Visiting the Cova del Moraig

Cova del Moraig – a sea cave at Cala del Moraig in Benitachell

Cova del Moraig usually means the sea cave at Cala del Moraig, in Benitachell (El Poble Nou de Benitatxell), about a quarter of an hour’s drive from Moraira. Locally the cave is called Cova dels Arcs, after the two large natural arches that connect it with the sea. Higher up there is a smaller opening through which daylight falls. The cave lies right on the pebble cove, below high limestone cliffs.

How to visit the cave

On foot over the rocks

From the south side of the cove you clamber over large boulders to the entrance. Inside, the floor is uneven and slippery, and on the way down you need your hands. Wear shoes with good grip; flip-flops are a bad idea here.

Swimming, snorkelling or by kayak or SUP

The water around the cave counts as one of the finest snorkelling spots in the province. You can swim out to the arches from the beach or paddle there by kayak or SUP board. Only do this when the sea is calm: in a swell the cave cannot be reached safely, not even over the rocks. For where to hire equipment nearby, see stand-up paddle and kayaking and diving and snorkelling.

Parking at Cala del Moraig

In July and August a shuttle bus runs from the village of Benitachell down to the cove; the current timetable is on the Benitachell tourist website. Dogs are not allowed on this beach.

Cala del Moraig

Place: Cala del Moraig, El Poble Nou de Benitatxell
From Moraira: ± 15 min by car
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When to go

The cove is small and fills up quickly in summer. Come early in the morning, when the cave is still quiet and the light on the water is at its best. In spring and autumn it is considerably quieter, and outside 1 April to 15 October you pay nothing to park. Check the sea state beforehand: with an easterly wind there is often more swell in the cove.

Nearby

From the cove a short path of about 275 metres runs along the Falla del Moraig, a fault line in the rock face where the layers of stone are clearly visible. Underwater, this is where the Riu del Moraig begins, an underground river explored over some six kilometres since 2013. It is open to specialist cave divers only. For more coves along this coast see beaches near Moraira, or combine the visit with the little beach of Cala Llebeig.