Levante beaches and beach resorts - Almeria

Beaches and beach resorts

Beaches of Pulpi

Pulpi coastline
Beside the main resort beaches of San Juan de los Terreros a choice selection of remote bays line the shores of the municipality of Pulpi, access to the beaches can be achieved from the A-322 coastal main road.
Starting at the border betwen Murcia province and the province of Almeria and heading south the first two beaches, Playa La Carolina and Cala Cerrada, collectively known as Los Cocedores are a hidden surprise, unseen from the main road, it would be easy to drive straight past without ever knowing they existed. Both are located from the first road junction just after the border by following a signpost for playas along a gravel track and passing a second signpost indentifing the beaches as Playas de los Cocedores, the parking zone for both beaches lies directly ahead.
On facing the coast Playa Caroline is on the left, a beach of fine golden sand in a picturesque bay with calm waters perfect for swimming and bathing. To the right of the car park is Playa Cerrada, this horseshoe shaped cove has tranquil shallow waters well suited to children and a lovely sandy beach. Enriched by its surroundings, it is said that the prominant caves etched into the sandstone cliffs that edge the bay were once inhabited dwellings, even then the property market was all about location and you couldn't get a better sea view than this!
There is one chiringuito beach bar, aptly named Chiringuito Cocedores, that services both of the playas, it is situated next to the car park between the beaches with its terrace overlooking Playa Cerrada providing a superb setting for refreshments.
Apart from the chiringuito the only services available at these beaches are wc and waste bins. Much importance is placed of the quality and cleanliness of the beaches here in the Levante, and quite rightly so, on visiting any of the beaches the term 'leave it as you would expect to find it' applies and is adhered to, making a visit to even the most rural beaches a very rewarding and special experience for everyone.

It was a Sunday afternoon when I visited Los Cocedores, and as these beaches are kind of off the beaten track I was surprised to find quite a few bathers here, though even if the numbers had been doubled the beaches would still not have been crowded. Mainly the bathers were Spanish, enjoying their weekend free time, obviously they know the best places to go, I would imagine that during the week these beaches could almost be deserted.

The coast road towards the tourist beaches of the resort of San Juan de los Terreros offers access to further rural beach areas, easily seen from the road, they offer masses of space and somewhere to find a private place to enjoy the serenity, clear waters and sunshine. There are no services whatsoever on the beaches along this stretch of coastline so it is important to take supplies, though the resort of San Juan is a very short drive away.

I did notice one or two fishing rods set up along the beaches here, I would expect that this is a good spot for the sport. It certainly looks like a good place for the necessary peace and quite.

Beaches of Cuevas de Almanzora

Cuevas de Almanzora coastline
Joining the AL-1065 after leaving San Juan de los Terreros extends down the Cuevas de Almanzora coastline, past the modern yet sleepy town of Pozo del Esparto, through the main resort area and quaint harbour town of Villaricos, then on to the biggest beach of the municipality, at Palomares.
All the beaches between these two towns are natural and undeveloped, consisting of fine sand and rocks, concealed in sheltered coves and a wild and rugged setting. The waters are calm and clear, and the sea bed, teeming with sea life, attract snorkelling, diving and fishing enthusiasts. Apart from the quiet town beaches of Playa Pozo del Esparto and Playa El Calon these coves are remote, secluded and have little or no facilities, most are signposted from the main coast road, and some have designated areas of rough ground and gravel set aside from the highway for parking and for admiring the views.

Access is varied, though mainly via rocky tracks, either by vehicle or on foot, some of the coves can be seen from the main coastal road, others are hidden from view.

In my opinion Cala Cristal is the prettiest of all of these beaches, a man made path with a wooden hand rail makes for an easy descent down to this particular cove. Everyone, I am sure, will have their own favorite, however I would say these areas are still quite undiscovered, on the day I visited, a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon, there were no more than maybe six people at any one beach, and some were deserted.
Remember to take supplies to these beaches, and a mobile phone in case of emergencies is always a safe bet.

