Almería province · Andalusia, Spain
Costa de Almería travel guide: where it is, Cabo de Gata, Mojácar and Almería city
Volcanic coves in Cabo de Gata-Níjar, the white village of Mojácar, the Alcazaba of Almería and long beaches from Vera to Roquetas.
Playa de los Genoveses, Cabo de Gata · Photo: Javier Pérez López, CC BY 3.0
The Costa de Almería, also written Costa Almería, is the coast of Almería province in south-east Spain: the eastern end of Andalusia, between the Costa Cálida of Murcia to the north-east and the Costa Tropical of Granada to the west. The province uses the name as its tourism brand (Diputación de Almería). This guide runs from the Levante beaches of Mojácar, Garrucha and Vera through the volcanic Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park and Almería city to Roquetas de Mar and Adra in the west, with weather, buses and campsites. For the full-screen map, open the Costa de Almería map.
At a glance
- Where the coast of Almería province in eastern Andalusia; the province uses Costa de Almería as its tourism brand.
- Natural park Cabo de Gata-Níjar, 49,512 hectares, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1997 and a Global Geopark since 2015.
- Sunshine 2,994 hours a year and 200 mm of rain at Almería Airport (AEMET normals 1981–2010).
- On CostaMap 11 coastal town guides, four places on the coast and four campsites on the coast (two inland).
- Airport Almería (LEI), 9 km east of the city, with a city bus to the centre every day (check the current line number).
- Fire season 1 June to 15 October in Andalusia: no burning and no barbecues in forest areas.
Map of the Costa de Almería
The map shows the places on this coast that have a CostaMap page. Tick a place type to filter it, and click a marker to open the page. The full-screen version is the Costa de Almería map.
Place type
Area · next level
Coast guideCosta de Almería
Click a marker to see the place here. Four areas from the Levante to the Poniente, with Níjar and Los Millares inland.
Choose your areaOpen the full Costa de Almería map →
Choose your area
The guide follows the coast from north-east to west. The Levante is the stretch of resort beaches below Mojácar; Cabo de Gata-Níjar is the protected volcanic coast; Almería city sits on its bay in the middle; and the Poniente runs west past Roquetas de Mar to Adra. Only places on or near the sea are in the lists; the inland towns follow as day trips.
Levante: Mojácar, Garrucha and Vera
The north-eastern resort coast between the Sierra Almagrera and the Sierra de Cabrera, with the white hill village of Mojácar above long beaches and the fishing port of Garrucha.
- Mojácar – one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Spain, with 17 km of coast and many Blue Flag beaches.
- Mojácar la Vieja – the hill where the town stood until the mid-13th century, crowned by a large cistern.
- Garrucha – the home port of the Gamba Roja de Garrucha, the red prawn sold at its fish market.
- Vera – 5 km of coast, with naturism on the northern stretch of El Playazo beach.
- Cuevas del Almanzora – the Castillo del Marqués de los Vélez, with an art museum and an archaeological museum.
Cabo de Gata-Níjar
Andalusia’s first protected land-and-sea area: volcanic cliffs, dark-sand coves and fishing villages from Carboneras south to the Cabo de Gata lighthouse.
- Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park – 49,512 hectares of volcanic coast and sea, a UNESCO Global Geopark since 2015.
- Carboneras – the 16th-century Castillo de San Andrés, and Playa de los Muertos to the south.
- San José – the fishing village closest to Mónsul and Los Genoveses, 56 km from Almería city.
- Rodalquilar – a former gold-mining village with the park’s Casa de los Volcanes ecomuseum.
- Agua Amarga – a small fishing village with fewer than 300 inhabitants and coves you reach on foot.
Almería city
The provincial capital on its bay, under the Alcazaba that Abd al-Rahman III ordered built in 955, when Almería became the main port of al-Andalus.
- Almería – the Alcazaba, the Civil War shelters, the port with ferries to North Africa and the airport.
- Almería Cathedral – a cathedral-fortress begun in 1524 to shelter the town from Barbary pirates.
- Museum of Almería – the Los Millares and El Argar cultures, in a museum founded in 1933.
