Throughout history it has also been an inhabited and strategic place. In the Iberian era it housed communities that traded with other towns in the Mediterranean, and in the Middle Ages the town of Ifach arose, whose archaeological remains can still be visited, giving the area a great cultural value.
Today it is a very popular destination for lovers of nature and outdoor activities. Its hiking trails offer spectacular views, while the climbing has more than 40 routes for all levels. The waters surrounding the rock are ideal for snorkeling and diving , although it is important to note that access to the main route is limited to 300 people per day , so prior online reservations are required.
Peñon d'Ifach interpretation center
The Visitor Center of Peñón de Ifach , located in Calpe, is the ideal starting point to discover this emblematic Natural Park. Here, practical information about the environment is offered and visitors are provided with a global view of its natural, historical and landscape wealth.
Practical information
In its facilities you will find a permanent exhibition dedicated to the flora, fauna and geology of the rock, as well as a didactic classroom specially designed for schoolchildren. It also has audiovisual material , signposted interpretive routes and viewpoints, such as the Mirador de los Carabineros , which offer unforgettable panoramas of the Mediterranean and the coast of Calpe. The center has specialized staff to answer questions and offer recommendations, as well as services such as toilets, parking and accessibility for people with reduced mobility.
Flora and fauna of Peñón de Ifach
The Peñón de Ifach Natural Park is a unique enclave for its extraordinary biodiversity, which includes endemic, rare and threatened species of flora and fauna. On its slopes, a Mediterranean thicket thrives with lentisco, palmito and sabina negral, while in the repopulations of Carrasco pine, aromatic plants such as rosemary, thyme and lavender abound. The cliffs and rocky walls are home to species adapted to extreme conditions, such as the Silene de Ifach (Silene hifacensis) , an endemism in danger of extinction that has become a symbol of the park. The botanical importance of the rock led to the creation of micro-reserves of flora that protect exclusive species such as Webb’s thyme, present only here naturally.
The fauna also has a special value, with birds playing a prominent role. The rock is a strategic point on migratory routes, hosting both wintering and summer birds. Birds of prey such as the peregrine falcon and the common kestrel , seabirds such as the tufted cormorant and the yellow-bellied gull , and a good number of resident species can be observed in it, including the Turkish turtle dove, the black tern and various warblers. The combination of its location and its habitats turns the Peñón into an authentic ornithological sanctuary.
Other animal species are added to this richness, such as reptiles (the Iberian lizard or the Iberian skink ) and mammals such as rabbits or common hedgehogs. Even the marine environment adds value to its biodiversity: in the waters surrounding the rock it is possible to spot bottlenose dolphins , while on land the presence of singular endemics such as the land snail Chondrina marina stands out. All this turns the Peñón de Ifach into a privileged place where nature and landscape meet in harmony.
