Where to go

Almeria is a land of breathtaking contrasts, harmoniously blending art, history and nature. It has a vast expanse of coast, with lovely beaches and secluded coves. The tiny villages with their white washed houses, and winding streets are evidence of its Moorish past. The region offers a wealth of leisure activities for all tastes such as swimming, sun bathing, fishing, scuba diving, wind surfing, golf, tennis, lawn bowls, horse riding and some superb walks. For boating enthusiasts there is a new marina at the nearby village of Garrucha and for skiers just a few hours drive will take you to the famous ski slopes of Sierra Nevada. In the desert-like countryside around, you will see oranges , lemons and cactus growing wild.

Mojácar Playa

First and foremost for places to visit is the beach on Mojácar Playa. It runs for 17km (10 miles) of sand along Vera, Garrucha and Mojácar Playa, with a beautiful turquoise sea when the sun is out i.e. most days. The water is always warm and clear, even in October it is warmer than mid-Summer in England.

 

Details on other beaches in the area courtesy of the excellent Viva-Almeria website

http://www.viva-almeria.com/Garrucha_Beach_P38.php

http://www.viva-almeria.com/Vera_Playa_Beach_P37.php

 

 

 

On Mojácar Playa for the kids, other than the beaches, you can find the following :-

Mojácar Pueblo

Mojácar Pueblo is a place you must visit. It has stunning views from the square at the top such as these where you can eat, drink coffee, or have an ice-cream. A treat not to be missed. Mojácar Pueblo is where they filmed the village scenes for the "Indiana Jones" movies were filmed. It also has a market at the bottom of the road that goes up to the Pueblo on a Sunday morning. To get to Mojácar Pueblo, take the road away from the Playa at the main Mojácar Playa roundabout, and follow it up the hill for about a mile. You will see the Pueblo above you at the top of the mountain. As the road bends to the right, turn left and follow the road up, keep following it and eventually you will reach a car park on the right. Park here and it is a short walk up to the main square, where you will the main square with shops, cafes, and beautiful views.

You can also visit the public fountain at the bottom of the village.

 

 

Vera Aqua Park

The Aqua Park at Puerto Rey  just up the coast is a great day out. The  Park's own website is only in Spanish. The park is only open between May and September, each day you can go at 4.30 until 7.30pm at a 40% discount.

Almeria

The city of Almeria situated in the Eastern most point of Southern Spain is dominated by the Alcazaba fortress, built towards the end of the 10th century, and occupying an area of around 43.000 m2. It is considered to be one of the greatest in Andalusia. Almeria today is a city of around 150,000 inhabitants and is enjoying economic and urban expansion, with its principal business and leisure activities centring around the sea. Almeria is about an hours drive south of Mojácar, well signposted on E-15 (N-340). Almeria comes alive during the second half of August to celebrate the Fiesta de la Virgen del Mar (The Virgin of the sea), named after the patron Saint of the city. Dancing the Sevillanas and Fandangos takes place in the stands installed the entire length of the Avenida del Mediterraneo with typical Andalucian air. Local restaurants serve traditional delicacies such as gazpacho, bullabesa (seafood soup with mayonnaise sauce), and caldo de pimenton (paprika spiced broth).
 

 


Agua Dulce

Agua Dulche is just beyond Almeria & well worth a visit. It has a nice sandy beach, and waterside bars and ice-cream parlours where from personal experience we can advise that the ice-creams are excellent. You can also see lots of fish swimming in the clear waters of the harbour, and a nice beach.

Turre

Turre is a delightful small village slightly inland from Mojácar, set against the spectacular backdrop of the Cabrera mountain range, centrally situated to all the local points of interest. Still part of the old traditional Spain with its warm and friendly population. There are supermarkets, some very interesting shops, and many excellent and reasonably priced Spanish owned restaurants and bars. Turre is a typical Spanish market village situated inland from Mojácar about 5 Km. It has a friendly local atmosphere with various village shops and very good Spanish restaurants. The market on a Friday is well worth a visit.

Garrucha

5 kilometers north of Mojácar, lies Garrucha, a town of deeply rooted seafaring traditions, whose landscape is dominated by the castle of Jesus Nazareno. Although it covers just 0.4 square kilometers, this does not stop it boasting three ports, an enchanting promenade, and a wealth of excellent and inviting restaurants and taverns. Garrucha without doubt, has become a most attractive tourist resort during recent years. Just before sunset each day the boats return to harbour to unload and auction off their catches at the quayside. You could experience this colourful spectacle, and then follow it up with a meal in one of the numerous fish restaurants in the village.  At Garrucha, there is also a Go-Karting Centre, on the road between Garrucha and Turre.


Vera

Inland from Garrucha is the lovely town of Vera. This is a quaint and interesting little town, whose buildings harmoniously combine Moorish and Christian architecture. Much modern development is taking place in Vera, with additional facilities being added all the time. There is a market on a Saturday that weaves around the streets, just keep following the signs into the town centre and eventually you will come to a barrier, at which point, find somewhere to park.

 

 

 

 

Cortijo Grande

Some 10 kms away at Cortijo Grande, there is an unique sporting and leisure complex which provides an 18 hole golf course, riding stables, bowling greens, clay pigeon shooting club, swimming pool and tennis courts, together with a variety of bars and restaurants catering for all tastes.