Poniente: Roquetas de Mar to Adra
The western coast, with the big beaches of Roquetas and Aguadulce, the salt pans of Punta Entinas-Sabinar and the greenhouse plain of El Ejido.
- Roquetas de Mar – 16 km of coast, the Blue Flag beach at Aguadulce and the Castillo de Santa Ana.
- Vícar – a Poniente municipality just behind the Roquetas coast; our town guide has the details.
- El Ejido – the Roman site of Ciavieja, ancient Murgi, and a free archaeological collection.
- Adra – Phoenician Abdera, a town museum and the Albuferas wetland.
- Berja – a Poniente town on the road up from Adra; our town guide has the details.
Inland day trips
Behind the coast lie the pottery village of Níjar, the Copper Age site of Los Millares and the Tabernas Desert. These places are not on the sea, so their pages are not in the lists above:
- Níjar – the village on the slopes of the Sierra Alhamilla, known for jarapas, pottery and its 16th-century Mudéjar church.
- Los Millares – a Copper Age settlement with four lines of walls and 13 forts, open Wednesday to Sunday with free entry.
- Huércal-Overa – a 14th-century Nasrid castle and a Holy Week of National Tourist Interest.
Explore by interest
Pick a theme. Each tile opens the part of this guide that covers it.
Best beaches and coves
The selection below is ours, from north-east to west. Descriptions and lengths are as the town councils and tourist offices give them, checked in October 2026. Many beaches inside the natural park have no services, so bring water and shade.
Mojácar
17 km of coast from Marina de la Torre on the Garrucha border to Sopalmo; Playa del Perulejo is dog-friendly (Mojácar).
Playa de los Muertos
About 1 km long inside the natural park, reached on foot, with no services and clear water for snorkelling (Carboneras).
Agua Amarga
A small fishing village beach; nearby Cala de Enmedio can only be reached on foot (Turismo Níjar).
Los Genoveses
More than a kilometre long, the largest beach in its bay, with private car access limited to a set number of vehicles (Turismo Níjar).
Mónsul
Dark sand and a large living dune; scenes from Raiders of the Lost Ark were filmed here (Turismo Níjar).
Aguadulce
An urban beach of coarse beige sand, 1,900 m long, with a Blue Flag (Turismo Roquetas de Mar).
Playa de Cerrillos
The natural beach on the 3 km of Roquetas coast that belong to Punta Entinas-Sabinar, next to salt pans with flamingos (Roquetas de Mar).
Also in the park: Cala de San Pedro can only be reached by boat or on foot, about two hours’ walk from Las Negras, and has a freshwater spring and an 18th-century fort; nudism is common there (Turismo Níjar, Turismo Níjar). The beaches west of San José (Genoveses, Barronal, Mónsul, Media Luna and Cala Carbón) had regulated car access from 20 June to 27 September in 2026 (Junta de Andalucía). Vera has 5 km of coast, with naturism on the northern stretch of El Playazo (Vera, Vera), and Garrucha’s town beaches are Levante, Poniente (Playa Canela) and Pósito (Garrucha).
Where to stay by town
The choice is mostly between the Levante resorts, the villages of the natural park and the city. Regional buses from Almería serve Mojácar, Vera, Roquetas de Mar, El Ejido and Adra (ALSA).
Mojácar
A member of the Most Beautiful Villages in Spain, with 17 km of coast and many Blue Flag beaches below.
White village and long beaches
Garrucha
A fishing port whose fishermen’s guild owns the Gamba Roja de Garrucha brand, with three town beaches.
Seafood by the harbour
Carboneras
A 16th-century castle in town and Playa de los Muertos, the last beach of the natural park, to the south.
Base for the northern park
Almería
The Alcazaba, the fortress cathedral, the Civil War shelters and the airport 9 km east.
History, buses and ferriesRoquetas de Mar
16 km of coast from the Blue Flag beach at Aguadulce to the natural beach of Punta Entinas.
Big beaches and families
Adra
Phoenician Abdera, a town museum and the Albuferas wetland at the western end of the coast.
Quiet western endCampsites
These campsites and camper areas have a CostaMap page; the last two are inland. Details are as each site states them on its own website. Wild camping is not allowed in the natural park, and motorhomes may stay overnight only in designated areas (Almería Noticias).
