TOP THINGS
TO DO in Cabo de Gata

Located just 30 min away from the beaches of Cabo de Gata is the picturesque white village of Nijar. Famous for its arts and crafts, Nijar has a long tradition of textiles and ceramics. The most typical of which are colorful rugs knowns as jarapas. You can visit the ateliers of several artisans and see how these traditional crafts are made.

Nijar has a few other things to check out including a watchtower with great views overlooking the town. On the outskirts of the village there is a cacti botanical garden and a separate butterfly park that’s home to over 30 species from around the world.

  FULL GUIDE TO NIJAR

The Salinas in Cabo de Gata are the only marine salt gathering operation still active in the region. It produces 40,000 tons of salt per year and occupies 400 hectares of floodable land that sits along 5km of coast line – from the town of San Miguel de Cabo de Gata to La Fabriquilla. These saltworks have a long history that dates all the way back to the time of the Romans.

Besides producing salt, the salinas are also known its large variety of animal and plant species. The location is frequented by migratory birds and the area is great for birdwatching. It’s possible to see more than 100 species of birds (70% are migratory) including flamingos. The ponds usually have hundreds of flamingos in them but in July and August there can easily be thousands!

There are several little observation huts around the salinas where you can watch the wildlife. Binoculars are recommended.

Escullos are fossilized sand dunes that are found all throughout the coastline of Cabo de Gata. Their wavy shapes have been sculpted by millennia of weathering.

The largest of the escullos can be found in the neighborhood bearing the same name that is just south of Isleta del Moro. Others can be found around these beaches: Playa de los Genoveses, Playazo de Rodalquilar and Playa de Piedra Galera.

Algarrobico Beach is positioned at the very northern tip of the Cabo de Gata Natural Park. But what makes the beach peculiar is the fact that there is an unfinished behemoth of a resort located right on its shores. It’s the kind of thing that really makes you shake your head.

The hotel developer acquired all of the necessary permits in the 1980’s before this belonged to the Cabo de Gata protected area. However, its construction didn’t start until 2003. There was strong local opposition to the hotel which was given wide coverage by the Spanish media and the fight against it became a symbol of the poor conservation of the Spanish coast.

After many campaigns, the construction was stopped in 2005 – but not before it was almost completed. Currently there are plans for its demolition.

Mesa Roldán is a flat-top volcanic dome that is the remnant of an extinct volcano, whose crater is half eroded. It stands 200m above sea level and offers a great look out point with views to Agua Amarga, Carboneras, the coastline and the interior.

In addition to a lighthouse, there is also an 18^th century tower built by King Charles III. The original tower, which is no longer standing was built in the 9^th century by Abd-el-Rahman II, the Moorish Emir of Cordoba to protect against viking attacks. Game of Thrones fans might recognize this spot from season 6 when the city of Meereen was under attack.

Mesa Roldán is a 10 min drive east of Agua Amarga, almost halfway to Carboneras. To get there, take the paved road that goes towards the direction of the water from the Playa de los Muertos parking area. It is about a 5 min drive to get to the lighthouse and tower. You can’t enter either of them, but it is still a great place to go for a walk.

The coastline of Cabo de Gata has for a long time served as a first line of defense. The Moors were the first to build watchtowers and later in the 18^th century, King Charles III ordered the construction of new ones. Protecting the coast from Berbers and pirates allowed for people to move back into the area, which had been all but abandoned since the time of the Moors.

None of the structures are open to the public with the exception of the Torre del Rayo and the San Andres Castle. However, since some of them were built as watchtowers, they are typically located in areas that offer uninterrupted views of the coastline.

The most noteworthy defensive structures are:

• Torre del Rayo, located just north of Carboneras. Climb to the top and enjoy fantastic 360º views of the coastline including Carboneras, Playa del Algarrobico and the interior mountains.
• San Andres castle, located in the center of Carboneras. You can walk through a couple of rooms with exhibitions. It’s nothing extraordinary but since it is free, you can’t really complain.
• Watchtower at Mesa Roldan (see #7 above)
• San Ramon Castle, located at Playazo de Rodalquilar. It’s not open to the public but still looks cool from the outside. Currently for sale for 3.3 million euros.
• San Felipe Castle, located at the Escullos Beach (also known as Playa del Arco).

Cabo de Gata has a long history of mining going all the way back to the Phoenicians and Romans. In 1509 alum was discovered and mined in Rodalquilar. A mining village was established by the Playazo which was constantly under threat of Berber attacks.

In the 19^th century lead was mined and just as its supply was running out, gold was found. Gold fever struck Rodalquilar and lasted until the late 1960’s when it too was running out and the mine was ultimately closed down. The village’s population suffered as a result – in 1960 there were 1,375 residents but by 1986 there were only 70.

Today, it’s possible to visit the abandoned mining complex. There are factory buildings, the miners’ housing and giant tanks for filtering minerals. The spot definitely has a post-apocalyptic feeling. If you do decide to walk around, be extra cautious.