Beach Guide for the Costa de Almeria

Beaches Costa Almeria
Costa Almeria is perhaps the most diverse of all the Spanish Costas with a vast range of beaches – from popular resorts with every facility imaginable to tiny, deserted coves where you won’t see another soul all day. The list here gives you a taste of some of the beaches of the region, with the Blue Flag beaches listed first, but the best way to discover the treasures of the Costa Almeria is to set off and explore for yourself.

Agua Amarga Beach
Set in the Cabo de Gata National Park, with several other beautiful beaches nearby, this picturesque Blue Flag beach is overlooked by the lovely whitewashed buildings of the fishing village. The beach is mostly sandy, with calm, crystal clear waters ideal for safe swimming.

Facilities: toilets, showers, Life Guard (in summer), water sports (including hire of pedal boats, sail and motor boats). There are numerous bars and restaurants in the village.

El Lancon Beach, Carboneras
This large Blue Flag urban beach is beside the village of Carboneras, which of itself is worth exploring – particularly in search of some of its fine seafood restaurants. The beach is sandy and kept very clean, and the waters are clear and safe for water sports. Access is easy and parking is unlikely to be a problem.

Facilities: toilets, showers, Life Guard, hire of equipment for watersports, plenty of beach bars and restaurants.

El Monsul Beach, San Jose (Nudist)
One of the best known beaches in Cabo de Gata National Park, this Blue Flag beach is blessed with fine, white sand and sparkling clear waters. A huge rock in the middle of the beach provides some very welcome shade. With ample parking close to the beach access is no problem. The beach was used to film some scenes in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (they were allowed to keep their clothes on though!)

Facilities: beach bar

Garrucha Beach, Garrucha
Lovely harbour beach, part of the picturesque fishing village of Garrucha. The breakwater means the waters of this Blue Flag beach are extremely calm and safe for swimming. The beach is very popular with families and the facilities are excellent with plenty of places to eat and a children’s play area.

Facilities: toilets, showers, Life Guard, hire of equipment for water sports.

Mojacar Playa, Mojacar Playa near Garrucha
Mojacar Playa beach is actually a misnomer as there are 17 kilometres of beaches here, of which only 7 kilometres have been developed and given the coveted Blue Flag award. The popular resort of Mojacar Playa has been developed over recent years and has every facility imaginable – but if you want a deserted stretch of beach you won’t have to go far to find it. There are plenty of bars and restaurants.

Facilities: toilets, showers, Life Guard, hire of equipment for water sports.

Vera Playa, near Garrucha (nudist)
Part of the 17 kilometres of beach which comprise Mojacar Playa, the resort of Vera Playa is the centre of naturism in Andalucia. That means nudism is the norm – not only on the designated 2 kilometres of Blue Flag beach, but on the streets and communal areas of the resort itself. Nudism is not compulsory – but you may feel a little overdressed even in the skimpiest of swimsuits. The sandy beach is very wide so it’s easy to find a quiet spot.

Facilities: toilets, showers, Life Guard, hire of equipment for water sports.

San Juan de los Terreros, San Juan de los Terreros
This beautiful and largely undiscovered Blue Flag beach is by the lovely little town of San Juan de los Tererros, just down the coast from Mojacar and Vera. The town itself is well worth a visit and has plenty of eateries, many specialising in fresh seafood. If you can face the steep walk the 16th century castle at San Juan de los Terreros should be on your ‘to do’ list as the views of the coast from there are spectacular. The beach itself is mostly sandy, and quite narrow, but if you venture to the North you will find several little coves and inlets.

Facilities: toilets, showers, hire of equipment for water sports.

Roquetas de Mar, Aguadulce
This is one of the most popular and well developed tourist resorts in Almeria and has no less than seven major beaches: Serena, Carillos, La Bajadilla, La Romanilla, Las Salinas, los Bajos, and Aguadulce. All the beaches here have been awarded a Blue Flag. If you like beaches with plenty to do and every facility imaginable then this is the place for you. All the beaches have the urban backdrop of Roquetas de Mar so there are endless places to eat and drink.

Facilities: everything!

Playa de los Muertos, near Carboneras
Despite the slightly sinister name – which translates to “Beach of the Dead” this beach, the last one to the West of the Cabo de Gata National Park is worth visiting if you want to get away from it all. A 15 minute walk from the car park seems to put most people off but for peace and quiet it’s well worth the trek – as the walk takes you to a vast expanse of mostly deserted beach. Make sure you have plenty of water with you as there are no facilities at all. Clothing optional!

Playa de las Negras, San Jose
Named for the black rock which shelters the beach here and provides a footing for the village of Las Negras this beautiful sand and shingle beach, with clear blue waters is well worth a visit. Las Negras itself has several excellent seafood restaurants.

Facilities: toilets, showers.

El Sombrerico, Mojacar Playa
A fairly quiet beach, but popular with swimmers and divers because of its exceptionally clear shallow waters. There is a good beach bar which serves fresh seafood.

Facilities: toilets