 

 

 



Granada

Further afield is Granada, with its incredible palace of Alhambra. The 2 hour drive may be tiring, but a visit is without doubt well worth it. Both the city of Granada and the Alhambra are outstanding places to visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cabo de Gata

The coastline of the Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata is dramatic. It stretches north for approximately 45 Km from the south-eastern tip of Spain where isolated sandy coves are backed by rugged mountains and black cliffs plunge vertically into the sea. One of the few remaining hidden paradises in the Mediterranean, the Cabo de Gata - Nijar Natural Park is a 30km long coastal strip made from a sub-desert mountain range, which has produced some of the most wonderful beaches and coves you could imagine.

Originally the coastal stretches were inhabited by fishermen. This is still possible to see, as you will often find small fishing crafts drawn up on the beach and the combined fishing and sports harbour at San Jose is often a hive of activity.

With an ever increasing demand for natural and rural tourism, the Cabo de Gata Natural Park, with its virgin beaches, lonely coves and sub-desert scenery, together with the strange natural formations of volcanic craters and Laval columns offers much to see and experience.

The crystal clear waters form an ideal setting for underwater photographic safaris and all forms of fishing. Other water sports to be enjoyed are sailing or windsurfing, while on firm land there are interesting routes to follow on foot, by bicycle or in 4-wheel drive vehicles. The Cabo de Gata - Nijar Natural Park is a 30km long coastal strip made from a sub-desert mountain range, which has produced some of the most wonderful beaches and coves you could imagine. Small towns such as San Jose and Las Negras are dotted along the coastline.

Carboneras

The road from Mojácar to Carboneras is well worth a drive, with lots of high passes and hairpin bends. Think mini-Alps or Pyrenees, not for the faint hearted. The road passes the Macenas castle just outside Mojácar. Carboneras with its beaches, sands and waters, offers incomparable natural beauty. It is one of the Mediterranean corners which still preserves the authenticity of a small fishing village. Carboneras has one of the most varied and attractive stretches of coastline. From totally untouched, remote beaches where the visitor can find privacy, quietness and the beauty of the landscape, to beaches which surround the urban area and which have all types of services and attractions for those who like to be accompanied and with all types of amenities within one's reach.

 Nijar

Nijar also contains Arabic reminiscences, which can be seen in the layout of its streets with whitewashed houses. This town is known for its artisan activity (pottery, basket making, weaving, Spanish rugs and esparto). The coast has an amazing beauty with small coves difficult to reach, like San Pedro, Enmedio Cove or Raja Cove; open beaches like those of the Genoveses, with dunes like that of Msnsul. The beaches of the small coastal towns of San Jose, Agua Amarga, Las Negras, La Isleta, Los Escullos or San Miguel of Cabo de Gata are also recommended.

Macael is the economic centre of this region; the locality also called "the city of white gold". This development of the marmoreal substratum goes back to the Phoenician and Roman age, but it reaches the height of splendour with the Arabic culture. Its whiteness and quality amazed these colonists who used it in the Alhambra and all of those great pieces of work that they wanted to exalt. The marble of these quarries has reached world fame. If you want to admire the work of the marble, you only have to go through its plazas and streets, or stop facing the crossroads that decorate them, or in front of the statue which pays tribute to the stonemason. The quarries can be visited by arrangement with the Provincial Association of Directors of Marble at these telephone numbers: 950-128111 / 950-128112 Fax 950-128210 or by contacting the Technicians in Mountains and Quarries at the telephone number 950-128216.

Tabernas

There are several reasons to visit this municipality. Its own lands form the natural region of the "Tabernas Desert" and offers amazing scenery where a camera is essential. Due to a series of recently built cultural and sports areas, in Tabernas, you can enjoy shows which are theatrical, musical, cinematographic and of many different sports. There is an outdoor movie set at Tabernas, called "Mini Hollywood", where such epics as "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Fistful of Dollars" were filmed.

For the energetic and adventuresome, there are numerous inland walks and interesting places to visit, such as the Gypsy cave dwellings at Almanzora, the old Roman town of Aguilas with its 16th Century castle overlooking the bay.

Bedar

Bedar is a lovely mountain village just the other side of the Motorway from Turre, high up in the mountains. It has tiny streets with nice bars & cafe's, and fabulous views down the mountain back to the coast at Garrucha and Mojácar. Warning - park on the main road, the village streets are tiny at the start and get smaller.

Lubrin

If you keep going up the mountain road from Bedar and down the other side, you will eventually come to the lovely Spanish village of Lubrin. You will pass through a small village on the way where it seems like the road has run out into a track, just keep going and the road re-starts the other side of the village all the way to Lubrin. We visited on a Wednesday when the market was on and very good it was too, much bigger than Bedar. We also found a very nice village cafe on the way towards the market.

Antas

Antas tends to be better known by most people for the nearby El Real industrial estate, but if you venture the other side of the E15 motorway, you will find a lovely small and unusually clean Spanish town with a well laid-out centre populated with locally owned bars and shops.

 

Golf

There are several golf courses in the area :-

http://www.desertspringsresort.com  - you can also visit for a coffee, a drink or a meal. (Telephone 637 746 706)

Other golf course information, courtesy of the Viva-Almeria website

http://www.viva-almeria.com/Cortijo_Grande_P264.php - 9 hole course suitable for the less experienced golfer, about 6 or 7 miles inland from Mojácar Playa.

http://www.viva-almeria.com/Marina_Golf_P332.php - On Mojácar Playa on the road to Garrucha.

http://www.viva-almeria.com/Valle_Del_Este_P331.php - professional setup inland from Garrucha.

 

Nightlife

Mojácar Playa has many bars of all nationalities, and several nightclubs including Paradise and Viva Mojácar on the right hand side on the road up to the Pueblo, and the Skandalo bar on the Playa near to the apartment which is open all night.