Wecamp Cabo de Gata
At Cala del Cuervo in Las Negras, a few steps from the beach, with glamping and pools.
See the campsite →
Camper Área Cabo de Gata
Open all year at km 10 of the AL-3115, near the salt-pan wetlands and their bird hides.
See the camper area →
Camper Park Carboneras
Its own website did not answer when we checked in October 2026; our page has the location.
See the camper park →Camper Park Olivares
We could not confirm its details on its own website in October 2026; our page has the location.
See the camper park →Oasis Al Hamam
Open all year, a wellness and slow-life retreat reached via Tabernas on the N-340.
See the campsite →
Camping Albox
140 m² pitches with water and electricity, bungalows, and a pool open in July and August.
See the campsite →Things to do
The Alcazaba and Almería’s old town
Abd al-Rahman III, the first caliph of al-Andalus, ordered the Alcazaba built in 955, and under its protection Almería became the most important port of al-Andalus. It has three enclosures, two Muslim and one Christian, and on clear days the view reaches up to 55 km out to sea (Museos de Andalucía). From 21 September to 20 March it opens Tuesday to Saturday from 09:00 to 18:00, and entry is free for EU citizens with ID and €1.50 for others (Museos de Andalucía).
Below it, the cathedral was begun in 1524 as a cathedral-fortress against Barbary pirate raids (Turismo de Almería). During the Civil War the city’s shelters ran for more than 4 km and could hold about 40,000 people; visits are guided and cost €3 when they are open (see the note on the 2025 closure below) (Almería city council). Along the coast, Carboneras’ Castillo de San Andrés dates from the last third of the 16th century and is free to enter (Carboneras), and Roquetas’ Castillo de Santa Ana is now a free art and ethnographic museum (Turismo Roquetas de Mar).
Almería Cathedral
Its buttresses, corner towers and solid walls show its fortress character; the tourist office praises its neoclassical cloister.
Read the guide →
Museum of Almería
Most of the movable finds from the Alcazaba are kept here, with a large folk ethnography collection.
Read the guide →Mojácar la Vieja
The visible remains are Andalusí; fifteen towers have been documented on its wall.
Read the guide →
Red prawns and the greenhouse coast
The Gamba Roja de Garrucha brand belongs to the Virgen del Carmen fishermen’s guild, and in the Junta’s 2015 figures red prawn made up 62% of sales at Garrucha’s fish market (Junta de Andalucía). Adra has a Fishing Interpretation Centre about its fish market and canneries (Turismo Adra).
Much of the land behind the coast is under plastic: in 2021 Almería province had more than 32,800 hectares of greenhouses, close to 90% of the total in eastern Andalusia (Junta de Andalucía). In Níjar, look for jarapas, the local rag rugs, alongside pottery and esparto crafts (Turismo Níjar).
Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park
The natural park was declared in 1988 as the first protected marine-terrestrial area in Andalusia; it covers 49,512 hectares, became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1997 and a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2015 (Junta de Andalucía). Its landscape is mostly volcanic, and the Junta credits it with 50 km of the best-preserved coastal cliffs on the Mediterranean (Junta de Andalucía).
At the Cabo de Gata salt flats you can see avocets, stilts and flamingos (Junta de Andalucía), and the road runs on to the lighthouse above the Arrecife de las Sirenas (Turismo de Almería). The Vela Blanca trail starts at the Casa del Mónsul and passes Media Luna and Cala Carbón (Turismo Níjar); the San Pedro–El Plomo–Agua Amarga trail is 11.1 km one way, about 4 h 30 min (Turismo Níjar). In Rodalquilar, the Casa de los Volcanes explains the geopark in a building of the old gold works, where mining ended in 1966 (Junta de Andalucía).
When to go
Average temperature and rainfall at Almería Airport, from Spain’s weather agency AEMET for 1981–2010 (AEMET).
The annual mean at the airport is 19.1 °C with 200 mm of rain and 2,994 hours of sunshine; July averages 342 hours of sun and January 194 (AEMET). In 2026 Mojácar’s main beaches had lifeguards every day from 1 July to 31 August (Mojácar), and Mojácar holds its Moors and Christians festival every June (Turismo de Almería).
