Exploring Tal Mixta Cave Gozo at Ramla Bay – Malta

A complete and up-to-date travel guide featuring everything you need to know about visiting Tal Mixta Cave Gozo.

While often confused with the very popular Calypso Cave, Tal-Mixta is the iconic seaside cliff cave overlooking Ramla Bay (Ramla l-Hamra) on the island of Gozo, Malta.

While often seen on billboards and tourism advertisements, the truth is that Tal Mixta is still one of Gozo’s hidden gems, and a spot you’ll want to head up to for amazing sunset views over the iconic red sands of Ramla Beach’s red sands.

In this travel guide, I’ll detail everything you need to know about Tal Mixta Cave, and include photos and a short summary of my experience in hopes of inspiring your travels to this beautiful island in the Mediterranean Sea!

Where is Tal Mixta Cave?

Tal-Mixta Cave (L Ghar Tal Mixta in Maltese) is a cliffside cave located high up on the headland directly east of the idyllic bay of Ramla l-Hamra on the outskirts of Nadur Village on the eastern side of Gozo Island.

Below I've pinned the exact location for the cave to help you find it. However, if you continue reading below, I'll outline the two best ways to reach the cave.

How to Get to Tal Mixta Cave

There are two ways to get to Tal Mixta Cave, both are quite easy and require little effort.

Drive to the Cave Parking Lot

The first is to drive your car or ATV to the headland just above Ramla Bay (Rdum il-Kbir). You can follow the road called Triq l-Għassa tal-Maħraġ, all the way down to the end. You'll see a small sign indicating the area to park your car.

From here, it's a very short walk to the back entrance of Tal Mixta Cave, following a short descending staircase into the main cavern.

Travel tip: the best way to travel and explore the Maltese Islands is by renting your own car! While you can pick up a car in Gozo, I highly recommend checking DiscoverCars for listings at the Malta international airport. The prices here are usually much cheaper and offer more variety of vehicle options.

Hiking to Mixta Cave from Ramla Beach

Alternatively, travelers looking to visit Mixta cave from the beach will find another longer route running up the cliff on the east side of the bay. The walk only takes about 10 minutes but is a little steep in some sections, following an unsealed dirt track and finally winding up around some rough stones on the side of the cave.

Here is the second of the two small openings to get into this secluded cave.

You'll need to bend over to get inside from this small rocky entrance.

Tal Mixta Cave & Ramla Beach Viewpoint

As you enter Tal Mixta Cave, you'll immediately be drawn to the large overhanging rock opening, offering an amazing vantage point over Ramla Bay and the open sea of the northern coast.

This is a popular site to snap some holiday photos of one of Malta's best beaches, especially during sunset! The roof is at least 5 meters tall and the main cavern is very wide, with plenty of room for people to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Also, turning around, you'll likely notice some small fireplaces, which seem to be made by some Gozitan locals coming here to hang out.

Featured in: Malta, Gozo & Comino Sunset Viewpoints

Tip: While also worth checking out, tourists often confuse Mixta Cave with the popular Calypso Cave. Tal Mixta is located on the opposite side of the iconic Calypso Cave and is a separate viewpoint.

Secluded CAVE VIEWPOINT - SIDE ACCESS

While Tal Mixta cave is still considered a local hidden gem, it has gained popularity with travelers of late. If you find the cave is a little crowded, or you'd prefer to get a more private viewpoint, head out through the small rock entrance on the right side of the cave. Here, you can turn around and climb up some large rocks to another, much smaller cave viewpoint.

Short History of Mixta Cave on Gozo

Not only is this awesome cave a great viewpoint, but it's also got a unique and interesting history.

Pre-History

Apparently, the word mixta comes from the Maltese name mxett, which represents shelter during cold winters. In fact, the cave is said to be one of the last intact troglodytic habitats on Gozo. These troglodytic people were a prehistoric race dating back to at least 2,000 BCE and lived in caves very similar to this one on the Maltese archipelago. This assumption stems from archeological findings of bronze age pottery inside the cave.

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Don't Miss: Gozo Inland Sea in Dwejra Bay

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Time of the Knights of Malta

Fast-forwarding a few thousand years, Tal Mixta cave turns up in the history books when invading pirate vessels landed on Gozo in search of supplies. These pirates orchestrated an attack via Ramla Bay and resulted in a Gozitan family being taken captive.

Illustrating the need for fortification in Ramla Bay, the then ruling Knights of Saint John fortified Tal-Mixta Cave with large stones and put cannons facing the open sea. Additionally, this hidden cave proved to be a useful vantage point for the Knights of St. John, as they could spot invading armies while an entrenchment wall made the cavern entrance invisible from the open Meditteranean Sea.

Where to Stay On Gozo, Malta

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I hope that you've enjoyed this short but useful travel guide to visiting Tal Mixta Cave on Gozo Island!

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