What to do on holidays in Mojácar Spain
Mojácar is a gorgeous beach holiday destination located in the southeast of the Province of Almeria. This is in Andalucía in the southern part of Spain. Mojacar Playa actually borders the Mediterranean Sea, and Mojacar Pueblo is one of the famous white villages of Andalucía located on a hilltop with panoramic views of the Mediterranean coastline. There is so much to do when taking your holidays in Mojácar.
Mojácar’s 17 kilometres of beaches stretch from the edges of Garrucha to a few kilometres from the start of the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park Mojacer is actually a village in two parts. The beautiful whitewashed village that clings to the side of the cliff is Mojacer Pueblo and the area that runs along the beaches is the Playa these are around km apart but there are good transportation options to get between the two.
Mojacer Playa is the place to be for the Spanish in the summer months of July and August but during the rest of the year, the Playa has a great population of ex-pats that live here year round.
What to do on your holidays in Mojácar
Getting to Mojácar
From Almeria airport: Take the bus from the airport to the bus station in Almeria city. From there catch an intercity coach to Mojacer. The bus costs around €8 Euros one way and arrives at Parada de Autobus Mojacar Parque Commercial – La Playa.
Taxis are, of course, a form of public transport – From Almeria airport to Mojacar Playa a taxi, one way will cost about 90€. There are various airport transfer minibus services which cost around 65 – 70€ per direction, per person.
from Alicante airport: Due to a greater distance, public transport from Alicante or Murcia airports are a bit more complicated and obviously takes longer. From Alicante you would have to get to the bus station and take the bus to Vera, it would be the same from Murcia Airport. Then from Vera, you can grab another bus to Mojacer.
The journey could take quite a while depending on the bus schedule and when your flight arrives. The cost will be around €18 Euros one way. I would recommend renting a car from either of these airports and driving to Mojacer. The drive is around 2.5 hours to 90 minutes from Murcia Airport. If you go by car, take the Autovía del Mediterráneo, from Almeria to Murcia and exit at 520 – Los Gallardos – Turre – Mojácar. Alternatively, you can take the toll road from Murcia or Alicante, which does quicken the journey, but the toll cost is €12 Euros per car. There is also the regular highway system that goes by E7 directly to Mojacer.
History of Mojácar
Mojacar has apparently the largest population of expats in the country. During the 60 when Mojacar’s population dropped to 1000 people, they began to give away land to anyone who promised to build. This sparked the local economy and many artists and new residents moved in. This gave Mojacar a great boost and the tourists began to arrive to enjoy the local beaches and restaurants.
Local legend claim that the cartoonist Walt Disney was born in the area and immigrated to the United States when he was a child.
This depopulation of Mojacar continued until the 1960s when it reached critical proportions with only 1000 residents living in the area. Local leaders then decided to give away land to anyone who promised to build upon it. This offer proved to be the spark, which rekindled Mojacar’s economy.
What to see in Mojacar Pueblo
Mojacar pueblo remains true to its Moorish past and can only be really explored on foot. There is an elevator above a parking site on the edge of the pueblo, which will take you up to the old town where you can explore its beautiful streets on foot.
While in Mojacar, there are some places you definitely can’t miss out
Mojacar Town Hall and the central tiled square next to it. In the centre of the square is a 100 + year old Ficus Benjamina that was brought to Mojacer by an immigrant from America.
Plaza del Parterre, behind the church you will see a set of stone stairs which go down to the Plaza del Parterre. This was the old Arab necropolis where the tombs look towards Mecca.
Fuente Mora de Mojácar or source of the thirteen pipes. The Mojácar Fountain (the Moorish fountain) is located near the Plaza de las Flores. The fountain is also known as Fuente de los thirteen caños this is where the Moorish leaders surrendered to the Christians.
Puerta de la Ciudad, the original doorway to the town. It was built in the 16th century, and it is decorated with the emblem of the city, a two-head eagle.
Iglesia de Santa Maria. Located near the Plaza del Parterre, you can see the statue of The Mojaquera that represents the women of Mojacar.
Moorish statue in Mojacer Pueblo
Plaza Nueva and the Mirador. Mojacar’s main square is always filled with lively tourists, drinking a Tinto Verano at one of the comfortable bars or enjoying a breathtaking sunset from the Mirador. From there, you can admire the views over the Sierras de Cabrera, Bédar and Almagrera, as well as the nearby towns and the river Aguas.
Mojacar Playa Spain
Mojacar Playa sits on 17 kilometres of gloriously beautiful beach around 2.5 kilometres from Mojacar Pueblo. Full of chirinquitos, play areas for the kids, beach bars and restaurants and loads of activities the beach is virtually deserted except in July and August when the Spaniards hit Mojacar for the summer holidays.
There are tons of places to eat and drink from Irish pubs to tapas bars, Indian food, and Spanish cuisine restaurants. You can get everything from paella to a Full English breakfast.
Transportation within Mojácar Playa and Pueblo
For those tourists who are using public transport and are not hiring a car, there is a local bus service (Yellow buses) which operates a circular route. Starting at Puerto Marina hotel at the far end of Mojacar Playa (Carboneras end). The bus timetable is available from the tourism offices on the playa opposite Parque Commercial and also in Mojacar Pueblo (village) at the top of the hill. The bus timetable is also posted on the buses… The cost of a trip on this bus is around €1 Euro.
Where to stay in Mojácar
Ask for a room with a sea view and most of the rooms are self-catering and have a small lounge with a TV, table and chairs and small kitchen space. The hotel is super convenient for everything on the Playa. Loads of restaurants and bars around the area and it is right across the road from the beach.