List of the Cuevas de Almanzora beaches

• Playa Pozo del Esparto
• Cala Panizo
• Playa la Escribania
• Playa El Calon
• Cala Cristal
• Cala de las Conchas
• Playa Penon Cortado
• Cala Invencibles
• Cala de los Dolares
• Cala Verde - Villaricos
• Playa de Luis Siret - Villaricos
• Playazo - Villaricos
• Playa Quitapellejos - Palomares

Playa Quitapellejos - Palomares, the southern most beach of Cuevas de Almanzora is also the largest of the municipality, located on the edge of Vera Playa close to the inland village of Palomares. Much less frequented than the neighbouring beaches in Vera, this spacious sandy beach is easy to reach with parking available right by its edge, it has basic facilites such as showers and a beach bar for refreshments. At one end the beach forms a sheltered bay from where there are fabulous views down to Vera Playa, and in the distance, to the Cabrera mountain range that drops down to meet the sea on Mojacar Playa.

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Vera Playa and Garrucha

The Beaches of Vera

The town of Vera is located inland from the coast, about a twenty minute drive away. The beaches of Vera span a 4km length and extend southwards from the Quitapellejos beach of Palomares, including the beach at Puerto Rey, to Playa Las Marinas Las Buganvillas, close to the harbour town of Garrucha, though the areas primary beach is the Playzo.

 

Choose the beaches of Vera for El Playazo

Playa El Playazo - Vera Playa

El Playazo beach is approximately 2.5km in length with far reaching coastal views that stretch to Mojacar Pueblo and the Sierra Cabrera mountains. The beach is of fine golden sand mixed with some shingle washed in from the tides. The beach is maintained and raked routinely throughout the year and has numerous shower facilities and waste bins, the life guard stations are at regular intervals which are manned during the busier summer months. The sea here is perpetually changing, depending of the strength of the sea breeze, sometimes it can be calm and flat, other times the waters can become seriously choppy, and on occasion, swimming can be inadvisable.

The beach is serviced by seasonal chiringuitos and beachfront bars and restaurants, some do remain open all year round. In the summer months there are sunbeds and umbrellas available for hire, and for some fun, canoes, pedalos, and sailboats.

The resort of Vera Playa is separated from the beach by the lengthy promenade, the resort runs the full length of El Playazo between the beach and the AL-7107 coastal road that connects Garrucha to Villaricos (and beyond) at the Las Buganvillas roundabout.

A recent development, essentially the resort is an arrangement of top quality urbanisations consisting of holiday homes and permanent residences, mainly apartments but also including villas and townhouses, each complex is set in attractive surroundings with landscaped gardens and swimming pools. The urbanisations are linked by the resort internal road system which is beautified with palm trees, there are green areas with play facilities for children, and plenty of parking for visitors close to the beach. Within the resort there are several bars, cafes and restaurants that are open all year round, a tourist information centre is attached to the local police building, and back on the main coast road there is a large Consum supermarket. Vera water park, open in the summer season, is in close proximity, a huge plus for family holidays.

Aqua Park Vera Playa

Choose Vera Playa for the naturist beach and village

Vera Playa Naturist Zone

For naturism the El Playazo resort is unique, it embraces a " zone " to enjoy a naturist lifestyle, the naturist zone encompasses a 1km section of the El Playazo naturist beach, the beach promenade in that area, the naturist residential developments that span the 1km stretch of beach, the naturist hotel and the streets and pathways that link them all.
To clarify, the 2.5km length of El Playazo beach is designated as naturist, the naturist " zone " is roughly 1km of that beach area which is in front of the naturist residential area, on the remaining beach area textiles and naturist meet in harmony, and the rest of the urbanisations of El Playazo are textile.
There are no barriers to the naturist zone, it is just a part of Vera Playa resort, the naturist zone is connecting and adjacent to the textile residential areas.

