Discover the top 10 beaches in Almeria

Almeria province in Andalusia boasts more than 100km of stunning beaches and coves

Almeria's incredible landscape has provided the backdrop for several big screen films, inciuding a Fistful of Dollars and The God, The Bad & The Ugly, Indiana Jones and Lawrence of Arabia to name just a few.

And it's not difficult to see why. The Andalusian province boasts more than 100km of beautiful coastline, home to an array of extraordinary beaches and coves.

Here's a list of the top 10 must-visit playas and bays:

1. Playa de Mónsul (San José)

Despite being a 300-metre long secluded and isolated coastline, Mónsul beach is hugely popular with tourists and locals. It is situated in the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata, and is known for its characteristic lava formation in the middle of its waters

Its fine sand, crystal clear waters and unspoilt shores will make up for the lack of facilities; the only car park near the beach has restricted access, so it is advisable to arrive by bus.

Mónsul beach is one of the most famous beaches in the Natural Park, thanks in part to the number of films shot here, including scenes from Indiana Jones and Neverending Story.

2. Aguadulce Beach (Roquetas de Mar)

This 2.5km beach is one of the most frequented in the south of Almería, particularly in high season and at weekends. Its dark sand and calm waters have earned it the Blue Flag and other quality awards in recognition also of its Red Cross rescue service, as well as other basic amenities (toilets, showers, cleaning service, beach umbrella and sun lounger rental service). The beach also has access for people with reduced mobility.

And there's plenty to do! You can take a stroll along the picturesque promenade or enjoy a traditional meal at one of the beach bars.

3. Los Genoveses Beach (San José)

This 1.2km stretch of coastline, located 2km from the small village of San José in the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata, boasts fine golden sand, which together with the complete absence of buildings and other structures, make it a totally unspoilt bay. The only way to get to the beach is to walk along a path full of lavender bushes, from where you can take in the magnificent views of the bay and the Morrón de los Genoveses, a volcanic promontory 85-metres high.

The beach is famous for providing the backdrop for films such as The Wind and the Lion starring Sean Connery, and owes its name to the Genoese fleet that helped the Castilian troops to liberate Almeria from the Muslim kingdom of Granada in 1147. For this reason, the flag of Almeria is the same as that of Genoa.

4. Las Negras Beach (Las Negras)

This 850-metre beach is located in the heart of the village of Nijar, in the Cabo de Gata Natural Park. It has crystal clear waters, and while its sand is mixed with small pebbles, its natural barriers protect it from the wind. A perfect place to swim, the beach is equipped for families and offers a wide range of facilities and services (showers, rescue service, specific access for people with reduced mobility, and parking). There is also a ferry service that connects the beach with the secluded bay of San Pedro.

The beach is surrounded by cliffs on both sides, offering perfect shaded spots.

5. Playa de Los Muertos (Carboneras)

Los Muertos beach is often referred to as "a paradise on earth", despite its name, (Beach of the Dead), which harks back to the corpses that used to wash up on this beach after shipwrecks. This unspoilt 1.6km beach offers crystal clear waters, pebbly sand and unforgettable landscapes.

Located in the protected area of the natural park of Cabo de Gata, it's frequented by tourists and nudists of all nationalities, especially during the high season. Low- and mid-season is the best time to truly enjoy its unspoilt features.

Aside from a lifeguard team, there are no other servcies, and it's worth noting that on occasions, an easterly wind prevents easy exit from the water so swimming should be avoided during these conditons.

Accessing the beach isn't easy, you will have to walk down a sloping path for 800 metres, after leaving in the nearby car park, but it's worth it.

6. Los Escullos Beach (Níjar)

The small fishing village of Los Escullos is in the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata. From this uncrowded beach surrounded by fine sand dunes, you can see the Castle of San Felipe, built in the 18th century by King Carlos III.

Los Escullos has a surveillance and coastal protection service, as well as several bars and restaurants within walking distance. Scenes from the movies The Daltons vs. Lucky Luke and Never Say Never Again were filmed here.

7. Enmedio Cove (Níjar)

This beach is also located in the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata and has been selected as one of the best beaches in Europe by the New York Times. The only way to access its fine dark sand, crystal clear waters and formation of white rocks is on foot or with a small boat. This isolated location makes it an ideal place to practice nudism or scuba diving.

8. Playazo Beach (Rodalquilar)

This stunning and accessible beach is located 3km from the village of Rodalquilar and boasts crystal clear blue waters and fine golden sand overlooked by the castle of San Ramon, situated on a fossil dune. 

The Playazo beach is completely safe, as the entrance to the sea is progressive, making it suitable for families with children.

But it is worth knowing that because it is quite secluded, the beach is frequented by nudists, although not by any means exclusively.

9. Agua Amarga Beach (Níjar)

This urban beach of fine sand in the Cabo de Gata Natural Park provides all kinds of amenities for tourists (lifeguard and rescue service, ice-cream kiosks, bars, restaurants and special access for people with reduced mobility), making it an ideal beach for the whole family.

There are small rocky bays, one of which is famous for mud baths. Another was used to transport ore from the Lucainena de las Torres mine to the ships waiting in the port. The 40km route was recently converted into an hikers' trail.

10. Las Salinas Beach (Cabo de Gata)

Las Salinas beach is the longest beach in the Cabo de Gata Natural Park at 5km long, and has a diverse variety of sand from pebbly to fine.

You can reach the beach by walking along wooden walkways, after parking up nearby, but take along a picnic and drinks as there are no bars or restaurants on this beach.

Interestingly, in the middle of the beach sits the picturesque church of Las Salinas, a spectacular feature, and bird watchers will love being in the midst of the natural ornithological reserve of Las Salinas.

Image 1: Andalucia.org
Image 2: Visit Andalucia
Image 3: cabogataalmeria.com
Image.4: Andalucia.org
Image 5: Flickr
Image 6: cabogataalmeria.com
Image 7: Wikipedia
Image 8: Ayuntamiento El Velero
Image 9: Visit Andalucia
Image 10: almeriavivela.com