Set near the beach this is a simple hotel with free wifi, TV, small lounge and kitchen so self-catering. There are 2 pools and a kid’s pool along with a hot tub.
A pretty casita hotel tucked down a turning off the coast road. Flanked by a reed-filled lagoon and low-rise apartments, it is located right on the windsurfers’ beach, and you can usually swim here too. The 19-whitewashed rooms have ceiling fans and there is a pool.
The Parador de Mojácar is located near the town’s beaches. Clean, quiet rooms with great views this is a small hotel with a pool. All rooms of the Hotel Mojácar Playa are double rooms equipped with phone, TV, air conditioning, heating, balcony, safe box, etc.
Right across from the beach and the Mojácar – Hotel Indalo bus stop, this relaxed seaside hotel is also 7 km from Marina Golf Mojácar golf course. Offering terraces with sea views, the colourful rooms also feature free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, minibars, plus tea and coffeemakers.
A breakfast buffet (fee) is offered in the casual buffet restaurant, and there is also a bar. Other amenities include an outdoor pool, a hot tub, and a playground, plus a spa with a sauna and Turkish bath.
Do I need a car in Mojacar?
Transportation from Mojacar to other areas: Vera, Garrucha, Mojacar Playa
In the summer (from May to October) there is a little road “train” which runs between Vera Playa and Garrucha town. The fare is €4 per person for a return trip and the service starts around 1730 hrs and continues until the last “train” from Garrucha at about midnight.
You can hail and ride at any point on the little train’s route (within the naturist zone it goes down Avenida Tortuga Boba and along Calle Naturaleza past Vera Natura and then up to the big roundabout on the main road). It is supposed to run hourly but the timing is sometimes off and you could be waiting a while.
See Above for information on the Mojácar buses from the Pueblo to the Playa. To venture beyond Mojácar and see the Tabernas Desert or take in other sites you will need to rent a car.
Mojacer Weather
Mojácar has a lot of sun and heat. Rainfall is seldom and weak, with a median rainfall of 200mm per 12 months. The common yearly temperature is around 20 °C.
The best Spanish Holiday activities in Mojácar
Buggying is a huge amount of fun, racing over the Tabernas desert area, hitting the hills around Mojácar. You can rent the buggies by the hour or take a guided buggy tour for an hour around the sites on the outskirts of Mojácar.
Scuba Diving at Centro Escuela de Buceo Mojacar
Mojacar is a superb scuba diving hub. The scenic dive sites are probably among the best in Spain with many species of aquatic life and wonderful topography with even a wreck from WW2.
Play bowling with your folks at Ozone Bowling.
Quad bikes are awesome because the tour was wonderful! The sights are unimaginable. They can customize the place you need to go primarily based on choice. You can select to undergo the again roads, farms, villages and native markets. It was an amazing way to be an expert in Indalo Quads.
Playing Golf in Mojácar
If you can’t bear the thought of missing your favourite game for a week or two, you’ll find golf is one of the most popular things to do in Mojacar, so pack your clubs. The Desert Springs Golf Club offers a variety of golf challenges, a great restaurant and pool with activities for the whole family. It is a little distance from Mojácar near Cuevas Almanzora.
The Marina Mojacar Golf Course offers 18 varied holes set against one of Spain’s most scenic fairways. Expect palm trees, mini mountain ranges and three lakes, all designed to test your skills.
The course at the Valle de Este Golf Club offers lush greenery and a different design at every hole. If you want to warm up, there’s a driving range and a putting green where you can prepare yourself for the highs and lows of one of Spain’s most demanding courses.
Caving in Mojacar
If you’re looking for adventurous things to do near Mojacer you can head for the Caves near Sorbas (about a 45-minute drive) you can dig out your inner Indiana Jones go caving. There are tours that range from easy which children can do up to experts and prices range from €10 to 50 Euros. The caves are located in the Gypsum Karst National Park of Sorbas, which is a protected area.
These caves are unusual because of the gypsum that grows there. Gypsum is a white tubular crystal that requires specific conditions to flourish, which is where the Karst comes in. The Karst is a particular set of overground and underground strata that protects the gypsum crystals from water erosion. The result is a subterranean spectacle of glittering crystals that line the chambers and passages in the spectacular network of caves.
Festival Celebrations in Mojácar
Mojacar knows how to party, especially during the summer months. Take in the Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians), the biggest fiesta in Mojacar, which is held every June and commemorates the handing over of the city from the Moors to the Christians. Parades, costumes, parties, music, dancing, drinking, costumes, battles and loads of re-enactments oh and did I mention drinking?
La Noche de San Juan is a festival celebrating the summer season. This is held in June and celebrated throughout Spain. In Mojácar, they celebrate with a massive beach party that lasts until morning. People gather around a bonfire and revel in music, dance, and other activities. The ritual includes burning muñecos or dolls to bring good luck.
Other fiestas to note are the festival of Mojacar’s patron saint San Agustin (held in August), a festival of the Virgen del Rosario (held in October), and the Fiestas de Navidad (held in December).
Mojácar’s beaches are rightly incredibly popular but if you want something, a little more adventurous on the beach you can learn Kiteboarding with Bora Kites. Sailing with Candalix Beach Sailing School or how about taking a camel ride down the beach with Camellos de Almeria who set up on the beach closest to Garrucha during the summer months.
There’s a lot more to Mojácar than first meets the eye, stay tuned for the new article on 10 of the best places to eat in Mojácar.
Have you been to Mojácar Spain? What was your favourite activity?
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2 Comments
Oh my, this looks gorgeous. I haven’t visited this part of Spain yet, but you’ve just convinced me, I really love the look of that Puerta de la Ciudad!
It’s a great area to explore, beautiful views and vistas, lots to do – oh and the food is amazing