7-day tour Cabo de Gata
Cabo de Gata, which was declared a Natural Park in 1987, is undoubtedly one of the most impressive corners that we have in Spain. A place where you can find unparal- leled, beautiful beaches and desert landscapes. Prepair your car or caravan and travel with us to Cabo de Gata with these seven days of route that you may never forget.
Day 1: Las Salinas Beach
We start the route in one of the best beaches in Cabo de Gata. Being the first day, it may be a good idea to visit Las Salinas beach, perhaps the best known of all the beaches in the area.
A beach of more than 5 km long, that gets its name from the nearby marshes. It extends from the Torreón de San Miguel, at the exit of the Cabo de Gata region (where you can find good restaurants and shops), to the Cape Lighthouse. It is the largest beach in the Natural Park so it is possible that you will encounter some fellow tourists there.
In the middle of the beach there's the Church of Las Salinas which was rehabilitated in 2012, one of the places that you cannot miss in the Natural Park.
Day 2: Arrecife de las Sirenas, Dedo and Rajá coves
On the second day of the route, you can start close to where you finished the first day, starting from the Cabo Lighthouse. From the viewpoint of the sirens you can enjoy the views of the reef of the Sirens, which coincidentally is the easternmost part of southern Spain. Its name may originate from monk seals living there in the past, which ancient navigators could confuse with mermaids. Unfortunately these mammals are no longer found in Cabo de Gata.
If you look closely, you will see small formations that rise above the water level that belong to old volcanic chimneys and that are also characterized by a beautiful dark color due to the material dumped by them. From the viewpoint you will be able to see the cliffs of the area and the seabed that is undoubtedly a spectacle. If you want to access the reef, you can do so by going down a small descent.
Near the reef there's Cala Rajá, a small beach just over 120 meters long, with fine sand and shielded from the east wind, which is located between the marine protection area of Punta de Cabo de Gata and the Cerro del Vela Blanca. It's a cove surrounded by vegetation, so it will also be an opportunity to discover the flora of Cabo de Gata.
In addition, from Cala Rajá you can see the reef of the Dedo, also called El Dedo de Dios as well as the Cala de la Punta Negra, which, regrettably, is inaccessible from land, and the Cerro de Vela Blanca with its watchtower.
Day 3: Mónsul, Genoveses and Higuera Beaches
Two of the great jewels of Cabo de Gata, the beaches of Mónsul and Genoveses are part of the journey on our third day of the route. To access these you can go by car or by bus from San José. If opt for using your car, it is better to go early to find a place in the parking lot (€ 5 euro).
With its now famous dark sand, the Mónsul beach will surprise you with its large living dune, which depending on the direction of the wind can cover one of its faces with sand.
A beach that also has a rock with a large lava tongue, which runs from the beach to the water. You'll notice that it is surrounded by lava walls which create an infinite number of striking shapes. Famous films such as "Lawrence of Arabia" or "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" have been shot on this beach.
From there and about two kilometres away, you have Los Genoveses, a virgin beach whose attraction is in its wonderful dunes of fine golden sand, being also the largest beach in the bay with more than a kilometre in length.
On the other side, outside the Mónsul and Genoveses area, we find the beautiful Cala Higuera, which has perfect sea beds for scuba diving. Very close we also have the Tabaco cave, a white cave of sedimentary rock also fit for diving. Finally, we could end the day with a visit to the town of San José.
Day 4: Cala de Enmedio, del Plomo and Playazo
The sands are the protagonists on the fourth day of this route through Cabo de Gata, visiting first of all Cala de Enmedio, a beach of fine, golden sand without a single stone, only 150 meters long, which is usually quite quiet. You could take a relaxing bath, as well as enjoying the views on the town of Agua Amarga on the other side of the bay as well as the Mesa Roldán hill with its lighthouse and castle.
The only but is that it is a beach of which the access is somewhat complicated. In fact, it is said that the best way to access it is to do it on horseback. Therefore, if you do not manage to get to this virgin beach, you can always take the opportunity to visit the aforementioned town of Agua Amarga.
You could also consider going to Cala del Plomo, which, although it also has a somewhat complicated access of 5 km of a dirt road (fit for cars), is of indescribable beauty.
Finally, you could spend the afternoon at Playazo de Rodalquilar a virgin beach that is one of the most visited by visitors (and divers) of Cabo de Gata, due to its seabed that is of great natural wealth. The 18th century castle of San Ramón is also to be found on this beach.
Day 5: Cala de San Pedro and Isleta del Moro
The fifth day of the route takes us to Las Negras, where you can visit the town and from there take a ferry to Cala San Pedro. Although difficult to access, it has views and sea beds that you cannot forego. A cove that also stands out for its fresh water spring, as well as a coastal defence from the 18th century. Take note: it is a beach frequented by many nudists.
After the day in San Pedro, you can return to town to perhaps do some diving or just rest before heading to Isleta del Moro , another beautiful town in Cabo de Gata with stunning views.
Day 6: Beach of the Dead
The sixth day of the route we will visit Los Muertos beach where you can spend the whole day enjoying the water, the sun and the views. Accessible by car (parking is € 4) and then walk a short stretch until you reach the sandy area.
A beach that is more than a kilometre long with the bluest and most crystalline water in all of Cabo de Gata, fine stone sand and a location halfway between Agua Amarga and Carboneras, which makes it undoubtedly one of the best beaches in Spain.
For safety reasons, it is not a highly recommended beach to visit with children.
Day 7: Mojácar
The final day of our route can be dedicated to visiting Mojácar, a municipality that is just outside the Cabo de Gata and that is divided into two well-differentiated urban centers Mojácar Pueblo and Mojácar Playa.
Mojácar Pueblo is located on a hill in the foothills of the Sierra Cabrera, touching 200 meters above sea level, which in its origins served for citizens to defend themselves from attacks that came by boat.
The town can be explored through its narrow streets flanked by white houses with balconies decorated with coloured geraniums.
(Also refer to the description elsewhere on this site.)