The whole of El Payazo has a relaxed and laid back atmosphere, it would make a great introduction for anyone who wanted to experience the freedom of nudism for the first time, and an ideal choice for those who enjoy their sunbathing, and swimming in the sea, without swimwear.

I am not a naturist, but in doing research to provide the information in this page I did visit, in early November, fully clothed, the Naturist zone and beaches... I saw a family enjoying a bike ride, naked and happy, people enjoying a drink with friends in a bar by the beach, naked and relaxed, there were people walking back from their day at the beach who did have some clothes on, they too were smiling and happy... all in all, happy days...

Playa Puerto Rey - Vera Playa
Basically the beach is an extension of the Playazo, long, wide and sandy, it has showers and is maintained regularly all year round. Out of season the beach can be virtually deserted yet in the summer months, when the beach bars open and the life guards are present, the area is much much busier, although, due to the size of the beach, it never really gets crowded.

In mentioning Puerto Rey I would like to bring attention to one of its most popular restaurants...
Yaho Alta Asian Restaurant, delectable dishes from Thailand, Japan, Taiwan...
... and I would like to thank Yaho, and hostess Julia, for a very special New Years Eve 2016 celebration... Thanks Julia!

 

Choose the beaches of Vera for Las Marinas

Playa Las Marinas - Vera Playa

Playa Las Marinas is situated at the end of Vera Playa, just before reaching the Mar y Ceilo beach of Garrucha, it is a narrower beach compared to the rest of Vera Playa but it does have an exclusive draw in the salt water lagoon that not only attracts several bird species but also entices people to the area to enjoy the beach setting.
The beach is sandy but generally people to seem to visit Las Marinas to enjoy the local beachfront bars, restaurants and cafes while taking in the splendid views out to sea.

Behind the front-line is the Pueblo Laguna complex, a residential development of apartments and townhouses.

Las Marinas can easily be found from the Las Buganvillas roundabout by taking the AL-7107 towards Puerto Rey and taking the first right turn on to Avenida Juan Sebastian Elcano.

Las Buganvillas

Las Buganvillas is the strip at the forefront of the Las Marinas beach area, a buzzing little place with cafes, bars, restaurants, and an abundance of thriving businesses, it benefits from its easy to reach location which is recognised for the busy roundabout that links Vera town, Garrucha, Vera Playa and inland Levante.
One such business is Maxine Morgan Insurance, providing all types of expatriate insurance services, on line quotation are available or call in to see Maxine, she is located within the Forget Me Not card and gift shop which is easily seen from the Buganvillas roundabout. You can be assured a friendly welcome with a professional service here.

In September of 2012 this area was subject to severe flooding, a natural disaster which devastated the Buganvillas and Pueblo Laguna areas (as well as many other areas in Almeria, Murcia and the Costa del Sol). Sincere thoughts will always remain for those who lost family members, homes and businesses in this tragedy.
The strong community spirit prevailed as the courageous residents and business owners rebuilt their lives and livelihoods in a mammoth clean up operation.
Four years on it is now wonderful to see the area booming again, and in fact looking even better than ever.

A lovely example of just what this area has to offer...
Stella's Hairdressers and Beauty Salon...
Newcomers are in for a treat at Stella's, the locals know this already!

Property Vera Playa

Vera Playa is one of the leading areas of the Levante Costa Almeria for property investment.
The reasons are clear, a combination of beautiful beaches, resort facilities, select property developments, and the unique naturist zone.
Drawing worldwide visitors, property here attracts those looking for a holiday home with rental possibilities, as well as those looking for their own dream location, for holidays and for relocation.

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Property Management

from G.I.Servicios

Owner's Jose Antonio and Angie specialise in property management to meet the needs of each individual client, highly experienced their expert services come with caring attention and a personal touch.

Home design and construction, for new builds and reforms, and every aspect of property maintenance, was just the beginning for this long established business.

With many existing clients in Vera Playa and surrounding areas, the natural progression to include full holiday property management to those who were looking to rent out their property was added to their ever growing list of services.

