Discover Mojacar on the Costa de Almeria

A far cry from the busy, built-up Spanish costas further north and south, Mojacar on the Costa de Almeria, is a laid-back, little piece of paradise with its feet firmly rooted in its bohemian past. It’s also the place I call home.

History of Mojacar

Time and modern development has seen the beach area change considerably since the artists and hippies made their way here in the 1960s but Mojacar has managed to retain a certain charm and continues to be a favourite destination for Spanish holidaymakers who flock here in their droves in July and August.

Mojacar on the Costa de Almeria came of age in the 1960s when the then mayor placed an ad in the Times of London and the New York Times, inviting people to invest in the crumbling town. For less than 1,000 dollars people from the USA and Europe snapped up the mostly derelict village houses and slowly transformed them and the town in to what was to become one of  ‘Spain’s prettiest villages’ as voted by followers of a website of the same name.

Many of the original expats stayed in Moacar and brought up their families here. This eclectic mix of nationalities and personalities made Mojacar what it is today, a haven for artists, musicians and people looking to hang out in one of the few remaining unspilt beach resorts on the coast of Spain.

Modern Mojacar

News of Mojacar’s uniqueness travelled far and wide and the resort now attracts visitors from all corners of the globe, mainly during the summer months, after which, in the winter the melting pot of residents get the place back to themselves for a while.

Uniquely Mojacar

There are many things which make Mojacar, on the Costa de Almeria unique, be it the lack of high-rise buildings, the long stretch of sandy beaches or the contrast between the beach area and the whitewashed hilltop village which sits regally above the coast and beckons one to go up and explore its secrets.

Another unique feature of Mojacar is the traditional beach-front bars and restaurants, known as ‘chiringuitos’ most of which have direct access to the beach.
Enjoy delicious seafood and a jug of sangria with your feet almost touching the sand. In the evening you can relax and listen to live music under the stars.
These rustic eateries have stood the test of time, despite the current, local mayor’s best efforts to build a promenade straight through the middle of them.

Mojacar Pueblo

The old village or ‘the pueblo’ as it is known, is a labyrinth of cobbled streets with white terraced houses, bougainvillea-clad walls and hidden courtyards. Modernisation has put a small mark on this exquisite place with an array of gift shops offering delights such as the ‘I heart Mojacar’ tee-shirts and other non-traditional trinkets.

Mojacar pueblo is in the top ten ‘most beautiful villages in Spain’ and it’s easy to see why, with a photo opportunity around every corner you can while away many an hour lost in this whitewashed maze. After all the exploring, sit and enjoy a cold drink and lunch or dinner in one of the many bars and restaurants and why not stay to watch the breathtaking sunset from the main square.

Mojacar Playa

Back down on the beach (playa), foodies will be in their element, with restaurants offering typical European dishes alongside tasty tapas and delicious paellas.  

At night time in the summer, Mojacar’s beach area comes to life with cocktail bars serving up colourful concoctions and music floats through the air as bands and singers provide entertainment into the early hours.  For the late-night owls, upmarket music venues stay open almost until dawn.

Famous people who have visited or lived in Mojacar

Mojacar, on the Costa de Almeria has attracted many famous (and infamous) faces over the years, here is a list of just a few:

Mojacar is allegedly the birthplace of Walt Disney, he was adopted by an American family and moved to the US.

Gordon Goody, the mastermind behind the Great Train Robbery, lived in Mojacar until his death in 2016.

For British readers, two famous faces from soap opera, Coronation Street, owned properties in Mojacar. Beverley Callard and the late Ann Kirkbride.

Spanish president, Pedro Sanchez, is a regular visitor to Mojacar and can often be seen enjoying lunch in his favourite chiringuito, Aku Aku.

Crooner, Tony Christie, of Amarillo fame, had a villa in Mojacar.

Eating out in Mojacar

You will be totally spoiled for choice when you eat out in Mojacar. You can find cuisine from around the globe, including, Indian, Chinese, Italian, Thai, Mexican, American and of course Spanish.

