The Coast of Almería covers 217 kilometres and offers a wide range of tourism and leisure options, adapted to the tastes and needs of each visitor. Almería is special because it is the only semi-desert area in Europe, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea. Let's take a closer look at the beaches, golf courses and tourist attractions you should visit if you are planning a trip to Almería, the land of the sun.
Beaches
Almería boasts more than 3,300 hours of sun each year. It is, without a doubt, the perfect place to enjoy the sun and beach, no matter the time of year. Mar de Pulpí, located in San Juan de los Terreros, is an Almerian paradise with sun, light, and sea.
La Entrevista and Los Nardos beaches are characterised by their crystal clear and warm waters, which are great for scuba diving and snorkelling. Furthermore, these two beaches are located in front of the Mar de Pulpí residential complex and can be accessed on foot.
There are also other beaches close to Mar de Pulpí:
San Juan de los Terreros beach is quiet, has a sandy area and a small cove from which you can dive into the sea.
Calypso beach is a small urbanised beach with golden sand and calm waters.
Mar Serena beach alludes to the calmness of its waters and is next to Pulpí’s seafront promenade.
Mar Rabiosa beach has golden sand and a small islet known as “El Pichirichi”.
Cala de la Tía Antonia beach is a small golden sandy cove with calm, clear waters.
The crown jewel of the province of Almería is Los Muertos beach. It is one of the most impressive beaches on the entire Mediterranean coast and is located in a wild and totally unspoilt natural environment. To access the beach, you have to walk 15 minutes along a path. Once you arrive, its crystal clear turquoise waters and small pebbles make it the perfect beach to spend the whole day by the sea, as well as snorkelling and falling in love with the seabed.
In the following section we will look at other beaches located in the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Nature Reserve.
Cabo de Gata-Níjar Nature Reserve
Cabo de Gata-Níjar Nature Reserve is a dream-like landscape, a desert oasis full of piteras and prickly pears. Here is a list of the must-see beaches in Cabo de Gata:
El Mónsul beach is one of the most recognisable due to its rock, famous for appearing in films such as Indiana Jones. It also has a huge dune and its crystal clear waters are great for snorkelling.
Los Genoveses beach is one of San José’s unspoilt beaches. Its fine white sand and crystal clear waters rival Caribbean beaches.
Los Escullos beach is known for its fossil dune on the right side and San Felipe castle. It has crystal clear waters which are perfect for scuba diving.
El Playazo beach is an unspoiled beach located in Rodalquilar and has a unique and incomparable seabed. It is also home to San Ramón castle.
Cala de Enmedio is a small cove hidden among white stones with white sand in a wild and deserted environment. The long walk there is worth it.
Cabo de Gata is home to Almería’s characteristic white villages and coastal towns. San José is the largest town in terms of size and offers all kinds of leisure facilities for visitors. La Isleta del Moro is pure tranquillity and its main beach is divided in two by a white rock. Rodalquilar preserves old gold mines and is surrounded by hills, making this village an oasis of plants and flowers. Las Negras is a village of bohemians, artists and fishermen that captivates everyone who visits it. Agua Amarga is a small village framed by cliffs with several restaurants where you can sample the local cuisine.
There are two viewpoints with breathtaking views that will leave you speechless: La Amatista viewpoint, located between Rodalquilar and Isleta del Moro, which boasts magnificent views, and Arrecife de las Sirenas viewpoint, which has the most famous views of Cabo de Gata and is one of the most photographed places in the whole nature reserve.
Must-see tourist attractions
Towns including Vera, Mojácar, Roquetas de Mar, Carboneras, Níjar, Adra, Vélez Blanco or Vélez Rubio are charming places in Almería. Other must-see tourist attractions and spots include:
The Geode is the largest in Europe, featuring translucent crystals inside the iron and lead mine. It is a 5 minute drive from Mar de Pulpí and is a must if you’re in Almería.
The Tabernas Desert is the only European desert and has a semi-arid Mediterranean climate. It is known as the “European Hollywood” because thousands of western films have been shot here. You can visit several sites in the area, such as Sorbas, Tabernas castle, San Sebastián Chapel and the village of Terrera Ventura.
Fort Bravo and Oasys MiniHollywood are both theme parks located in the Tabernas desert which emulate the Wild West. You can also try rides, enjoy cowboy shows and cancan dances, take a wagon ride or see the sets of Western movies filmed in the 60s and 70s at the same location.
What to see in the capital of Almería
Let’s take a look at the six must-see places in the capital of Almería:
The Alcazaba of Almería is a monumental complex and is the largest fortification built by the Arabs in Spain. It’s a must-see if you visit Almería. From the top of San Cristóbal hill, you can see the more than 1,000 years of the monument’s history.
The Cathedral of the Incarnation is the most important Christian temple in the capital of Almería. Various styles coexist in the cathedral, such as Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque.
Plaza de la Constitución square has a monument dedicated to the Martyrs of Liberty in its centre and houses the Civil War shelters with underground passages and military bunkers.
The Almería Museum and the Guitar Museum are two very interesting museums to visit in the city. The Almería Museum has an extensive collection ranging from the Palaeolithic period to the present day. The Guitar Museum is exclusively dedicated to the Spanish guitar and other musical instruments from the city.
The Rambla, also known as Avenida Federico Garcia Lorca, is the most important street in the capital. It starts in the north of the city and ends at the city’s port and the Cable Inglés. It is perfect for a stroll and a drink in one of the cafés!
The Jayrán wall is an extensive fortification from the Alcazaba to San Cristóbal hill. It was built in the 11th century and the remains are still in very good condition: it has seven towers, three Muslim and four Christian. The views overlooking the city of Almería from the wall are breathtaking.
Golf courses
In the immediate surroundings of the Mar de Pulpí residential complex, located in San Juan de los Terreros, there are 3 golf courses. Aguilón Golf is located just 11 km from the residential complex. Desert Springs Resort and Golf Club is around 25 km away. Lastly, Valle del Este Golf Resort is 32 km away.
Other golf courses in the area and further away include: Club Marina Golf Mojácar, Golf Resort Almerimar, Playa Serena Golf Club, La Envía Golf and Alborán Golf. Would you like to play golf on one of these courses?
