At the rugged southeast corner of Spain lies the region of Almeria with its contrasting vistas of sand dunes and salt flats of the coast with arid volcanic desert in the interior. If the parched deserts look familiar, it is because they formed the backdrop for the spaghetti western films of the 1970's. One of the principal attractions for visitors is the rocky coastal stretch known as Cabo de Gata, a national park that is one of the least spoiled areas of the country.
Costa Almeria stretches eastwards from the town of Roquetas de Mar to San Juan and Aguilas. In addition to the rugged scenery and dramatic beauty of Cabo de Gata, Almeria boasts many sparkling beaches and coves for all manner of water sports, quaint villages and towns for exploring, as well as lying within striking distance of the Sierra Nevada ski resort nestled within Spain's highest mountains. The area is a hit with food lovers as there is a rich variety of regional dishes and traditional cuisine just waiting to tempt your palate. And, of course, there are several golf courses scattered along the coast for those of you looking for a leisurely challenge.
Some of the villages and towns you may have heard about…
Mojacar
Mojacar is an ancient Moorish village - a quiet corner where time stood still for many centuries - lies on a hillside behind the town. There are restaurants and cafes with terraces that offer stunning views out into the Mediterranean Sea, narrow streets with enticing shop fronts that beckon one to explore the quaint hilltop village. Further down the hill, the beaches of Mojacar are particularly attractive and the coastal town offers much in the way of shopping and all the necessary amenities, including restaurants with a choice of regional dishes, hire shops, newsagents etc.
Garrucha
Garrucha is an old and well established town with origins back to the 16th century when it was founded by a group of fishermen who protected themselves from pirate attacks by constructing a tower. There is a beautiful promenade that runs the length of the town with wide sandy beaches stretching to crystal clear waters on one side, and palm trees, restaurants, cafes, shops and the town extending out on the other. Like all Spanish towns, there are many fiestas with colourful parades that wind through the town at various times of the year - it will be hard to miss one!
Vera
Vera is a prosperous town 6km from the coast that has much to offer with many shops rich in handicraft and restaurants with tempting traditional cuisine, including Spanish Tapas - little dishes of local foods and delicacies. Playas de Vera, as the name suggests, is along the coast and offers a huge range of activities with lush golf courses and exquisite club houses, an aqua park with whirling water rides and slides, charming shops and, naturally, white sandy beaches complete with sea grass umbrellas, palm trees and sparkling seas.
There are many more attractive beaches and interesting coves to find as well as pretty towns and villages, both coastal and inland, to be explored.
Puerto Rey, Marina de la Torre, Villaricos, Albox, Cuevas del Almanzora are but a smattering of towns and villages waiting to be discovered by you. For example, along the coastal drive from Garrucha to San Juan, there is a little village of Villaricos that houses a beautiful harbour with pebbles beaches that have striking similarities to those found in Cornwall. A little further along lies the remains of a disused silver mine, complete with old aqua ducts used to transport the silver from the mines in the hills to the waiting ships in the Mediterranean - these ghostly images of a lifestyle long past add to the charm and uniqueness of the Almeria area.
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