Enjoy lunch in one of the famous chiringuitos.
Enjoy the best (in my opinion) paella in town under the shade of the enormous trees of Aku Aku. Located right by the beach, you can enjoy post-lunch drinks with your feet in the sand and maybe linger a while until the evening when live music creates a whole new atmosphere.

At the other end of the beach is Neptuno, an upmarket beachfront restaurant, overlooking the sea with a fantastic menu , complete with meat and fish dishes.

If sharing is your thing, you can’t go wrong with a selection of delicious tapas at La Bohemia, a tiny restaurant located on the promenade at the south end of the beach. All dishes are freshly cooked by owner and chef, Alex, so enjoy your drinks and wait a little while.

In the evening you can enjoy authentic, freshly cooked Indian food at Mountains of the Moon, again, be prepared to wait as everything is cooked to order.

Steak lovers will enjoy, La Cabaña, genial host, Jorge will let you browse the menu while enjoying the special, blue cheese spread and chimichurri sauce with freshly warmed bread.

Lovers of Italian food have numerous restaurants to choose from, including the recently opened, Piamonte, and nearby you can enjoy delicious pizza at Imperial Playa.

If Mexican is your thing, Don Pancho and Canalla are actually next door to each other, both serving tasty food from south of the border. For a late night snack, La Mula Terca offers delicious tacos to go or to eat on the terrace.

The chef at Gastro Malabar has created a unique menu featuring delicious modern European sharing plates. Choose from the excellent wine menu and ask co-owner, Elia for her recommendation.

Mojacar Nightlife

Mojacar on the Costa de Almeria has plenty to occupy the night owl. Most of the chiringuitos (beach bars) stay open late into the evening with live music or DJ sets.

You’ll find a sophisticated crowd all year round at Playa Juana, with ambient music and amazing cocktails. The younger crowd can usually be found in Alma Beach while nearby, Bocaina, offers a cool atmosphere for all ages.

The Sky Bar at Dolce Vita Beach Club is stunning, you can almost imagine yourself on a cruise ship with the uninterrupted ocean views.

If you want to party from the afternoon until dawn, Mandala Beach is a unique beach club experience, located on the beach with swimming pool outside and nightlife indoors under the thatched roof.

Mojacar Pueblo also shouldn’t be overlooked for fantastic nightlife. Watch the sun go down from the Plaza Nueva, then wander the cobbled streets to find the best tucked away bars with cool vibes, unique to Mojacar.

Fiesta time

Mojacar and its residents (known as Mojaqueros) love a good party and throughout the year there are plenty of excuses to get into the spirit, with the town’s numerous fiestas.

Kicking off the new year is the Three Kings or Los Reyes celebration, the day when the children enjoy animated parades and get to open their presents.

February 28th is Dia de Andalucia, to celebrate, well, the region of Andalucia! After the official flag-raising ceremony officiated by the local council, Mojacar Pueblo hosts a giant paella, free for everyone and you may just find yourself being served by the town’s mayor.

Easter, or Semana Santa is a more somber affair but the various religious parades are well worth a look.

The second weekend in June, brings my favourite fiesta. The village comes to life with the annual ‘Moors and Christians’ (Moros y Cristianos) fiesta, a three-day event which loosely revisits the ancient battles between the conquering Moors and the Spanish Christian residents. Despite the obvious historical inaccuracies, the colourful costumes, dancing horses and marching bands make this the number one must-see in the festival calendar.
I have participated in this fiesta for many years and the excitement has never worn off.

The fiesta of San Juan is marked throughout Spain, coinciding with summer solstice. In Mojacar, fires are lit along the beach (the only night of the year this is allowed) and revellers jump through the fires and dive into the sea in some kind of cleansing ritual. Usually preceded by copious amounts of beer or ‘tino de verano’ (summer red wine spritzer).

