Mojacar holidays: hilltop village, beaches and castles
Almería · Andalusia · Spain · 5,154 residents · on the coast
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Mojacar is a small coastal town of around 5,150 people in the province of Almería, on the eastern edge of Andalusia. The old village sits 162 metres above sea level, with its beaches spread along the shore below, from playa de Mojácar to La Parata, La Ventanica and Macenas. Culture is the real draw: the Iglesia de Santa María stands in the village, the archaeological site of Las Pilas-Mojácar la Vieja lies just outside, and the Castillo de Macenas watches over the coast to the south. Summers are hot and almost rainless, winters mild, and three airports with direct flights from the United Kingdom are within reach.
Why go
- Mojácar village itself, perched at 162 metres, is the town's best-known sight and an easy stroll.
- Four beaches lie within about 4 miles, including playa de Mojácar and Playa La Parata.
- Almería airport, with direct flights from the United Kingdom, is roughly 50 minutes' drive away.
Top sights in Mojacar
Village, castles and four beaches
Start with Mojácar village, the town's most notable sight and right on your doorstep, where the Iglesia de Santa María is also found, about 100 metres from the centre. Less than a mile out, roughly 0.9 miles away, the archaeological site of Las Pilas-Mojácar la Vieja adds an older layer to the story, while the Castillo de Macenas, a listed cultural property about 4 miles from town, stands near the beach of the same name.
For the sea, playa de Mojácar is the closest at around 1.4 miles, followed by Playa La Parata at about 1.9 miles, La Ventanica at about 2.7 miles and Macenas at roughly 3.7 miles. All four suit families. Tours and tickets for the area can be booked directly on this page.
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Tours & tickets in Mojacar
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Mojacar can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Mojacar
Old village or the coast
Mojacar splits naturally in two. The old village, up at 162 metres around the Iglesia de Santa María, puts you among the town's cultural sights and suits couples who want atmosphere over sand. Down on the coast, staying near playa de Mojácar or La Parata keeps the beach a short walk away, which makes more sense for families.
With a population of just over 5,000, this is a modest place rather than a large resort town. The page shows live hotel prices so you can compare the village and the beach side for your dates.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Mojacar and the villages around it is a hire car from Almería (LEI), about 50 min away.
Best time to visit Mojacar
When to go to Mojacar
- 17°CJan16 mm
- 17°CFeb17 mm
- 21°CMar18 mm
- 23°CApr14 mm
- 24°CMay82 mm
- 28°CJun26 mm
- 32°CJul2 mm
- 32°CAug2 mm
- 28°CSept41 mm
- 25°COct70 mm
- 21°CNov24 mm
- 18°CDec9 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
The most pleasant months are April, June, September, October and November. April brings highs around 23°C with only three rainy days, June reaches about 28°C, and November still manages around 21°C. October is warm at about 25°C but is one of the wetter months, with around 70 mm of rain.
July and August are the hottest, with highs near 32°C and lows around 22°C, and are almost completely dry. May is the wettest month, with about 82 mm of rain over eight days. Winter is mild, with December to February highs of 17 to 18°C and nights around 8°C.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 17°C | 8°C | 16 mm | 9 h |
| Feb | 17°C | 8°C | 17 mm | 9 h |
| Mar | 21°C | 10°C | 18 mm | 10 h |
| Apr | 23°C | 12°C | 14 mm | 12 h |
| May | 24°C | 14°C | 82 mm | 12 h |
| Jun | 28°C | 19°C | 26 mm | 13 h |
| Jul | 32°C | 22°C | 2 mm | 13 h |
| Aug | 32°C | 22°C | 2 mm | 12 h |
| Sept | 28°C | 19°C | 41 mm | 11 h |
| Oct | 25°C | 16°C | 70 mm | 9 h |
| Nov | 21°C | 12°C | 24 mm | 9 h |
| Dec | 18°C | 8°C | 9 mm | 9 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights, ferries and the drive
Almería airport (LEI) is the closest, about 35 miles away and roughly 50 minutes by car, with direct flights from the United Kingdom. Murcia (RMU) is around 61 miles away, about an hour and a half's drive, and Alicante (ALC) is about 106 miles away, roughly two and a half hours by road; both also have direct flights from the United Kingdom. Car hire is the simplest way to reach the town from any of them.
If you prefer to drive from home, allow around 22 and a half hours behind the wheel from Calais. Almería's ferry port, about 40 miles away, serves Morocco and Algeria (Nador, Melilla and Oran) rather than the United Kingdom, so it is more useful for onward travel.
By air
- Almería (LEI)35 miles, about 50 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Murcia (RMU)61 miles, about 1 h 26 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Alicante (ALC)106 miles, about 2 h 30 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 22 h 35 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Almería (40 miles).
Mojacar is good for
Around Mojacar
Day trips from Mojacar
Turre is just 2.5 miles inland and Garrucha about 3 miles up the coast, both easy half-day outings. Vera, around 7.5 miles away, is a larger town of nearly 14,000 people, and Carboneras lies about 10 miles to the south.
Further afield, Cuevas del Almanzora is roughly 11 miles away, Sorbas about 16 miles, and Pulpí around 20 miles. Lucainena de las Torres, home to barely 600 people, is about 20 miles away and the smallest place on the list.
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Tips from Robin
Practical tips for your stay
The village sits at 162 metres while the beaches are down at sea level, so expect a climb between the two; a car or comfortable shoes help, especially in July and August when highs reach 32°C.
If you travel in May or October, pack a light rain layer, as these are the wettest months. And with a population of around 5,000, Mojacar is small, so for a wider choice of shops and services, Vera is about 7.5 miles away.
Questions people ask
Which airport is closest to Mojacar?
Almería airport (LEI) is the nearest, about 35 miles away and around 50 minutes by car. It has direct flights from the United Kingdom. Murcia and Alicante airports are further, at roughly an hour and a half and two and a half hours' drive respectively, and both also have direct UK flights.
What is the best month to visit Mojacar?
April, June, September, October and November are the most pleasant. April offers highs around 23°C with little rain, June and September reach about 28°C, and November still sees around 21°C. October is warm but one of the wetter months, so bear that in mind.
How hot does Mojacar get in summer?
July and August are the hottest months, with daytime highs of about 32°C and night-time lows around 22°C. They are also almost completely dry, with roughly 2 mm of rain each month, so expect strong sun throughout a summer holiday.
Is Mojacar good for a beach holiday?
Yes, there are four family-friendly beaches within about 4 miles: playa de Mojácar at around 1.4 miles, Playa La Parata at about 1.9 miles, La Ventanica at roughly 2.7 miles and Macenas at about 3.7 miles from the village.
Can you drive to Mojacar from the UK?
You can. The drive from Calais takes around 22 and a half hours, so most people break it over two or more days. Flying to Almería, Murcia or Alicante and hiring a car is far quicker for a week or a fortnight away.
Is Mojacar warm in winter?
Winters are mild. From December to February daytime highs sit around 17 to 18°C, with nights near 8°C. Rainfall is low, with about three to five rainy days a month, which makes it a reasonable choice for winter sun.