Overview
An eight day, self-guided walking holiday in the Almería province of Andalucía, in particular walking in the varied landscapes of Cabo de Gata Natural Park. Just 30km away from the Tabernas Desert, the semi-arid climate makes for excellent spring and winter walking among exotic plants and palm trees. While also being a coastal trail. Starting and ending in the fishing villages of Agua Amarga and San José respectively, explore volcanoes and spectacular viewpoints, secret coves and converted railway lines. Stay in a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels and guesthouses, with luggage transfers.
- Cabo de Gata Natural Park
- Mesa Roldán
- Rodalquilar
- El Jardín Volcánico
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Agua Amarga
Arrival in the former fishing village of Agua Amarga. If time allows, spend the day strolling along the beach or swimming in the sea, before exploring the windy, whitewashed streets full of local boutiques and restaurants.
- Accommodation: Hotel Las Calas or similar in Agua Amarga
Day 2: Agua Amarga circular walk | 10/13km
Today there are two routes to choose from:
- Option one: ascend to Mesa Roldán to explore the area’s industrial heritage at the old iron ore plant and lighthouse, before following the path along an abandoned railway line with sweeping views to the sea back to Agua Amarga.
- Option two: stroll inland to visit Andalucía’s oldest olive tree, before continuing on to explore Rambla Viruegas and circling back along the coast taking in coves along the way such as Cala Plomo and Cala Enmedio.
- Walking for the day: 10km, 3h, ↑300m ↓300m or 13km, 4h, ↑250 ↓250
- Accommodation: Hotel Las Calas or similar in Agua Amarga
Day 3: Agua Amarga – Rodalquilar | 19km
Head south on inland paths, then along the coast to Rodalquilar. Along the way, take in the dry riverbeds called ramblas leading down to hidden coves, where lush greenery creates surprising oases in the desert. Continue on to Las Negras, a sandy bay and artistic village before reaching the stunning beach at El Playazo.
- Walking for the day: 19km, 7h, ↑530m ↓500m
- Accommodation: Hotel Naturaleza or similar in Rodalquilar
Day 4: Cerro del Cinto circular walk | 15km
Take the Rambla de la Granadilla trail that winds through barren hills, a fertile path with a mix of palms and oleanders, reeds, fig trees and poplar groves with views to the Sierra in the distance. Continue on past the infamous Cortijo del Fraile, site of the tragic events which inspired Federico García Lorca’s Bodas de Sangre, or Blood Wedding. Here the remains of former mining activities can be seen among the rocky landscapes. Take the chance to visit Casa de Los Volcanes with its museum and botanical garden.
- Walking for the day: 15km, 4-5h, ↑320m ↓320m
- Accommodation: Hotel Naturaleza or similar in Rodalquilar
Day 5: El Jardín Volcánico | 18km
Today’s route traverses eroded lava rock areas with dwarf palm trees to reach imposing extinct volcanoes. Along the way, walk past ancient water systems, wild olive groves and deep gorges before leaving the desert behind and gazing toward the Mediterranean beyond. End the day back in Rodalquilar.
- Walking for the day: 18km, 6h, ↑575m ↓575m
- Accommodation: Hotel Naturaleza or similar in Rodalquilar
Day 6: Rodalquilar – San José | 18km
This walk follows the cliffs through an unspoilt area, peppered with palm groves and bright white villages. Dark sandy beaches and historic pirate hideaways lead to the next accommodation, in the fishing village of San José. From here, the highest volcanic peak in the area, Cerro del Fraile (493m) can be seen. Spend the evening exploring the beaches along the bay or strolling around the marina where there are plenty of bars and restaurants.
- Walking for the day: 18km, 5h, ↑310m ↓330m
- Accommodation: Doña Pakyta or similar in San José
Day 7: San José circular walk | 12.5/16km
Today’s walk incorporates some of the most popular beaches in the area, with small secret coves which can only be reached on foot, and beaches such as Grande del Barranco, Los Amarillos and Chica. An adventurous and varied route with ever-changing views and a marvellous way to end your week in Cabo de Gata Natural Park.
- Walking for the day: 12.5/16km, 5-6h, ↑280m ↓280m, distance dependent on paths taken
- Accommodation: Doña Pakyta or similar in San José
Day 8: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Las Calas (Agua Amarga)
- Hotel Naturaleza (Rodalquilar)
- Doña Pakyta (San José)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on on all days, five dinners and five packed lunches are included in the programme.
Difficulty and terrain
This trip is graded as moderate with daily distances ranging from 10-19km. A good fitness level is required as there are some steep descents and ascents (read more about difficulty grades). You walk on walking paths or along the coastline, as well as on asphalted paths.
Most of the routes are not way-marked, but we will provide you with detailed road notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. We strongly advise you to follow the trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available February-June excluding easter and September-November. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any available date during the season.
Cabo de Gata enjoys mild year-round weather. The average annual temperature is 21C, and there is about 80mm of rain in a year. As Europe’s sunniest, driest corner, Almería enjoys around 300 days of sunshine a year. It also boasts the warmest sea temperatures in mainland Spain. For more information see our blog Best time to go to Spain.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Almería Airport (LEI). Alternative options are Región de Murcia International Airport (RMU) and Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP).
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By train or bus
- Almería Airport: there are regular buses from the airport to El Alquián (11mins) where you can catch a second bus to Agua Amarga (1h 9mins)
- Murcia airport: take the bus to Vera (2h). From Vera, take a taxi to your first accommodation in Agua Amarga (40mins)
- Málaga Airport: take the bus to Almería (4h). From Almería, you can catch a second bus to Agua Amarga (1h 15mins)
- For further information, timetables and tickets, visit Alsa or use the Omio planner above
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 breakfasts, 5 dinners and 5 pack lunches
- Luggage transfers on days three and six (one piece per person, max 20kg)
- Detailed digital holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps. Please note that the info pack is emailed to you prior to departure and no printed documents are mailed or provided on site
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- 2 lunches, 2 dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers
- Extra nights along the trail are bookable upon request
- Airport transfers
Spain’s legal requirement for personal information
Please note: in December 2024, the Spanish government introduced a new law making it a legal obligation for all visitors to Spain to share personal details with their accommodations and car rental companies. Consequently, as we book your accommodation for you, we are obliged to pass these on to our local partners on the ground. After booking your holiday, we will send you a form to complete requesting all the legally-required information, including: name, nationality, gender, passport number, DOB, address, phone numbers and email address. This applies to all travellers aged 14 and over. If you are travelling with people under 14 years old, you need to declare your relationship to them. We apologise for any inconvenience. For more information, see here.
