Why move to Calpe
Calpe has three beautiful beaches flanked by the landmark Peñón de Ifach, a towering Mediterranean outcrop, and Les Salines De Calp salt flats — both renowned national parks.
Overview
Calpe nestles between the Ifach rock, rising 322m out of the sea and the Morro de Toix headland. Resulting in a coastline of sheltered rocky coves with pristine waters and calm bays. A port town since the Roman times, Calpe has built up around an idyllic old centre a bustling, practical resort town.
The unusual mix in topography (both flat and sea cliff habitats) attracts migrating birds and its protected parks are home to many endemic species, drawing nature enthusiasts from around the globe. The climb to the summit of Peñon d’Ifach offers spectacular views of the surrounding coastline. It’s popular with bird lovers who come to see rare species including Audouin’s gull, Eleonora’s falcon and the peregrine falcon. Whereas Las Salinas Natural Park is most famous for its colonies of flamingos. This large saltwater lagoon has a variety of wooden walkways installed to give close-up access to the birds, without having any effect on the precious ecosystem
Calpe is a town stacked with history. Archaeologists have discovered the remains of Iberian tribes; a team of volunteers recently excavated the ruins of a Roman villa, forming part of a Roman fish factory, known as the Banys de la Reina. And its busy ports have historically been attacked by pirates, invaders and saboteurs. As a result, the old town is a patchwork of residential, commercial and defensive architecture influenced by various rulers. The Ifach golf course overlooks the ocean and you can find copious larger courses inland; boat owners can book a birth at the Real Club Náutico de Calpe. Jijona ice-cream, a nougat flavoured popular delicacy, uses locally grown almonds.
Property
Calpe is a town made up of apartments, but you can find villas, chalets and bungalows on the outskirts and hillsides. If you’re looking for something truly unique, plots of land come up every now and then, often with planning consent included.
Transport
Accessed by the A7 motorway and the N332 that runs from Valencia to Alicante, Calpe is only one hour’s drive from the airport at Alicante. A well-serviced bus station runs intercity connections to more than 20 cities in Spain like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and an international connection to Andorra. Calpe train station is small and located just over a mile inland from the beach near the town centre. Trains, run by national service FGV, go between Denia and Benidorm. A local bus connects the station, town centre and beaches.
Employment
Of its 300,000 residents, about 60% are foreign-born, so tourism and the services for expats are great markets for English and Spanish speaking job seekers. However, the Valencian language (a dialect of Catalan) is prevalent among residents; you can’t get a job in the public sector without being able to speak it.
Health
There are eight GPs listed for the town and two dentists with Clinica Britannia offering a full range of health care services specifically to English speakers. You can reach state hospitals in both nearby Benidorm and Xabia.
Schools
Like the rest of the community, local state schools teach mainly in Valencian. However, there are plenty of international schools to choose from within driving distance in the neighbouring towns of Benissa or Benidorm.
Living expenses
Average annual salaries in Calpe generally meet the local costs of goods and services. Some things remain substantially cheaper e.g. the cost of rent, child care or private schools for example. Healthcare is free for residents and for those visiting from inside the EU.