17/01/2022
The best fishing excursion in Villajoyosa: an unforgettable experience!
There are plenty of reasons to choose Villajoyosa as your next holiday destination. A paradisiacal corner of the Mediterranean with dreamy coves, a historic old town full of beauty and history, a gastronomy that manages to squeeze the best of the sea and endless experiences capable of turning your stay in this special place into a unique memory.
Today we recommend a very special excursion in which you will experience the fishermen's work first hand. A guild that has starred in the history of Villajoyosa over the centuries, forging the character, the idiosyncrasy and, of course, the cuisine of this very authentic land. A tough job full of tradition that has passed from father to son and an opportunity to observe it from another point of view.
What is the fishing excursion?
Our friends at Ocio Mar are true experts in the art of fishing and offer you the opportunity to step on the port, enter the fish market and even embark to see first-hand the entire fishing cycle, accessing places where the entrance for tourists is usually prohibited.
An opportunity to learn about the curiosities of the native fishing techniques of this land, the species that give name to its cuisine and the history of Villajoyosa itself in an entertaining and interactive way, putting yourself in the shoes of fishermen.
The route begins in the port, next to the warehouses where the trades of yesteryear related to fishing are still carried out. The shipowners take care of the boats throughout the year so that they resist the onslaught of storms and the netters continue to sew the fishing nets punctually every morning in the traditional way, which is also the most sustainable of all those that exist by respecting the seabed, closed seasons and protected species. Fishermen know better than anyone about the importance of protecting the ecosystem so that it remains viable in the future.
This part of the visit also serves to have your first contact with all the tools that fishermen use to carry out their work and absorb the first notions of what you are about to live in situ, on the water.
If the sea allows it, the visit continues on board to get closer to the nearby fishing grounds where the fishermen are working the traditional gear: trammel, seine, deciduous or longline. Be careful if you get dizzy! It is an excellent time to enjoy the panoramic views of the colourful houses of the old town of Villajoyosa.
The return to the port coincides with the arrival of the fishing boats at sunset and the visit moves inside the fish market where the markets, restaurants and other companies in the region compete to get the best catches of the day. It is quite a spectacle to see the swaying of seafood boxes, the adrenaline of negotiations and the hustle and bustle of fishermen unloading!
And to conclude, a tasting at the fish market of freshly unloaded and cooked fish. Is there anything more delicious?
It's time to taste
The sea gives Villajoyosa much more than dream beaches and postcard corners like the Hotel Montiboli. After such an intense afternoon of fishing, there is no better plan than trying the results of everything you've experienced yourself and what better way to do it than by trusting in the hands of our chef Jean Marc Sanz to maximize the flavour of the sea?
Our Emperador restaurant receives every day the freshest fish from the fish market in Villajoyosa to surprise you and so that you can discover all the essence of seafood cuisine. We have the great privilege of being a few meters from one of the most important ports in the Valencian Community, are you going to miss it?
Start the year planning your next getaway to the Pearl of the Mediterranean and go for a different experience where the sea will act as a common thread for endless experiences. Days of disconnection from the routine and connection with a territory that combines like no other the traditional marine essence with the modernity and comfort of a unique hotel located on the sea. See you very soon!
