The Peñón de Ifach is one of the most iconic mountains of the Levante coast. It sits in Calpe, Alicante, and it is the star of almost every photo a tourist takes in town. And if you are the kind of person who likes going up walls, your eyes go straight to it: an impressive 332-metre mass of limestone that rises practically out of the sea, and one of the great multi-pitch venues of the whole Costa Blanca.
Climbing on the Peñón de Ifach
On its north face, its west face and its south face alike, you will find a multitude of routes that let you navigate its rock in a fantasy atmosphere. It feels like you are climbing above the sea. On the north face, white limestone stands out. On the south face (the most popular), the orange limestone takes centre stage, along with overhanging, self-protected lines. And it is on the west face where you will find the best quality rock.
The easiest routes on the Peñón
It will always come down to taste and preference, but traditionally the routes known as the introductory lines on the Peñón de Ifach have always been these:
- Pany, 200 m, V.
- Valencianos, 260 m, V+.
- Diedro UBSA, 220 m, V+, home of the famous mid-route abseil.
Bear in mind that the popularity of these routes, both among teams looking for easy lines and among guided climbs, shows in how «washed» and polished the rock can seem. But this only happens on the very repeated routes. The Peñón is not polished the way people think: do not confuse polished with wet. The best humidity conditions come when the wind blows from the N, W or NW. Otherwise it arrives loaded with moisture off the sea and forms a slimy film of salt.
The most sought-after routes
Now that we know the popular lines at the lower grades, here are the most coveted routes on the Peñón, both sport and traditional:
Popular bolted routes:
- Costa Blanca, 210 m, 6c+.
- El Navegante, 200 m, 7a.
- Puto Paseo Ecológico, 200 m, 7a.
Traditional, mid difficulty:
- Roxy, 170 m, 6b.
- Same, 220 m, 6b+.
- Gómez-Cano, 280 m, 6b A1.
- Anglada-Gallego, 300 m, 6c.
- Potencia Peluquera, 160 m, 7a A1.
Traditional, hard:
- Revelación, 350 m, 6b+ A1.
- Herbes Màgiques, 350 m, 6b A2.
- La Manuel, 250 m, 6b A0.
Full route list on the Peñón de Ifach
After our selection of easy and popular routes, here is the complete list, ordered from lowest to highest difficulty, of all the routes on the Peñón. Important: research the routes before climbing them, as many may not be in condition for safe progress (the ones marked ❌ are not recommended, updated June 2025).
North face:
- Pany, 200 m, V.
- Piel de Talco, 240 m, V ❌
- Pere Cabrera, 250 m, V+ ❌
- Verde Esmeralda, 80 m, 6a+.
- Asignatura Pendiente, 77 m, 6b ❌
- Roxy, 170 m, 6b.
- Tropical Gangster, 240 m, 6b ❌
- Vampiro, 80 m, 6c+ ❌
- Matas-Lozano, 180 m, 6a A1 ❌
- Sinfonía de las Gaviotas, 160 m, 6b A2 ❌
West face:
- Same, 220 m, 6b+.
- Indirectísima a la Cresta, 350 m, 6b+.
- Manfred 3, 210 m, 6b A2.
- Fisura Manfred, 60 m, 7a.
- Potencia Peluquera, 160 m, 7a A1.
- Viajero del Viento, 220 m, 6b A3 ❌
- Puñalada Trapera, 170 m, 6b+ A3.
- El Hoy Fugaz es Tenue y es Eterno, 220 m, 5a/A3+.
South face:
- Diedro UBSA, 220 m, V+.
- Piratas, 240 m, V+.
- Valencianos, 260 m, V+.
- Directa UBSA, 180 m, 6a A0.
- Polvos Mágicos, 230 m, 6a+.
- Jhesus, 250 m, 6b.
- Me Estoy Quedando Sin Yemas, 105 m, 6b/A0.
- La Manuel, 250 m, 6b/A0.
- Virginia Díez, 110 m, 6b+.
- Costa Miserables, 200 m, 6b+.
- Sensación de Vivir, 250 m, 6b+.
- Pilar López de Sancho, 200 m, 6c.
- Anglada-Gallego, 300 m, 6c.
- Costa Blanca, 210 m, 6c+.
- Los Miserables, 240 m, 6c+.
- El Navegante, 200 m, 7a.
- Puto Paseo Ecológico, 200 m, 7a.
- Los Lunes al Sol, 300 m, 7a.
- Mare Nostrum, 240 m, 7a+.
- Pilar López de Pancho, 170 m, 7b.
- Nueva Dimensión, 350 m, 7b.
- Guillem Sendra, 7c+/8a.
- Gómez-Cano, 280 m, 6b A1.
- Revelación, 350 m, 6b+ A1.
- Línea Mágica, 6c A1.
- Sin Permiso de Obras, 450 m, 7a+ A1.
- Superdirecta, 350 m, 7a A1+.
- Herbes Màgiques, 350 m, 6b A2.
- La Nariz, 350 m, 6b A2.
- Espacio Libre, 310 m, 6b+ A2.
- Directa Rusa, 310 m, 7a A3.
Contact the local professionals directly.
Restrictions on the Peñón de Ifach
- Climbing the north face routes is forbidden from 1 April to 30 June for bird nesting.
- Although climbing the south face is not banned, it is not recommended during those months either: the gulls attack climbers and it can become very uncomfortable and even dangerous. Do not camp, do not climb where there is a restriction, do not add bolts.
The Peñón de Ifach is a Natural Park. Caring for the environment matters everywhere, but here you have to pay even more attention.
Tips for climbing the Peñón
- In the hottest months you can climb the south face until around midday or 1 pm and the west face until 2 pm to avoid the sun. The north face too, when it is allowed (July to March).
- Gull nesting runs from April to June. This does not affect the climbing regulation (you can climb), but you must take extra care passing near a nest, as the gulls turn aggressive and protective. If you get «attacked», wave your arms up high or fix a branch to your helmet or pack.
- Research the routes before climbing them: many may not be in condition for safe progress.
For topos, if you do not have a paper guide there are various online topos of the Peñón’s routes, such as the ones on the official Calpe site or the well-known ElevArte topos. Every year Calpe also hosts the Peñón Climbing Rally, one of Spain’s most popular with more than 20 editions: teams climb as many routes as they can in 12 non-stop hours.
The season and logistics
October to April is the prime season on this stretch of coast: stable weather, cool mornings, sun on the walls. Fly to Alicante; Calpe is about 45 to 60 minutes away by car, with every kind of accommodation and an area well used to visiting climbers from all over Europe.
Guided climbing on the Peñón de Ifach
Guided climbing is very common on the Peñón, where many climbing professionals take their clients to enjoy this iconic wall of the Valencian Community. The Peñón rewards knowing which routes are in condition and which are polished mirrors, and which faces are open when. A certified local guide matches the route to your experience, handles the logistics and the tricky abseils, and turns the day into the memory you came for. If you dream of the Diedro UBSA or your first long route above the sea, this is the place to hire one.
Tell us your plan and climb the Peñón de Ifach with a certified local guide
Useful links
- Climbing guides for the Peñón de Ifach (profiles in Spanish, many speak English)
- Climbing on the Puig Campana, the Peñón’s great neighbour
- More climbing destinations in Spain