Almeria is home to a fantastically diverse landscape – one of the most dramatic in Spain. It’s a land of vast contrasts with booming tourist resorts, isolated villages, romantic bays and endless stretches of burnt out desert surrounded by waters bursting with colourful sea life.

The waters off the levante (east) coast are a scuba diver’s paradise and for the most part they’re completely deserted. The coastline between Aguadulce, Roquetas and Adra is infinitely more touristy and lively – perfect if you’re just after that “fun-in-the-sun” holiday experience.

Cabo de Gato area is an absolute must-see. Here you’ll find some of the most pristine waters in southern Spain, often set against formidable cliff faces. The beaches are mostly made up of pebbles and coarse sand. This area is known as the Pirates Coast, the many sheltered coves being used extensively by Barbary Pirates (back in the day).

The Cabo de Gato Natural Park has been designated a Unesco Biosphere reserve since 1997. It’s described as “an area of outstanding ecological interest” and commercial fishing is banned along its 30km stretch of coastline.

Cabo de Gato is home to a wide and varied range of natural habitats, everything from massive cliffs and sand dunes to saltpans, dry riverbeds and a marine zone that stretches for over 12,000 hectares. It’s also where you’ll find many unique indigenous plants along with numerous endangered species of wildlife.

Salinas de Cabo de Gata lies between San Miguel and the headland. This huge saltwater lagoon is one of the most important wetland areas on the Spanish peninsula. There’s a fantastic array of birdlife here and not surprisingly, it attracts hoards of birdwatchers from all over, every year.

Things to do
Go diving! If you’re into scuba diving, freediving or snorkelling, you’ve come to the right place. The waters off Almeria are crystal clear and swarming with life – a bit chilly in winter but this is often when visibility is best. Make sure you bring a thick suit.

Other popular activities in the area include: sea kayaking, sailing, windsurfing and fishing.

If you’re not into water activities, the nearby mountains provide plenty of opportunities for mountain biking, 4X4 excursions and trekking.

Some of the best walking routes are between the Cabo de Gato headland and San Jose. On route, you’ll pass by some striking land and seascapes all bathed in Almeria’s intense sunlight. All routes are very well signposted. Other places worth a checking out include Negras and Agua Amarga.

Another area not to be missed is the Salinas de Acosta saltpans. If you follow the coast road from Cabo de Gato, you’ll eventually come across these dazzling (almost blinding) mountains of salt. They’ve been extracting salt from this 4km-long wetland since as far back as the Phoenician times.

Almeria is famous for dramatic desert landscape, dry climate and intense blue skies – the light here is like nowhere else in Spain; the colours razor sharp, saturated – dazzling in every respect. It’s a visual treat!