The end of August sees the celebration of San Agustin, Mojacar’s patron saint, a lively weekend event with live music late into the night, rounded off by a spectacular firework display.

The slightly more serene Virgen del Rosario celebration is held in early October and this pretty much sums up the fiesta calendar.

Indalo Man

Pretty much everywhere you go in Mojacar on the Costa de Almeria you will see the ‘Indalo Man’ symbol shown in the photo below. You’ll see him on keyrings, magnets, plates, houses, railings, car stickers and other locations!

The original symbol was found in 1868 as an ancient cave painting in the Los Velez mountains, seemingly depicting a man holding a rainbow above his head.

The Indalo man is a lucky charm but he should be bought for you as a gift rather than buying one yourself.

What else is there to do in Mojacar

If you’re looking for big shopping malls and theme parks, then Mojacar probably isn’t for you. That doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to keep you occupied.

The closest thing Mojacar has to a shopping mall is the Parque Comerical, a small complex of shops, bars and restaurants including shops selling modern and bohemian clothing, shoe stores, jewellery stores and gift shops. Plus a good selection of coffee shops, bars and eateries.

The beach opposite the Pueblo Indalo offers paddle boards, pedalos and the great fun banana boat.
Serous ocean lovers can go scuba diving with Buceo Mojacar.

Children and adults will enjoy the Aquapark in the nearby town of Vera.

A short drive from Mojacar will take you to the Tabernas Desert and Mini Hollywood. This barren landscape was used as a set in many Hollywood movies, including Star Wars and a number of Spaghetti Westerns. There you can wander round the film set and see an actual reproduction of a western gunfight!

For golfers, there are a number of courses to choose from around the Mojacar area, including the Marina de la Torre golf resort on the beachfront.

The ancient city of Granada, famous for its Moorish and Jewish history and the amazing Alhambra palace is just over a two-hour drive from Mojacar and easy to do in a day.

If you enjoy walking or cycling, Mojacar has many routes to suit all abilities. Don’t miss a visit to the Torre del Pirulico, an ancient watchtower at the south end of the beach where you can climb to the top and take in the stunning views.

Hanging out at the beach is an actual pastime in Mojacar, large families arrive early, complete with pop-up gazebos, beach games, tables and chairs and huge, laden picnic boxes and spend the day enjoying a relaxing (and usually noisy) time with the family.

Where to stay in Mojacar

Mojacar has a wide choice of accommodations, from luxury villa rentals to cute low-cost hostels.

For a touch of luxury, you can stay in the beautiful Mojacar Parador, with its lush gardens, large swimming pool and fabulous bar/restaurant with sea views. Read more about Spain’s Paradores.

Smaller hotels such as the Puntazo or Punta del Cantal offer great value and are both in a great beachfront location close to all amenities.

The hotel Mojacar Playa is also good value, clean accommodation and in a good location.

Families with younger children may enjoy the facilities of the Pueblo Indalo apartments, with playgrounds, entertainment and all-inclusive offers.

If you want to stay in the heart of the old Pueblo, the Hostal Olivar is a small and exquisite property located in the church square.

All the above accommodations and more can be found on Booking.com, you can search directly in the box below.

How to get to Mojacar, on the Costa de Almeria

The closest airports to Mojacar are the following:

Almeria – 55 minutes
Murcia – 1 hour 15 minutes
Alicante – 2 hours
Malaga – 2 hours 45 minutes

Visiting Mojacar from Europe is relatively easy, there are flights to all the above airports from most major European airports.

If you are travelling from further afield such as the US you may have to fly to Madrid or Barcelona and then take an internal flight. Air Europa flies direct from Malaga to New York and Miami.

If you are travelling from outside of Europe, you could combine a visit to Mojacar with a tour around Andalucia and discover the other amazing destinations in this region, such as Seville, Granada, Malaga and Cordoba.

Whichever way you decide, make sure Mojacar is on your bucket list, you won’t be disappointed.