Hiking in Cabo de Gata Nature park

Day 1: Arrival San José

San José can be reached by car, by bus from Almería (1 hour) or by taxi (70 €). It is a fishing port, which grows in summer with tourists because of the incredible beaches. Apart from summer and weekends it is a quiet village. Night in San José.

Day 2: San José Circular hike (15-16km)

You can do a circular hike from San José passing some of the most amazing and picturesque beaches in the natural park, such as the beach of Monsul, with the petrified tongue of lava, famous for a scene of the movie Indiana Jones and the last Crusade of Steven Spielberg. Another beautiful beach is “Playa de los Genoveses” and there are many other smaller coves which you can only access by foot! Night in San José.

Day 3: San José - Rodalquilar (19 km)

A long but impressive walk along the coast on the cliffs and rocks with beautiful views. You will even walk along a fossil dune and an oasis of palm trees. Following the GR 92 long distance walk you will first have to climb to come to the Tower of Higuera. From here on it is virtually all downhill until Los Escullos, where you can admire the battery of San Felipe, built in the 18th century by order of Carlos III and part of the defensive battery spread throughout the coast with the aim of avoiding pirate attacks. Then continue hiking to the small fishing village Isleta de Moro, one of the best conserved villages of the coast, and good for a break. From there along an oasis into the valley of Rodalquilar, an immense caldera to the beautiful charming village of Rodalquilar.

Day 4: Rodalquilar, circular hike (17 km)

This once small mining settlement used to mine alum from the mountains, and in the 19th and 20th centuries, exploitation concentrated on gold mining. Today, the gold mines are no longer exploited, but at the entrance to the village the old miners' houses are still standing, now abandoned. Today an impressive circular hike along the old gold mines and through the beautiful Barranco Requena full of dwarf fan palms. Once you arrive at the higher plain the views over the coast and the small fishing villages are incredible. Downhill through the Barranco del Negro and back  to Rodalquilar.  

Day 5: Rodalquilar - Las Negras - Agua Amarga (19,5 km)

You leave the hotel towards the fantastic fine sand beach Playazo, where you can find the battery San Ramón (XVIIIth century), and from there you follow the beautiful coastline first to the fishing village las Negras, good place to take a coffee and buy some things for a picknick. As for the rest of the walk you will not find anything, except of beautiful small coves along the rough coast and a hippy colony living in an oasis. Finally, you arrive to the next village of Agua Amarga, where you will sleep 2 nights.

Day 6: Agua Amarga, circular hike to Mesa Roldán (14 km)

Mesa means table in Spanish, appropriate for this flat-topped mountain which lies along the coastline just south of Carboneras. The horizontal peak is home to the 18th century watchtower of Torre Vigia de Mesa Roldan and a lighthouse. The Mesa Roldan signposted walking trail provides access to the top of the plateau from where there are superb view of the cliffs, the fishing village of Agua Amarga, and the coves of Cala de Enmedio and Cala del Plomo. In October 2015 Mesa Roldan was the filming location for a scene in the internationally popular American fantasy drama Game of Thrones.

Day 7: Agua Amarga, fin

After breakfast finishes this hiking tour, you can get a bus or taxi back to San José or to Almería (taxi 60 km, about 50 minutes, 85 €). Of course you can also extend your stay, and enjoy the beautiful beaches of Cabo de Gata. Or take an extra night in the city of Almeria, nowadays a modern Spanish city, where you can enjoy the mild climate, the tapas and the view of the sea.      

Accommodation with breakfast

Luggage transport

Information on the trip

Services not included

Transfer to or from airport

extra night