As part of a regular series of features on popular Spanish property hotspots, we take a look at property in Calpe, with input from HomeEspaña’s North Costa Blanca MD, Chris Solomon, who has a personal connection with this buzzing year-round destination
Home to the Costa Blanca’s landmark Peñon de Ifach Rock, Calpe’s two busy beachfronts, great choice of quality restaurants, good value properties and pretty port and old town make it an ideal destination for year-round residents as well as holiday homeowners.
Calpe is one of few places that seamlessly fuses the excitement of a larger high-rise resort with a friendly local feel, making it a popular choice for foreign buyers from all over Europe. And thanks to its balmy micro-climate and green mountainous landscape, it’s an attractive and healthy place to be any time of the year. Less than 30 minutes north of Benidorm and just south of Moraira, Alicante Airport is just 45 minutes away, while another option is Valencia Airport, just under 90 minutes’ drive – both reachable via the AP-7 motorway.
“Calpe used to be a very British resort, but these days there are French, Belgians, Germans and Dutch buying here too, giving it a nice cosmopolitan feel,” said Chris Solomon from HomeEspaña. “And it has always been a popular holiday resort with Spaniards from Madrid and other parts of the country’s interior, so it retains a Spanish feel. My parents have owned property here since the 1980s and we moved out here when I was a teenager. I’ve grown very fond of the place over the years and watched it develop, but I always look forward to visiting. I’ve got lots of great memories from growing up there, which include running a bar and cleaning pools! I count myself lucky that my mum still lives here.”
Besides the towering Rock, which is visible from miles around and offers fabulous views for homeowners, Calpe’s other noteworthy natural feature is its salt lagoon, called Las Salinas and located in the centre of the resort. Developments behind Las Salinas are popular with foreign buyers, including the Marisol Park community.
Water sports and sailing enthusiasts won’t be disappointed either – as well as its main marina and fishing port, Calpe also has a second marina at Puerto Blanco. Meanwhile, for a taste of real Spain, the old town has picturesque winding streets and is especially fun to visit on Saturdays when there is a market.
“Calpe is special in that it has two stretches of beaches, one either side of the Rock,” continued Chris. “And another highlight is that the beaches are narrow, so when you’re in a bar or restaurant on the promenade, you’re never far from the sparkling Mediterranean. This isn’t the case in other resorts with wider beaches. A notable attraction here are the many restaurants serving fresh fish from the port. In fact, Calpe has become a bit of a gastro hot spot and now with three Michelin star restaurants.”
To the north of the Rock is Fossa-Levante beach, which finishes at the desirable La Calalga and Basetes urbanisations. On the southern side of the Rock and next to the town centre and port is the main Arenal-Bol beach, with its lines of high-rise apartment blocks. Popular urbanisations next to the sea there include Tosal, Borumbot and La Canuta. Further from the centre but with especially good sea views are Maryvilla and Cucarres. Wherever you are in Calpe though, it’s hard to be more than 5-10 minutes’ drive from the town centre and beach.
HomeEspaña has properties in every part of Calpe, including Benissa Coastal towards Moraira. “Typical three-bedroom, two-bathroom villas here start from around €300,000-€350,000,” continued Chris. “This is cheaper than in Jávea and Dénia, where you pay €350,000-€400,000. For a nice apartment near the beach and suitable for holiday lets, prices start from around €150,000, but there are more urban apartments in the centre of town or further inland from around €100,000 which won’t come with access to a pool.”
Chris also points out that Calpe’s rental market has surged in the last year or two, with strong demand for most of the year. This is good news for buyers wishing to earn income from their property in Calpe, helping them to cover running costs and pay for their holidays here.
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