If you're looking for beaches with plenty of wriggle room, then the Costa de Almeria is just the ticket. Unlike some of Andalusia's better-known coastal stretches, like the Costa del Sol, this 200km+ stretch of shoreline is relatively untouched when it comes to tourists, meaning traditional villages and laidback beaches are the norm.
The biggest resort in these parts is Roquetas de Mar. This once quiet fishing village has expanded enormously over the years, and its expansive strip of coast stretches for around 13km. There's a good choice of beaches too - Aguadulce and Urbanizacion are the main sandy ones, Playa de las Salinas is a big hit with watersports lovers, and Playa de Cerrillos is a remote spot that's popular with naturists.
If you're looking for somewhere even quieter, then around 90 minutes up the coast you'll find the quaint town of Vera. This history-filled spot that dates back to the Middle Ages is growing as a tourist destination, but for now it remains relatively crowd-free. The town's main beach is a white sandy swathe that's popular with families. For somewhere a little livelier, the nearby El Playazo is one of the best beaches along the Costa de Almeria. This mile-long stretch of golden sand has a picturesque mountain backdrop and a whole host of watersports to try out. A word to the wise though, the northern end of this beach is particularly popular with nudists.
Situated between two coastal villages, Carboneras and Agua Amarga, and roughly 55 minutes by car from Almeria, Playa de los Muertos has appeared more than once in lists of not only the best beaches in Spain, but also the best beaches in all of Europe.
Despite its sinister name, the "Beach of the Dead", which stems from the time of pirates and shipwrecks, Playa de los Muertos is a haven for… read more »
Found on the Costa de Almeria, around three kilometres from the town of Nijar, Playa de los Genoveses forms perhaps the most stunning vistas of Cabo de Gata Natural Park. With smooth yellow sand stretching the length of an entire bay, and surrounded on its inland side by virgin dunes, there are no facilities or amenities on Playa de los Genoveses. Visitors therefore need to bring all they will need… read more »
This shingle and dark sand beach is right at the centre of life in the town of the same name, on Andalusia's eastern coastline. It takes its name from the black sea cliff, Cerro Negro, to the eastern side of this small inlet of the Mediterranean Sea.
Situated within the confines of Parque Natural Cabo de Gata, Playa de las Negras is approximately 850 metres in length. It is easily reached… read more »
Vera Playa is located at the northern end of Playa El Playazo, a beach measuring two kilometres in length and up to 100 metres wide. It fronts a relatively developed and well-catered for section of Spain's eastern Almeria coastline.
The first official site for nudists in Europe, it has developed into something of a naturists resort, as well as holding the Guinness World Record for the largest mass participation skinny dip… read more »
