Cabo de Gata, must go place to visit in Spain

Last Updated on 17 December, 2020 by Veronica

Getting to write about which are the places that one must visit in Cabo de Gata is a very complicated task because it is full of beautiful places to go with viewpoints that have spectacular views and hidden gems. Here, I present what I consider the places you should not miss when you visit Cabo de Gata, Almería.

Visit Cabo de Gata: A Must Visit Place

Where to start my visit to Cabo de Gata?

Normally, when I visit Cabo de Gata, I stay in Mojácar, which, for me, is the ideal place to stay. I wake up very early in the morning so that I have time to go through everywhere without going in a hurry. There is nothing worse than a visit to Cabo de Gata in a hurry. Also, look at the picture that I find myself in the morning. This is not paid with money.

On the road from Mojácar to Cabo de Gata, you will also find some things to see and do, I’ll tell you about it, but it’s up to you to go or not.

The Castle of Macenas

The Castle of Macenas is a defensive construction from the 18th century. Later, it was used by the civil guard. It is on Macenas beach and from here you can access the Pilurico Tower.

The Pilurico Tower

This tower is much older than the Macenas Castle since it is from the Nasrid period. They used it to watch the coast. You can climb it since it has been restored and the view of the coast is gorgeous from there.

You can see the whole coast, and the truth is that it was not fools who put it here.

Sopalmo, on your way to Cabo de Gata

Sopalmo is a village that is on the way to Carboneras. When I arrived, I thought it was very funny that there are two streets in the village, one that goes to the right and where all the pots and windows are blue, and one that goes to the left where they are red. I laughed because an inhabitant said that it seemed that some are left and others right, but it has nothing to do with that!

Also, in a little garden, I saw a panda seat turned into a gardener! A very picturesque place that is definitely recommended.

Viewpoint of the Granatilla

From this viewpoint, you can see the Sierra de Cabrera and the Algarrobico beach and the horrible half-built hotel that has made this beautiful beach famous. If you can take a walk through it, I recommend it. It’s a beach with dark and fine sand and it is very quiet.

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Lighthouse of Mesa Roldan

From this viewpoint, you can see a good part of the coastline of Cabo de Gata. It has a castle like Macenas that you can climb as well. A more than recommended view. The lighthouse is private property and cannot be accessed.

Beach of the Dead, Cabo de Gata

The Beach of the Dead is already past Carboneras and owes its name to the Tip of the Dead that is south of the beach. It is called the Tip of the Dead due to the currents that there are in the area. This place is where the deceased ended in shipwrecks. The Beach of the Dead is one of the largest in the park of Cabo de Gata and is well known.

In it, countless advertisements and scenes have been recorded both on television and in the cinema.

It is not that it has a super fine sand or anything like that, what I like most about this beach is the water and the environment. Although sometimes, unfortunately, there is a pig that leaves their remains on the beach, it is normal to be super clean and well maintained.

Access is not easy, you have to walk a goat trail for a good distance. Although, the difficult thing is not to go, but to return. The path is the descent from the hill to the beach and it tests the hiker, but hey, you know what they say, if you want something, it’s gonna cost you!

The beach is spectacular, at least I believe it is. The part I like the most about this beach is the corner that is in the southern area, which is more collected between the rocks and, if there are few people around, it gives you a certain sense of privacy, yes, it is right at the end of the beach so you’ll have to put some effort to get there.

For saying something I do not like, in high season, they charge you for leaving the car parked.

El Cargadero de Mineral de Aguamarga

The first time I visited, it was a great discovery for me. In this area of Cabo de Gata, mining excavations were made to obtain iron ore. Several lines of railroad were made that had to take the mineral to a dock for loading it onto the boats.

The mine was operational until 1942. You can visit the ruins of the facilities, but be careful because there are not many security measures and it can be a bit dangerous. From up there, the view of the small village of Aguamarga and its beach is amazing.

The Gold Mines of Rodalquilar

Well, although it may not seem like it, in Cabo de Gata, gold was extracted until not long ago. The gold mines are now abandoned and you can visit them with total freedom. Again, I warn you that it is dangerous, so be careful.

This mine was operating from 1883 until 1966, at which time the mine ceased to be productive. At that time, Rodalquilar’s population increased.

Behind the mine, there is a path that goes a little further into the mountain and, if you follow it, you can also see an open-pit mining for ore.

El Cortijo del Fraile, Cabo de Gata

The Cortijo del Fraile is an 18th century building that was built by the friars of the convent of Santo Domingo de Almería, but in the 19th century it passed into private hands. Here, there was a passionate crime that led to the novel by Federico Garcia Lorca Bodas de Sangre.

But it is even better known because it was the setting for several films from the west, the best known being The Good, The Ugly and The Bad. The best way to get here is from Rodalquilar as there is a dirt road that goes straight. On other roads, it is more complicated and easy to get lost.

Mirador de la Amatista

Returning to Rodalquilar, you can visit the Mirador de la Amatista. At this point, in addition to having an information point, you have one of the best views of the coast of the natural park of Cabo de Gata.

You can also see some coves, the Isleta del Moro, and the Pico de los Frailes, which is the highest mountain in the park. It’s located on a curve, and every time I pass the curve, I can not help but stop. I love this view.

Oolitic Dunes of Los Escullos

These dunes can be up to 250,000 years old and are fossilized. The oolites are like small balls that are formed and that are added and accumulated until they form the dune that is then petrified. I thought it was very interesting.

Las Salinas de Cabo de Gata

Las Salinas is a beautiful corner that also serves as an observatory for birds. It is surely the most famous place in Cabo de Gata and it is more than recommended to know it.

In the salt pans, you can go along the road while you have the Mediterranean Sea on one side and the saline on the other. It is the place where multiple advertisements and video clips are filmed, such as Jamiroquai and his cosmic girl song that is recorded here.

It also highlights the salt flats, the Almadraba Tower, or church of the salinas, that is an icon of this area and for which this point of the Cabo de Gata park is perfectly distinguished.

Mermaid’s viewpoint

The Mermaid’s Viewpoint is probably the best known point of the Cabo de Gata park. To get to the viewpoint, it is necessary to leave the salt flats behind and head towards the Cabo de Gata Lighthouse.

Once you have passed the infinite straight line of the salt flats, the road becomes more complicated and twisty and you will even find some stone that has fallen from the walls of the mountain. The curves are very narrow and dangerous and sometimes a car passes by so please be careful.

When you arrive at the Cabo de Gata Lighthouse, on the right, you have the beach of Cabo de Gata and on the left, the view of the sirens reef which is a recommended place to stop and observe. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is stop and contemplate what surrounds you. I believe that that is the only thing that one can do in this place.

In addition to these beautiful places that are in the natural park of Cabo de Gata, you can visit cities and towns that are very close to Cabo de Gata and that deserve a visit.

Níjar

Níjar is the name of the natural park. Although it is more known for its crafts, its ceramics and its tomatoes are also popular. You can not leave Níjar without trying or buying Raff tomatoes from Níjar, you will not regret it.

Mojácar near Cabo de Gata

Mojácar is surely the town that I know best in this area because I have been coming to visit it for the past 25 years. It is a town with a special charm. You can visit Mojácar village that is on a mountain and that is the oldest and most typical of Mojácar.

Also, you have to visit Mojacar Playa, which is full of places, restaurants and hotels where you can spend a few days and relax.

And you? What do you recommend to visit in Cabo de Gata?

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