Itineraries
Both plans use places with their own CostaMap page. The park’s beaches west of San José have limited car access in summer, so check the shuttle bus first.
Three days
Day 1
Almería city
Start at the Alcazaba, which Abd al-Rahman III ordered built in 955; on clear days the views out to sea reach 55 km. In summer (21 June to 20 September) it closes from 14:00 to 19:00, so go early. The fortress cathedral was begun in 1524 to shelter the population from pirate raids. After lunch, the Museum of Almería covers Los Millares and El Argar. End with a guided visit to the Civil War shelters in Almería, entered from Plaza Manuel Pérez García; buy tickets (€3) in advance, and the shelters are closed on Mondays. Note: they closed after an electrical fire in March 2025 for a full restoration, with reopening planned for early summer 2026 (Spanish Wikipedia, citing Diario de Almería); we could not confirm on an official page that they have reopened, so check before you plan this stop (our shelters guide).
Day 2
Cabo de Gata and San José
Begin at the Cabo de Gata salt flats near San Miguel, where flamingos and avocets can be seen, then follow the road past La Fabriquilla to the lighthouse above the Arrecife de las Sirenas, at the south-easternmost point of the Iberian Peninsula. Spend the afternoon from San José on Los Genoveses and Mónsul, with its dark sand and large living dune. Car access is regulated in summer (in 2026 from 20 June to 27 September); between 11 July and 6 September a bus ran hourly from San José from 10:30, with the last return at 20:00.
Day 3
Mojácar
Spend the morning in the white village of Mojácar, a member of the Most Beautiful Villages in Spain association, where Indalo figures painted in red clay traditionally protected the houses. Then climb the hill of Mojácar la Vieja, where the town stood until the 13th century; a large cistern crowns the top, and fifteen towers have been documented on its wall. Then the beach below: Mojácar has 17 km of coast, and in 2026 its main beaches had lifeguards every day from 1 July to 31 August. Regional buses from Almería serve Mojácar.
Seven days
Days 1–3: as above, based in Almería or Mojácar.
Day 4
Rodalquilar and Níjar
Start in Rodalquilar, a gold-mining settlement that became a ghost town after the mines closed. Past the information point, the El Albardinal botanical garden and the park’s administrative office, the Casa de los Volcanes occupies the old Casa PAF building of the gold works and explains the volcanic landscapes of the Geopark; it has a café. Stop at El Playazo beach below the Castillo de San Ramón, then at the Mirador de la Amatista on the road to La Isleta del Moro. Finish in Níjar, known for jarapas, pottery and esparto crafts, with a 16th-century Mudéjar church.
Day 5
Tabernas Desert and Los Millares
Go first to Los Millares, open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00 with free entry, on the AL-3411 road. The Copper Age settlement, occupied from 3200 to 2200 BC, had four concentric lines of walls, and the visitor centre has full-scale reconstructions of defences and dwellings. Bring comfortable shoes, a cap, sun protection and water. In the afternoon, drive into the Tabernas Desert, a protected area of 11,448 hectares that the Andalusian environment department considers the only true desert zone in continental Europe, with badlands deeply gullied by erosion.
Day 6
Carboneras and Garrucha
In Carboneras, the Castillo de San Andrés was built in the last third of the 16th century on Philip II’s orders to defend the coast from Barbary pirates; entry is free; opening hours vary by season. Then walk to Playa de los Muertos, the last beach in the natural park: about 1 km long, reached on foot, with clear water for snorkelling and none of the services of an urban beach. In the evening, eat red prawns in Garrucha, where the gamba roja made up 62% of fish-market sales in the Junta’s 2015 figures.
Day 7
Roquetas de Mar and Punta Entinas
Begin at the Castillo de Santa Ana in Roquetas de Mar, an early 16th-century fortress built to protect the salt trade from Barbary pirate raids and, since 2003, an art and ethnographic museum with free entry and guided tours. In the afternoon, head to Punta Entinas-Sabinar, a Paraje Natural shared with El Ejido, where flamingos and migrating waders use the Cerrillos and Viejas salt pans. Of Roquetas’ 16 km of coastline, 3 km belong to the reserve, including the natural beach of Playa de Cerrillos. Regional buses from Almería serve Roquetas de Mar.
