Why move to Moraira
Strict planning laws that protect the surrounding pine forests and restrict the height of buildings, have made Moraira one of the most unspoilt resorts on the Costa Blanca.
Overview
The Moraira valley is the convergent point of several mountain streams. These flow down to the beach even during the driest August weather. Over time, these streams have deposited their rich fertile soil on the valley bottom making the region famous for agriculture, especially wine growing.
The Cap d’Or peninsula borders the town to the North. Between this headland and the surrounding foothills, there’s protection from harsh weather during the winter and a natural vortex cools sea breezes in the summer. The original fishing village has now merged with the neighbouring El Portet to form a tourist resort on the Costa Blanca strip, with eight kilometres of coastline.
Moraira historical roots as a fishing village are still in evidence; its port still has fishing boats in operation. But tourism along the Costa Blanca has threatened the coastline. To preserve the heritage of the area, the council passed strict planning laws to protect the native pine tree forests and limit the height of buildings. This means that, unusually, there are no unattractive looking hotels or high-rise apartments. Moraira still maintains the character of a sleepy fishing village.
The town is a mix of quaint cobblestone streets and broad modern avenues dotted with palm trees. It’s shopping quarters, watering holes and restaurants entice travellers from Madrid as well as a wide range of Northern Europeans in the summer. There are also three white sand beaches within walking distance, popular with families and many rocky coves and inlets of interest to snorkelers and scuba divers. There is a privately owned marina operated by Club Náutico Moraira which has 620 embarkation points for hire. In summer the yacht club runs sailing courses and regattas.
The Friday morning market, held in the town square, offers fresh produce and there’s a regular fish market for the locally caught seafood. There’s dining to suit all budgets and styles, ranging from tapas to Michelin-starred restaurants. In the valley, just inland, vineyards prosper in this micro-climate, where Muscat grapes are grown to make the sweet dessert wine, Muscatel.
Property
The planning regulations mean most of the properties are detached two-storey villas with private pools tucked into the hillside forests along the coast or Spanish “pueblo-style” developments with communal pools, making it a competitive market. With soft white sand and shallow turquoise water, many of the most beautiful villas in Moraira overlook the sheltered bay of Portet Beach.
Transport
Moraira is easy to reach by air with flights from many locations to nearby Alicante. Or, you can fly to Valencia and then drive the 150km to the town. The nearest railway station is in inland Teulada but there’s also one in the coastal town of Calpe. Buses are infrequent but reliable, and both car hire and taxis are easy to arrange.
Employment
The economy of Moraira is now built around tourism and Spanish property sales. With all the traffic from the Spanish interior, conversational Spanish would put you at an advantage. Shops and offices close for a few hours during lunch and not all businesses shut and reopen at the same time.
Health
Nationally, state healthcare is completely free for residents and shorter stays can be covered with an EHIC card. There is a handful of registered GP’s in Moraira, and the nearby towns of Calpe and Teulada have healthcare providers that you can reach in under half an hour.
Schools
There’s just one state primary and secondary school within the town. Although there are alternatives, including international schools, you would need to arrange transport to nearby towns like Benitachell or Benissa.
Living expenses
Moraira is very popular with affluent retirees, especially the British and much of the town caters for people with expensive tastes, from sailing activities to Michelin-starred dining. However, many amenities and groceries are in line with the rest of the nation, in that they’re relatively inexpensive. In general, rent and social costs are slightly more than the Southern resorts.