Cabo de Gata

The Parque Natural of Cabo de Gata has some of the best beaches in all of Spain. The waters off the coast here are particularly clean and crystal clear, perfect for underwater photography, snorkelling, scuba diving and swimming. The reserve extends one nautical mile into the sea to protect underwater flora and sea life from commercial fishing. The reserve has large areas of sea grass beds a refuge for the monk seal. Look out for pods of dolphins and expect to see sunfish and turtles too.

The centre of activity is based around the coastal town of San Jose, a nice little fishing port with small marina area, a good sandy beach and many bars and restaurants. Other coastal towns to visit are Rodalquilar with its old gold mine, Las Negras, Los Escullos, La Isleta del Moro and of course Aqua Amarga a mainly summer holiday resort that is a sheltered, wonderfully picturesque bay ideal for safe bathing, sailing or scuba diving. Along the beach front there are charming bars and restaurants where you can enjoy the local fresh fish or just relax with a beer or cool drink.

The 71,500 acres of Cabo de Gata stretach east from Retamar, to the east of Almeria, across the cape to the Barranco del Honda, just north of Aqua Amarga. Classed by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve, it has been protected since 1997. It is originally volcanic in origin and land height ranges from 493m above sea to 60m below. With an annual average rainfall of 100m.m, it is the driest place in Europe. Despite this, it supports a great variety of flora and fauna, adapted to the arid, salty environment.

South of the village of El Cabo de Gata , lies Las Salinas (salt lakes) where, in the first millennium B.C., The Phoenicians controlled the seawater, which entered through the marshes, in order to extract salt. Here, the Laguna de Rosa and the adjacent dunes are home to many species of migrant and breeding birds. The best known are the pink flamingos but over eight other species, including avocets, storks and eagles, can be sighted throughout the year, from spring to autumn. Very few over-winter when the Salinas are drained after the autumn salt harvest. For the rare, Italian Wall Lizard, with its green back with three rows of black spots, Spain, in particular this area, is its only habitat.