Getting there and around
By air
Almería Airport (LEI, ICAO LEAM) is 9 km east of the city and 500 m from the coast (Aena, OurAirports). A city bus line runs to the centre 365 days a year, about 35 minutes by Aena’s and the Andalusian tourist board’s figure (Andalucía.org); official sources give different line numbers, so check the current one at the stop. ALSA gives 25–30 minutes from the station and lists a service on to Retamar (ALSA).
By bus, train and ferry
Almería’s intermodal station on Plaza de la Estación has long-distance buses to Murcia, Granada, Málaga, Seville and Madrid, regional buses along the coast, and trains to Madrid, Seville and Granada (ALSA, Renfe). From the port, scheduled ferries sail to Melilla, Nador, Oran and Ghazaouet (Autoridad Portuaria de Almería).
Practical and safety
- Fire: under Andalusia’s INFOCA plan the high-risk season runs from 1 June to 15 October, when burning is banned; cooking fires and barbecues are banned in forest areas even at campsites (Junta de Andalucía, Junta de Andalucía).
- Overnight stays: by late August 2026 environmental officers had issued 98 fines in Cabo de Gata for sleeping in vehicles or camping outside authorised areas (Andalucía Información).
- At sea: anchoring is banned in marine reserve zones and over Posidonia seagrass, boats are limited to 10 knots, and spearfishing and recreational drones are banned in the park (Almería Noticias).
- Sun and water: the park protects one of Europe’s most arid ecosystems, and many coves have no services; Los Millares advises a cap, sun protection and water (Junta de Andalucía).
- Dunes: fencing keeps visitors off the fossil dune at Los Escullos and the Mónsul dune; stay on the marked paths (Junta de Andalucía).
FAQ
Where is the Costa de Almería?
In south-east Spain: it is the coast of Almería province in eastern Andalusia, between the Costa Cálida of the Region of Murcia to the north-east and the Costa Tropical of Granada province to the west.
Is there a map of the Costa de Almería?
Yes. The map above shows every place on this coast with a CostaMap page, and the full-screen version is the Costa de Almería map.
Can I drive to Mónsul and Genoveses in summer?
Only in limited numbers. In 2026 car access was regulated from 20 June to 27 September, and a shuttle bus ran from San José between 11 July and 6 September.
What is the nearest airport?
Almería Airport (LEI), 9 km east of the city, with a city bus to the centre every day of the year; check the current line number before you travel.
Is the Tabernas Desert a real desert?
The Andalusian environment department says the area is considered the only true desert zone in continental Europe. It is protected as a Paraje Natural of 11,448.49 hectares (Junta de Andalucía).
When is the best time to visit?
Spring and autumn avoid the July and August heat: at Almería Airport April averages 17.0 °C and October 20.4 °C, against 26.7 °C in August.
Neighbouring costas
Costa Cálida
The coast of the Region of Murcia, which its tourist board gives as 250 km of Mediterranean coastline.
Costa Cálida guide →
Costa Tropical
The coast of Granada province, whose coastal towns form the Mancomunidad de la Costa Tropical.
Costa Tropical guide →Sources and freshness
Checked 5 October 2026 · 76 sources Show
Corrected 9 November 2026: the airport bus line number was removed, because official sources disagree (the Andalusian tourist board, Andalucía.org, gives line 22; it was given here as 30). Corrected 9 November 2026: added the March 2025 fire closure of the Almería Civil War shelters and the planned 2026 reopening, which could not be confirmed on an official page (city council and city tourist board sites unreachable).
