Costa Almería travel information and video

Costa de Almeria

The coast of Almeria is the relatively unspoilt coast of the province of the same name. The area incorporates over 200 kilometres of diverse and predominantly natural coastline; inland much of the landscape is arid and desert-like and is sparsely populated.

Take a look at our selection of holiday homes on the Costa Almeria.

Climate

The Costa de Almeria has a hot desert climate (making it the only European region with this type of climate). The average temperature is 19⁰C, but Almeria can reach temperatures of over 40 degrees in summer, whereas in winter temperatures drop to 10 degrees.

History

The name Almeria derives from the time when the Arabs occupied most of Spain. It was called Al-Mariyya, meaning Watchtower, as it was the first line of defence against enemy forces. The capital city of the same name was an Arabic stronghold and the principal harbour of its kingdom. The Moorish castle Alcazaba is the second largest Arabic fortress in Andalusia, after the Alhambra in Granada. Apart from Moorish remains, there are also many Roman and Greek archaeological sites along the coast.

Beaches

East of the city of Almeria you find the protected natural maritime park Cabo de Gata - Nijar with its beautiful rugged and natural coastline. Much of the park has restricted road access, so you will have to go on foot to get to the beach, but the idyllic secluded bays with crystal clear water are worth it. They are perfect for bathing and for scuba diving. The untouched beaches and sand dunes, tiny fishing villages and sweeping headlands offer fabulous views of the Mediterranean sea and coastline. The area is one of the most natural and ecologically rich coasts along the western Mediterranean and is perfect for hikers, nature lovers and bird watchers.

The city of Vera is famous for its excellent nudist beaches. Do you prefer to keep your bathing suit on? There are also regular beaches in Vera. The calm water and fine yellow sand make Vera’s beaches an ideal location to unwind.

Take a look at the beachfront apartments and villas in Vera Playa, or if you prefer a more inland location, the holiday homes in and around Vera city.

The beaches of Pulpí are well-known and beloved by locals, but they have not been discovered by many tourists (yet!). The beaches have the most beautiful golden, fine sand and clear blue water, and they are surrounded by steep cliffs. There are many underwater caves and beautiful marine life to be explored! One of these apartments and villas in San Juan de los Terreros, at the heart of the Pulpí region, would be the perfect base to discover the area.

The best places to visit

Almeria city is a lively, modern commercial city. It is very Spanish, with few expats residing in the centre. There is a ferry port where you can take a trip over to North Africa, a sports marina and a fishing port. A visit to the city is definitely worthwhile: it has a good selection of galleries, museums and shops, as well as lots of picturesque squares along the main central avenue Las Ramblas.

The little town of Nijar, just outside Almeria city, produces handmade clay ceramicware and is definitely worth a trip to watch the artisan process and to pick up a unique holiday souvenir.

West of the city of Almeria you find the towns of Roquetas de Mar, Aguadulce and Almerimar. They are well-developed tourist destinations, which offer all the facilities that you would expect to find in a modern tourist area. Almerimar boasts marinas and a golf course of 27 holes, making it the ideal destination for an active holiday.

Browse these villas and apartments in Almerimar and enjoy the best golf course on the Costa de Almeria.

Even further west, you come to the old fishing town of Adra, in the area known as ‘El Poniente’. The city has some extremely interesting archaeological sites dating from the 8th century BC. There are many Phoenician, Roman and Arab remains that are often missed by the crowds of tourists.

To the east, Mojácar is a charming village and beach resort with excellent beaches such as the famous El Playazo, as well as lots of traditional festivals (los Moros y Cristianos in June and the San Juan festival in July for example). Explore this whitewashed village and its beautiful natural surroundings with one of these holiday villas in Mojácar as your base.

Culture

As far as culture goes, Almeria Costa has plenty to offer. Most archaeological sites have a museum or interpretation centre onsite or nearby. There are many museums dotted along the coast: in Roquetas del Mar you can visit the Aula del Mar (a free maritime museum), and in Almeria city you can choose from museums about topics such as art, guitars, olive oil and the Spanish civil war.

There are also many festivals celebrated on the coast. Almost every beach town organizes Cine de verano (cinema on the beach), live music festivals and an annual fair. Along the coast the Noche de San Juan (the shortest night of the year) is also celebrated with bonfires on the beach. Another curious tradition of Costa Almeria is El Entierro de la Sardina (the Burial of the Sardine), which indicates the end of Carnival season.

Agriculture

Despite the arid climate of Almeria, it is a major agricultural area – where some 250 million kilos of flowers and crops are cultivated each year. You will note the miles upon miles of huge plastic greenhouses and sheet-covered fields that protect the crops from the elements. Tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers are among the main crops that are produced and exported.

Cuisine

The cuisine of Costa Almeria consists mainly of seafood dishes such as fried and grilled fish and fish chowders. Some dishes have a strong Arabic/North African influence because of Almeria’s Moorish history. Because of the agricultural industry in Almeria, fruit and vegetables are excellent quality and are used to make a wide variety of soups, stews and salads (for example tabernero, a spicy tomato stew, and sopa moruna, a soup with vegetables, lentils and cilantro). Other typical dishes from the coast include migas (fried bread with garlic and spicy sausage), rabbit stew and papas a lo pobre (fried potatoes topped with a fried egg and/or roasted peppers). Traditional desserts are papaviejos (made with potatoes and milk) and deditos de Jesús (Jesus’ fingers - biscuits made with almonds and shaped like fingers, produced by a convent in Almeria city).