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Costa Almeria Tourist Information

The Costa de Almeria is situated in Andalucia to the east of the Costa Tropical and Costa del Sol. Known for its dry climate and often desert-like landscape, this coastline remains relatively undeveloped, with the exception of occasional resorts such as Mojacar Playa, Aguadulce and Roquetas de Mar. The area is also home to the impressive Cabo de Gata natural park, and the Costa's dramatic surroundings have been used as a location for numerous spaghetti westerns.

Large parts of the southern Costa de Almeria are covered by acres of polythene greenhouses, which provide the ideal growing conditions for a variety of fruit and vegetables. The 'plasicultura' industry, as it is commonly known, has brought a lot of wealth to the area, and it has even become a mini tourist attraction in its own right. There are three resorts situated on the southern part of the coast; Almerimar, Roquetas de Mar and Aguadulce. The latter has a pleasant seafront promenade alongside a wide sandy beach, and all three provide excellent water sports facilities. Around 6 miles (9km) east of Aguadulce is the city of Almeria, dominated by the ruins of a huge Moorish fortress.

In the 1960's film producers spotted that the arid landscape surrounding the town of Tabernas, around 15 miles inland from Almeria, strongly resembled the American Wild West. A number of memorable films were consequently shot here, including 'Once Upon a Time in The West' and 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly'. Three of the surviving sets have now been converted into tourist attractions, most notably Mini Hollywood, which is also home to a small zoo.

The Cabo de Gata natural park, situated southeast of Almeria city, is the driest place in Europe with an average rainfall of just 100mm a year. Despite this, the park supports a large variety of plants and animals, including a large colony of migratory flamingos that gathers on the large salt flats every spring and autumn. There are also some lovely sandy bays, such as the unspoilt Playa de los Genoveses, scattered along the coastline of this rugged peninsula. On the northern edge of the Cabo de Gata is the laid back fishing village of Agua Amarga, which boasts a long sandy beach.

The town of Mojacar, situated up the coast from Agua Amarga, consists of two main parts: Mojacar Playa and Mojacar Pueblo. With its traditional cube-shaped houses, Mojacar Pueblo is one of the most popular of Andalucia’s whitewashed villages. In contrast Mojacar Playa is a modern beach resort with a good choice of amenities.

Close by is the resort of Garrucha, known for its excellent fish restaurants, while the coastline around Vera Playa, a little further to the north, has a string of well-known naturist beaches. A few miles inland from Vera Playa is the fascinating town of Cuevas de Almanzora, notable for its many caves that have been converted into homes.

The Costa de Almeria has one international airport, which is situated about 5 miles east of Almeria city.