.
Back down
Coming back, the only way is retracing your steps. Again, always be careful, beware of slippery rocks and use the chains.
It took me 45 minutes to get back towards town.
Don’t take the hike lightly
It’s really not a technically difficult hike. Just walking and some light scrambling in the last section. It’s also not that strenuous, really you’re only ascending slightly over 300 meters.
But there have been accidents and deaths over the years doing this hike. And I can see why. The path along the cliffside is narrow and slippery. The seagulls squawk at you, letting you know that you’re invading their habitat. You have to be very vigilant. And I’d honestly be nervous doing this when there’s a lot of people and you have to give way when going in opposite directions along that cliff wall with the chains.
Note: When I came down the sun was getting low and I was surprised to see a few people just starting the hike. I had read a post about hikers getting stuck on the summit in the dark. Again, just use common sense and don’t do this hike in the dark.
Despite all that, this is a wonderful hike with stupendous views. One of my highlights of the Costa Blanca.
Related: Benidorm as a base on your Costa Blanca vacation
Related: Villajoyosa: the most colourful city in Spain
many years ago my wife & I attempted the hike, but turned back shortly after the tunnel. There were no hand holds after the tunnel. A couple who were coming down said there were hundreds of feral cats at the top. We read later that 4ft lizards and 7ft venomous snakes live there also. One wrong move and you’re done for. Only for experienced hikers, I’d say!
I’ve heard about the cats but didn’t see any. Lizards and snakes: yup, doesn’t surprise me. Luckily they tend to avoid people and stay far from the trails. Yes, I think I wouldn’t have felt so secure without the hand holds, must be recent.
I had told Lissette that I had heard it was an easy hike. It wasn’t, she would have hated it. So it’s good that people are aware.