Door opening in Benijofar

Benijófar: market garden, the Segura river and an international atmosphere

Benijófar is a municipality in the province of Alicante, located in the south of the Comunidad Valenciana, in the Vega Baja del Segura district. Set on the right bank of the Segura river, right in the heart of the southern Costa Blanca, it combines the traditional market-garden landscape with a welcoming and markedly international character. In this guide we go over its most relevant facts: population, economy, festivals, tourism and gastronomy.

General information

According to the official figures of the INE (register as of 1 January 2024), Benijófar has a population of 3,471 inhabitants. The municipal area has a very small surface, of only 4.40 km², which gives a high population density, of around 790 inhabitants per km². It sits at about 18 metres of altitude and borders Formentera del Segura, Rojales, Algorfa and Los Montesinos, with excellent connections to the motorway and to Alicante-Elche airport.

Demographics and nationalities

The split by sex is very balanced, with an approximate percentage of 50% men and 50% women. One of the hallmarks of Benijófar is its strong international component: alongside the local population, a large community of foreign residents coexists. Among the most present nationalities, the following stand out:

• Britons, the largest foreign group.
• Dutch and Belgians.
• Residents from other countries of northern and central Europe.

This multicultural atmosphere coexists with traditional village life, and makes Benijófar a residential reference point within the Vega Baja.

Economy

The economy of Benijófar rests on several pillars:

• Irrigated agriculture: the market garden on the banks of the Segura produces vegetables and fruit of great quality, with crops such as the artichoke, the potato or broccoli.
• Residential tourism: the arrival of European residents has boosted construction and a dynamic property market.
• Retail and services: a notable offer of shops, bars and restaurants, many of them also geared towards the international community.

Emergency and home security services

With a dense town centre and a high proportion of residents' homes and second homes, Benijófar is a municipality where reliable locksmith services are especially necessary. Having 24-hour locksmiths is essential to resolve everyday mishaps such as leaving the keys inside the house, suffering the breakage of a cylinder or finding the door jammed on returning from holiday.

Our emergency door opening service covers Benijófar and the whole Vega Baja district, with on-call locksmiths available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. By day or in the early hours, at the weekend or on a public holiday, there is always a professional ready to act quickly on openings of homes, lock changes and armoured doors.

Festivals and traditions

Benijófar keeps its traditions alive throughout the year. Among its most notable celebrations are:

• The patron saint festivals in honour of Santiago Apóstol (San Jaime), from 25 July, the most important celebration of the municipality, with processions, a flower offering and open-air dances.
• Holy Week, with processions that run along the main street.
• The Three Kings parade at Christmas, keenly awaited by the little ones.
• The weekly market on Tuesdays, with fresh and artisan products.

Tourism: what to visit

Benijófar offers quiet tourism, inland but very close to the sea:

• The parish church of Santiago Apóstol, which preserves altars from the 17th and 18th centuries and replaced the temple destroyed by the 1829 earthquake.
• The Arab Waterwheel beside the Segura river, a historic ensemble with a mill and a weir that forms part of the market-garden landscape.
• The paths beside the Segura (such as the SL-CV 135), ideal for walks and cycle tourism.
• Its closeness to the beaches of Guardamar del Segura (about 8-10 km) and to Torrevieja, a few minutes away by car.

Gastronomy

The cuisine of Benijófar is a reflection of the gastronomy of the Vega Baja, based on market-garden produce and on rice dishes. Among its typical dishes and products, the following stand out:

• Arroz con costra, an emblematic dish of the district.
• Cocido con pelotas and the traditional stews.
• The market-garden vegetables (artichoke, potato, broccoli), protagonists of the table.
• The offer of traditional tapas and international cuisine in its bars and restaurants.

Other points of interest

The name of Benijófar comes from the Arabic Ya'far, linked to an ancient tribe and meaning «Sons of the Pearl». The municipality emerged as an independent entity at the beginning of the 18th century, through the so-called privilegio alfonsino. With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, an average temperature around 19 °C and a privileged location between the market garden and the coast, Benijófar brings together the charm of a Mediterranean village with all the comforts of the Costa Blanca. A place where having trustworthy 24-hour locksmiths brings the peace of mind that residents and visitors deserve all year round.