Moving forward, their key holding assistance has been extended to home owners during periods of absence, tailored to meet any and every circumstance, and providing secure knowledge that on return enjoyment without concern is assured.

For all your property requirements Jose and Angie offer peace of mind and the certainty that your home is being professionally taken care of.

 

Choose the beaches of Garrucha for the Marina

Garrucha Marina

Garrucha is a traditional harbour town and fishing port well known for its seafood, the port area was expanded in 2011, and after building works were completed a new and improved marina, Puerto Deportivo, was opened in February of 2012, with new walkways, parking spaces and over three hundred moorings for private boats. The port and marina hold a central location and separate Garruchas two beaches.

The Beaches of Garrucha

Playa de Garrucha, extends along the length of town centre, its admirable golden sands attract popular beach sports such as volleyball and football, and yet still offer plenty of space to find a quiet spot to sunbathe.
The palm tree lined paseo, spanning the town from end to end, makes for an excellent evening stroll after a day at the beach, there are play parks for children and perfectly positioned seating areas ideal for enjoying the views over the beach and marina.
With an enviable selection of shops and coffee bars the promenade is also home to miscellaneous seafood restaurants, many of which will be serving a menu from the local catch of the day.

Playa de Mar y Cielo, aptly translated as the beach of sea and sky, is the second spacious, sandy beach of Garrucha. Situated at the opposite side of the port, it is close to the modern urbanisations and harbour front apartments of the town. The welcoming beach promenade, closed to traffic, is popular with walkers and there is a separate cyclist pathway, decorated with palm trees, which runs alongside the paseo.
The atmosphere is warm and traditional, and there are plenty of tapas bars, chiringuitos and restaurants in this family friendly area.
Parking is available close to the port area.

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Choose Mojacar Playa for resort beaches and secret beaches

Beaches of Mojacar

Mojacars beaches are just amazing, living just a fifteen minute drive away, would I say I was biased? Yes definitely, home is where the heart is as they say.
Though this is, in the main, a Spanish holiday resort there is a reasonable size British expat community here and the mix of Spanish coffee bars, seafront restaurants, and beach Chiringuitos are complimented by the fantastic selection of classy and classic British establishments, many catering to the whims of those who enjoy a good home cooked dinner, or breakfast for that matter. While on the subject of food, there are further venues offering variety of delicious international dishes, including Italian, French, Chinese and Indian. The key factor here is diversity, from culinary delights to idyllic seashores each of Mojacar beaches offers something for everyone.

Mojacar village itself is an historical and charismatic whitewashed pueblo nestled on a hilltop in the Cabrera mountains, it overlooks the beaches of Mojacar Playa and the clear blue Mediterranean sea. The shoreline of Mojacar measures some seventeen kilometres, from Garrucha out towards Carboneras, once past the urban centre of Mojacar Playa there is a preserved rural zone with its own secret beaches. The resort beaches of Mojacar are mostly of a fine golden or white sand, with a few rocky sections exemplifying the areas natural surroundings.
Mojacar has seen much transformation since the arrival of tourism, golf resorts and urbanisations have been developed, yet there are no high rise buildings or hotels. Water sports are enjoyed on many of the beaches, and include canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, snorkelling, wake boarding and banana riding.
The sea off the coast of Mojacar can be both dead calm and distinctly boisterous, depending on the time of day and the strength and direction of the wind.
I do recall, on celebrating my 40th birthday at one of my favourite beaches in Mojacar, almost loosing my bikini while attempting to 'wave jump' and being practically washed up on the beach all dishevelled and a little surprised by the force of the sea! Do take notice of the warning flags for bathing as the currents can be deceptive.

There is a regular bus service that runs along the coastal road providing easy access to all the beaches, though it is quite feasible to walk the full length of Mojacar Playa from Marina de la Torre to Playa de la Venta del Bancal.

