Cabo de Gata natural park is a protected area in the province of Almeria which is shared by the municipalities of Almeria, Nijar and Carboneras.
The park’s rare features, which are home to a myriad of flora and fauna and its unique ecosystem – one of the driest in Europe – have earned the area international recognition from UNESCO as a “Biosphere Reserve” and “Global Geopark”.
The rare qualities of the park are largely due to the area’s unusually warm winters and geological diversity. The predominantly volcanic origins of the land with its lava flows and domes and fossil beaches create a unique landscape which captivates visitors with its ochre, black and reddish hues.
Cabo de Gata-Nijar is blessed with 50 kilometres of the best-preserved headlands in the European Mediterranean. Along this impressive coastline with its sheer cliff faces, we find urban beaches in San Jose and Aguamarga, magnificent natural beaches such as Monsul and Los Genoveses and a host of hidden and hard-to-reach coves such as Carnaje y de Enmedio as well as spectacular volcanic cliffs and reefs like Punta de los Muertos and Mesa Roldan.
The flora and fauna of the park include a wide variety of species of particular interest because they are endemic, endangered or because of the key role they play in maintaining the ecosystem. More than 1,000 plant species and up to 250 marine plants can be found in the park including some of huge ecological importance like Posidonia oceanica or Neptune grass. When it comes to animal life, the park is home to an impressive array of invertebrates and a great many birds and reptiles, many of which are unique to the area.
Cabo de Gata is proud to offer tourists an experience they will not find in other coastal areas of the Mediterranean. On top of the many wild and unspoilt beaches, there are a host of outdoor activities to enjoy such as diving, snorkelling, kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing, kitesurfing, hiking, cycling, horse riding, stargazing and birdwatching…and many more.
Lying right at the heart of the park, Casa Agua Marina is the ideal place to explore and enjoy the wonders that Cabo de Gata has to offer.