Moraira Travel Guide - Expert Recommendations & Advice

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Why go to Moraira?

Last updated 2 May 2011

A fishing village at heart

The canny Swiss discovered the tiny fishing village of Moraira forty years ago and shared the secret with the Spanish who had reserved the hidden beaches and coves for their own pleasure. Only in the last decade has tourism development really arrived at the resort, and while the villas and apartments spread outward, tight planning controls ensured that there were none of the tightly-packed high-rise monstrosities that destroyed other resorts. At its heart it still has tiny cobbled streets and white painted cottages that remind you of Cornwall in the 1950s.

Soft, smooth, sunny – rock!

Moraira has its share of delightful sandy beaches with Blue flags flapping over them, but there are also hidden coves only accessible by foot, where you can stretch out on sun-baked rocks and snorkel in crystal-clear sea.

Countryside with views of the sea

Since 2002 the Cap d'Or has formed part of the network of micro-reserves of autonomous plants safeguarded by the Valencian government. Part of this nature reserve, La Cova de les Rates, is 'Reserva de Fauna Silvestre' a protected area of wild plants, where archaeological remains from the Bronze Age and Iberian settlements can be found.

Fighting for your fish

The Lonja de Pescadores by the fishing port is where the catch is auctioned. Part is kept for public sale, grandmas with their shopping trolleys, ancient with a cigarette hanging from the corner of their mouth (un-lit since the smoking ban came into force) and sharp-eyed mums looking for a bargain for the family meal, hover over boxes of glistening fish. As the clock strikes ten a rapid auction takes place to divide the, but be warned if you should like to take part. In Spain the bidding goes down, until someone shouts 'Basta!' (Enough!)