Mojacar Playa resort beaches

• Playa Marina de la Torre
• Playa de la Rumina
• Playa del Palmeral
• Playa del Descargador
• Playa de la Piedra Villazar
• Playa Vista de Los Angeles
• Playa el Cantal
• Playa del Lance Nuevo
• Playa Cueva del Lobo
• Playa de las Ventanicas
• Playa de la Venta del Bancal

Each of the resort beaches of Mojacar has an appeal all of its own, spacious and restful, water sports orientated, child friendly, young and lively... all are equally adorable and very rarely get crowded.
Marina de la Torre beach is located at the Garrucha end of Mojacar Playa, across from a residential and hotel area, and the Marina de la Torre golf resort. There are less bars and restaurants here then the rest of the resort, though all the venues of Garrucha town are just a stroll away. The Aguas river lagoons, formed by the mouth of the river, separate the beach from the rest of the resort, a protected area with high ecological values, the habitat is a common residence for all kinds of birds.
Playa de la Rumina and El Palmeral are popular for windsurfing and kitesurfing, again situated at the northern, quieter end of Mojacar, though there are a good selection of bars and restaurants along this section of the beach road.
The Parque Comercial shopping centre, situated at the bottom of the road that leads to Mojacar Pueblo, has a nice selection of shops, cafes and quality restaurants, it faces the sea, the tourist information centre, and a couple of bars and restaurants that nestle between and separate the two undeveloped beaches of Playa Descargador and Playa de la Piedra Villazar.
Playa Descargador was named after an ancient mineral loading platform which is now completely disappeared, and Playa Villazar is named after the stone of Villazar, a small rocky protrusion along the shoreline.
Incidentally there is a regular bus service up to the village of Mojacar from the bus station beside the commercial centre, across from the taxi rank.
Many of Mojacars beaches have a paseo, somewhere to stroll or sit and enjoy the views, others almost extend right up to the main road offering parking directly beside the beach.
Playa Vista de Los Angeles has parking and a little play area for children, located close to urbanisations and hotels along with a few bars and restaurants, it is one of the quieter beaches of Mojacar Playa. From here, heading south, the beaches do tend to be a little busier, especially in the summer months.
Between Easter and October the beloved Playa el Cantal is one of the most frequented beaches of Mojacar Playa, made so by the assortment of beach side establishments spread out along its perimeter, in particular the centrally located and distinctive beach bar area, where a variety of chiringuitos are clustered together on the edge of the beach.
Each of these haunts has a unique feel of its own, hip and trendy, chilled and laid back, or family orientated, with some offering entertainment during either the afternoon or evening. Typically Spanish and totally authentic, these rustic venues service the beach areas with sun beds and parasols, everyone has their own favourite, and once visited will return time and again.
There is a large parking zone available by the side of this beach area, though it can get quite busy in peak season and on the weekends. The chiringuitos in this section of the beach, at the moment, do tend to close in the winter months, though there are still one or two places on Cantel beach that remain open all year round. At Easter time and in high season, especially during the month of August, Playa Cantal entertains a younger and livelier crowd as Spanish holiday makers arrive in the resort for their annual break.
Playa del Lance Nuevo, comprised of fine sand and shingle, is another popular beach, and a firm favourite with families and children. With easy access it is partly protected by a breakwater, and has life guards, showers, sun beds and parasols. Canoe hire and banana boat rides are available in high season, and there is a good choice of beach bars for refreshments close by.
Playa de Cueva del Lobo, with the peculiar name of The Cave of the Wolf, is named after one of the first properties that was built in the area and is siutaed along a rocky section of the coastline.
Playa de las Ventanicas, the largest of Mojacars beaches, is located in a desirable area almost at the end of the urbanised zone. An absolutely gorgeous beach, decorated with palm trees and well maintained, it has some terrific views of the coastline and of Mojacar Pueblo. There is a play area for children, a beach volleyball court, parasols, sun beds and showers. The Ventanicas promenade has a really great selection of Spanish, British and International bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues, many of which stay open all year round. This beach, a strong favourite for everyone, never really gets crowded, even in the height of the season.
Playa de la Venta del Bancal is the last, or the first, beach of the Playa, protected by a breakwater, it begins at the seafront promenade just before the road turns away from the coast, and where the Sierra Cabrera mountains appear to meet the Mediterranean sea.

