Almería, Spain Travel Guide: Cabo de Gata, Mojácar & Playa de los Muertos

While foreign tourists flock to the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca, the province of Almería remains a relatively untouched gem of southern Spain. Located in the far southeastern corner of Andalucía, the province is home to areas of outstanding natural beauty as well as a number of picturesque, whitewashed hillside villages and fantastic beaches.

Almería

The province’s capital city is a great place to stay during your visit. Founded in the 10th century under the Caliphate of Córdoba, the city boasts an impressive hilltop Alcazaba and a charming historic center, with an interesting cathedral (Catedral de la Encarnación) whose architecture incorporates some defensive elements that seem more akin to a fortress than a church.

The Plaza Vieja, which was home to the souk (market) during Arab times, is an energetic center of nightlife, with numerous bars and restaurants around. For tapas, try Casa Puga and Taberna Nuestra Tierra.

Parque Natural del Cabo de Gata

The rugged landscape of the Cabo de Gata, a cape jutting out into the Mediterranean, is totally unique in Spain, representing the only area in all of Europe with a true hot desert climate. The area is defined by its volcanic past, with lava flows, craters, and volcanic rock formations prevalent throughout.

The park is also home to some of the best beaches in Spain, completely free from the mass development that overshadows other parts of the country’s coast. Be sure to visit Playa de los Genoveses and Playa de Mónsul as well as the plethora of other smaller beaches between the Faro de Cabo de Gata and the town of San José.

Playa de los Muertos

This beach, northeast of Cabo de Gata, is often cited as one of the most beautiful in Spain.

Its ominous name is a reference to the victims of shipwrecks caught in the strong currents who would wash up on the shore here in days past, but what you will find today is a completely unspoiled stretch of soft sand and blue water in the shadow of impressive rock formations. This is a perfect place to spend a day immersed in the beauty of nature.

There are many spectacular miradores (viewpoints) in the area, too. On your way to the beach from Cabo de Gata, stop at Mirador de La Amatista and the Faro de Mesa Roldán, a lighthouse built atop a volcanic crater just south of the beach. To the north of the beach, the Mirador de la Granatilla offers spectacular views up and down the coast as well.

Mojácar

North of Playa de los Muertos, this is a charming whitewashed village located high up on a hill, with wonderful views in every direction. Spend a couple of hours wandering its enchanting streets, perhaps stopping for a leisurely lunch at one of the town’s many fine restaurants.

Níjar

This town, just north of Cabo de Gata, is another traditional whitewashed village with a small, quaint historic center. It’s worth a short stop on your way to the park to take in some local charm.

Desierto de Tabernas

Located north of Almería, Tabernas is the only true desert in Europe. Because of the similarity of its landscapes to those of the deserts of North America and the Middle East, the area has long been used as a filming location for many classic movies, such as Sergio Leone’s Dollars Trilogy as well as Lawrence of Arabia, Cleopatra, Conan the Barbarian, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Some of the sets built for the filming of ‘spaghetti Westerns’ are still in use today, while others have been turned into amusement parks open to the public; for example, you can visit MiniHollywood Oasys Theme Park, where Clint Eastwood starred as the ‘Man with No Name’ in For a Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.