Mojacar on the Costa de Almeria, Spain is made up of the two completely different sections, firstly there is the hilltop village of Mojacar Pueblo and then in a complete contrast, there is the modern coastal resort of Mojacar Playa. The first is a nice and attractive village, with steep, narrow roads of whitewashed townhouses with displays of flowers that completes what is essentially a picture postcard type scene. Try Mojacar Pueblo in the evening when the many daytime visitors have long departed.
Mojacar has had a long and varied past shown by the relics of Phoenician, African or Carthaginian and Roman eras, but it was not until the arrival of the Moors that it began to thrive. After the Christian reclaimed it in about 1488ad Mojacar continued to grow, although the economy was devastated in the midle of nineteenth century when the whole area was stricken by droughts and the local population declined. It was not until about 50 years ago that Mojacar began to recover when it became home to a community of artists and authors. Tourism soon followed and the holiday town of Mojacar Playa has since developed into the holiday resort that we can see now.
In the centre of Mojacar Pueblo is the town square of Plaza Nueva, from which there are quite stunning vistas of the Mediterranean and the mountain chain of the Sierra Cabrera. The Moorish Fountain or La Fuente Mora has long been a vital source of coolspring water and it was near there that the Spanish rulers, Ferdinand and Isabella, met the local Moorish rulers in 1488 ad to demand their total surrender. Evidence of the Moorish era can still be seen throughout Mojacar Pueblo, such as the Puerta de la Almedina (city gate) which has a coat of arms from the early 15th century, plus the 14th century church of Santa Maria which was originally a Moorish fort.
The coastal holiday resort of Mojacar Playa contains all the attractions needed for an enjoyable beach vacation in the sun. There is a good selection of cafes and restaurants offering a wide range of local cuisine or international foodincluding French, American, Chinese, Mexican, Indian. If you feel the urge to dance the whole night away there is not a shortage of dance clubs or bars open very late during the high season. Mojacar has a large English and Irish expat community so it comes as no surprise to find many British pubsalong the entire stretch of coast. Mojacar Playa also has a busy commercial centre with boutiques, restaurants, banks, supermarket and chemist. The tourist information centre can be located there just opposite the main shops.
Mojacar beaches are superb including the Playa del Cantel and the Playa de la Cueva del Lobo, where there are lots of holiday activities available including sub aquadiving, windsurfing, angling and sailing. Only a small section of the Mojacar coast has been developed, so it is not very difficult to locate a quieter beach just outside the town, especially toward the
Cabo de Gata Natural Park further to the south.
The fall of Moors to the Christians is celebrated each June with the three day
Mojacar fiesta called the "Moors and Christians" festival. This popular spectacle has firework displays, music, and battles between the participants dressed in their rival historical dress.
Occasional coaches run from Mojacar to Almeria around 45 miles further west and there is also an hourly bus service running from Mojacar Playa to Mojacar Pueblo.