Mojacar pueblo and Mojacar resort

Although the main extent of Mojacar Playa, with its shops, bars, restaurants and hotels, finishes when the coast road heads inland, for some, the beaches of the municipality of Mojacar have only just begun. Further south of the commercialised beaches of Mojacar Playa, hidden from view in the Sierra Cabrera foothills, are some really special secluded beaches and coves, many who visit Mojacar would perhaps never know of their existence.

Beaches of Carboneras

Carboneras still remains a traditional fishing village, though its town has grown in size and it now has an industrial zone located at the far end of the beach areas, just past Las Marinicas and the port area. Its coastline stretches from the end of the natural zone of Mojacar to the protected natural park of Cabo de Gata, its beaches are kept scrupulously clean and the clear, calm waters provide an ideal location for windsurfing, sailing, scuba diving and snorkelling.

It is worth noting if visiting Carboneras from the Mojacar area, via the ALP-118 coast road, a good head for heights would be required, on the approach to Carboneras the road winds up, around and down the cliffs, affording a dramatic route to the town and spectacular views of the coastline and sea. An alternate route would be to take the N-341 road from the AP-7 motorway, this route does however double the distance and add an extra fifty minutes to the travelling time.

Choose Carboneras for the Granatilla Mirador

Carboneras Granatilla Mirador

I have previously mentioned my aversion to heights and cliff roads but the coastal route from Mojacar to Carboneras just has to be done if only to experience the fantastic views from the Granatilla Mirador, a special observation balcony at the highest point of the ALP-118. Now believe me this spot is very high up indeed and I certainly recommend that it be visited once, in particular for the views over the Algarrobico beach, though for me once was sufficient and I will take the long way round in future.

Playa El Algarrobico is the largest of the Carboneras beaches, and the first one encountered on the coastal route from Mojacar. It is actually located within the boundaries of the Cabo de Gata Natural Park although Carboneras and its other beaches are outside of the parks border. This unspoilt and isolated sandy beach was originally used as a location for the legendary film Lawrence of Arabia. In recent years there has been much controversy surrounding this protected area after a large hotel was constructed by the edge of the beach, still the subject of much debate, the hotels future is uncertain, it has been neither completed or knocked down and a decision is still to be made as to whether it will be developed into a luxury resort or if in fact it will be demolished with the area being restored to it natural beauty.

Of the three main resort beaches of Carboneras town, Playa El Lancon, and Playa de Los Cocones (also known as Playa Barquicos) are both located closest to the town centre, within easy access of all the shops, tapas bars and restaurants. Los Cocones is slightly more popular offering water sports and having its own beach volleyball court, football pitch and promenade. Playa de Las Marinicas is located closest to the harbour, its calm sheltered waters and selection of play areas, both on and by the side of the beach, make it a favourite with families. All three beaches are sandy, spacious and popular for a variety of water sports, though scuba diving is certainly the most prominent.
The small volcanic island, Isla de San Andres, located just off the shores of Carboneras has been declared a natural monument, on land it provides a sanctuary for many bird species and under the water a home for much sea life. The island itself, being a protected area, cannot be visited without permission, however local diving schools offer some fantastic subaquatic experiences in the waters that surround it. Aside from the sunken fishing boats and rich marine world, the underwater caves of El Crater situated about forty metres west of the island are an amazing diving spot and a paradise for Scuba enthusiasts.

Scuba diving in the Levante

External link
Provided to help visitors make the most of the area. The link will open in a separate page.

Isla de San Andres, further information provided by the Junta de Andalucia website, in English.