Three beach gems on the lovely shores of Almeria
Monday, 16th Jul 2012by Richard Speigal, Editor
Spain has a little secret and it’s called Almeria. Sunworshippers, take heed, because when the sun has disappeared from the rest of Spain you know where it has gone? Almeria. Don’t feel left out if you haven’t heard of it. Many people haven’t, which makes Almeria a great vacation destination for those looking for a real hideaway with plenty of unspoiled nature.
Almeria is still pretty “unknown” compared to many of Spain’s other beachy getaways, located in the Southern region of Andalucía. With fantastic dunes, breathtaking cliffs, virgin beaches, and sheltered coves, Almeria is worth paying a visit to if you want a unique and sunny escape where you get to leave the rest of society behind.
Relax, unwind, and read on for our best beach finds:
Playa de Monsul
Located in the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata Nijar this natural paradise is 400 meters in length and is divided into two parts by a tombolo, resulting in spectacular sea erosion. With a moonlike volcano landscape, long and black sandy beaches, and lava cliffs, it’s no wonder Steven Spielberg chose this unspoiled beach as the backdrop for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade!
Follow in the footsteps of Indiana Jones at Playa de Monsul
The beach is family friendly, due to shallow and crystal clear waters filled with little fish that children can enjoy. The mountain that reaches the beach has a rock, which is ideal for avid rock-climbers. Visit Playa de Monsul if you want to walk in the footsteps Harrison Ford and Sean Connery and admire breathtaking scenery.
How to get here:
The nearest location is San Jose (road ALP-202). At the entrance of San Jose you will need to go down a dirt road, which is accessible by car. There is a car park, but in the summer months it can get quite busy and access is limited. It is recommended to arrive between 9 and 10AM. Alternatively, local authorities offer a public bus free of charge, which will take you to Playa de Monsul.
Playa de los Muertos
Described as one of the best naturist beaches in Spain, this beach is located on the north edge of the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata Nijar and south of Carboneras. This isolated beach offers a pebble/gravel beach (great for natural foot massages!), crystal clear turquoise water and a dramatic backdrop of a series of volcanic cliffs. There are no services so be sure to take all your essential beach items with you.
Playa de los Muertos is one of the best naturist beaches in Spain (photo by jarp32)
The name Playa de los Muertos translates to “Beach of the Dead” and many people think the name derives from the fact that when you see what’s before your eyes, you will think you died and went to Heaven. However, this particular beach in Almeria has a bit of fascinating history behind it. A sign on the beach describes the bitter story of dead pirates, sailors, and merchants who were spat out on sea and drawn in by the currents.
How to get here:
Located in the Levante region, near the town of Carboneras, it is the “entrance gate” to the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata. If you take the A7 motorway, turn off at the exit of Carboneras. The road will split into 2; make sure you stay to the right and pay attention not to miss the deviation to the left to access parking.
If you arrive from Mojacar, follow the direction to the village of Carboneras. Once you have arrived, you’ll have to follow a new road until you reach a turn-off and a signpost indicating “Playa de los Muertos” where you can then park your car.
Access to the beach from the car park is a little tricky so sensible is highly recommended. There are two ways of accessing the beach:
For adventure lovers, start at the viewpoint area. From there you can make the hike down to the beach, but be prepared for steep slopes, rocks, and stones which can make the trek a little difficult.
An easier, but longer (by about 5 minutes), way to reach the beach is to take the trail that begins at the information kiosk. From here the slope is much less pronounced.
Playa Aguadulce
In 75 years Aguadulce has grown from a small fishing village to the urban lover’s playground. Playa Aguadulce is a beach that is great for those who expect and appreciate typical beach amenities and facilities, offering a vast selection of restaurants, bars, clubs, and shops.
Playa Aguadulce is a Blue Flag beach with excellent amenities by day and parties by night
This busy beach is great for all different personalities. It is ideal for families due to the many beach activities, fine white sand and shallow calm waters. Lined with palm trees, the promenade always makes for a nice stroll if you want to take a break from sunbathing at the Blue Flag certified beach. Youngsters enjoy the beach, which especially comes alive in the summer as they have made it a main gathering point for enjoying nightlife until the early hours of the morning.
How to get here:
Aguadulce is approximately 10 km west of Almeria city along the N-340a and approximately 14 km along the A7. The Almeria airport is merely 25 km away and the commercial port of Almeria is also nearby. Those coming from Roquetas de Mar can pop by on the bus for just 1 euro.
Tags: beaches, costa almeria, history, nature, nudism
Related holiday pages: Costa Almeria
About the author
Richard quit his job and founded España Breaks with wife and business partner Lisa back in 2002. The couple enjoyed a life in Spain for some years and brought back a passion for all things Spanish. They now run their company from Bath where they live with their very lively son Oscar. Richard remains madly enthusiastic for everything Spain, travel and web related.
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