Checked 5 October 2026. Junta de Andalucía on Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, its visitor guide, the Casa de los Volcanes, summer access in 2026, the Tabernas Desert, Punta Entinas-Sabinar, Los Millares and its visits, the Castillo del Marqués de los Vélez, Ciavieja, the Garrucha red prawn, greenhouses, fire rules and forest fire prevention. Museos de Andalucía on the Alcazaba, its history, opening hours and the Museo de Almería. Diputación de Almería on the Costa de Almería brand; Turismo de Almería on Cabo de Gata, Mojácar and the cathedral; Almería city council on the Civil War shelters. Níjar: the park, villages, Níjar, San José, Rodalquilar, Agua Amarga, Las Negras, La Isleta del Moro, the lighthouse, Mónsul, Los Genoveses, Cala de San Pedro, the Vela Blanca trail, the San Pedro trail, the beach bus and parking. Towns: Mojácar (home, beaches, history, Mojácar la Vieja, the Indalo), Vera (beaches, naturism, history), Garrucha, Carboneras (heritage, beaches), Huércal-Overa (home, Holy Week), Roquetas de Mar (nature, forts, Aguadulce, beaches), El Ejido and Adra. News: Almería Noticias and Andalucía Información on park rules and fines. Campsites, from their own websites: Wecamp Cabo de Gata, Camper Área Cabo de Gata, Camping Albox (services), Oasis Al Hamam (home, camping, location). Transport: Aena on the airport bus, OurAirports, ALSA, Renfe, Autoridad Portuaria de Almería. Neighbours: Murcia Turística, Mancomunidad Costa Tropical. Climate: AEMET normals 1981–2010 for Almería Airport.
Photo credits · 41 photos from Wikimedia Commons Show
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, not altered except for cropping: Playa de los Genoveses, Cabo de Gata by Javier Pérez López (CC BY 3.0); Mojácar Playa by INDALOMANIA (CC BY-SA 3.0); Los Escullos, Cabo de Gata by isol (CC BY-SA 3.0); Almería by Paul Colin Hennig firstdorsal.eu (CC BY-SA 4.0); Roquetas de Mar by Roquex (CC0); Níjar by Eduardo Milla (CC BY-SA 4.0); Cala Rajá, Cabo de Gata by efepunto (CC BY 3.0); Mojácar pueblo by INDALOMANIA (CC BY-SA 3.0); Mercado Central, Almería by Sharon Hahn Darlin (CC BY 2.0); Cala Rajá, Cabo de Gata by efepunto (CC BY 3.0); Desierto de Tabernas by Roy Luck (CC BY 2.0); Salinas de Cabo de Gata by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz (CC BY-SA 4.0); Playa del Palmeral, Mojácar by INDALOMANIA (CC BY-SA 3.0); Playa de los Muertos, Carboneras by Millars (CC BY-SA 4.0); Agua Amarga by MdeVicente (CC0); Playa de los Genoveses by Javier Pérez López (CC BY 3.0); Playa de Mónsul by efepunto (CC BY 3.0); Roquetas de Mar by Roquex (CC0); Punta Entinas-Sabinar by MdeVicente (CC0); Mojácar by INDALOMANIA (CC BY-SA 3.0); Garrucha by Concepcion AMAT ORTA… (CC BY 3.0); Carboneras by Roy Luck (CC BY 2.0); Almería by Jebulon (CC0); Adra by kallerna (CC BY-SA 4.0); Las Negras by Josi (CC BY-SA 4.0); San Miguel de Cabo de Gata by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz (CC BY-SA 4.0); Carboneras by Roy Luck (CC BY 2.0); Albox by Eduardo Milla (CC BY-SA 4.0); Alcazaba de Almería by Jebulon (CC0); Catedral de Almería by Jebulon (CC0); Museo de Almería by Valdavia (CC BY-SA 3.0); Agua Amarga by Ignacio Iglesias (CC BY-SA 4.0); Arrecife de las Sirenas, Cabo de Gata by efepunto (CC BY 3.0); Puerto de Almería by Ismael Olea (CC BY 4.0); San José, Níjar by Josi (CC BY-SA 4.0); Rodalquilar by Paul Colin Hennig firstdorsal.eu (CC BY-SA 4.0); Tabernas, near Fort Bravo by Paul Colin Hennig firstdorsal.eu (CC BY-SA 4.0); Castillo de Escobetas, Garrucha by Concepcion AMAT ORTA… (CC BY 3.0); Punta Entinas-Sabinar by MdeVicente (CC0); Calblanque, Costa Cálida by Richpl (CC BY-SA 3.0); Salobreña, Costa Tropical by Javier Pérez Montes (CC BY-SA 4.0).