Property Maps and Zones - Cabo de Gata and Nijar - Almeria Province

Here the stark landscape of eastern Almeria dramatically meets the Mediterranean, where the originally volcanic Sierra del Cabo de Gata plunges to the clear azure waters. Here lie some of the most beautiful beaches, strung between coves and cliffs of the most awesome grandeur giving the whole area a most unique feel. The natural park of Cabo de Gata-Nijar was created in 1987 and is the first terrestrial/marine Park in Andalucia it covers 38,000 hectares of dry land and 12,000 hectares of land under water. The climate is Mediterranean sub desert and average annual temperatures are around 20°C, the average sea temperature is 17.7°C and the area receives approximately 3,000 hours of sun a year with just 100mm of rain in an average year. Due to the Natural Park status and its sub desert character this are has remained largely undeveloped and property prices reflect limited supply. There are no real towns, just a scattering of villages. Nonetheless developments in these mean they are expanding.

Carboneras
This seaside town hosts Europes largest water desalination plant, as well as a large thermo electric plant and cement factory. In the valley ehind Carboneras industry and hoticulture are spreading. Though its municipality lies just without the Natural Park, much of the coast and land surrounding it is untouched. The town has good links to Mojacar along the coast and Almeria and the Cabo de Gata Park.

Agua Amarga
Agua Amarga is the last stop before the Parque Natural’s northern boundary and is a delightful little fishing village cut of from the surrounding world by a long road. The attractive collection of whitewashed houses stand out against the intense blue of the sea.

Nijar
Through more Arizona type landscape snaking over the rugged Sierra Alhamilla lies Nijar, a neat white little town with narrow streets in its upper Moorish quarter designed to give maximum shade. Many traditional handcrafts using local materials are made and sold here. Around Níjar the Arizona type landscape has been turned to horticulture and is a sea of plastic green houses, not unlike those in El Ejido to the south. Through the plastic towards the coast is Lucainena de las Torres, a cluster of white box shaped houses surrounding a red roofed church which has a narrow main street leading to it and is fronted by a tiny square.

Las Negras and San José
San José is a small fishing village set in a small cove with a sandy beach, rocks rising at both sides and crystal clear waters. San Jose now boasts two ports, one for fishing and one for sports and a small number of chalets and apartments have sprung up to cater for the increasing number of visitors and new residents who have `discovered´ it´s charms. Los Escullos has a campsite and with its good if rather pebbly beach. Las Negras is situated in a beautiful cove with spectacular scenery and beaches within walkind distance. Isleta del Moro was until recently a small fishing village, now like other villages in the Natural Park it has seen many holiday homes built. This is contentious but not surprising due to the eagerness of developers to exploit this extremely beautiful area.

Cabo de Gata
Cabo de Gata town has a lovely expanse of coarse sand, small fishing fleet and the Laguna de Rosa, a large lake that is home to flamingoes and other waders. La Almadraba de Montelera, with its fishing boats chained up along the beach. Further south past a hill known as Pico de San Miguel, the Faro de Cabo de Gata (lighthouse) marks the cape’s southern tip and on a clear day Morocco’s Rif Mountains can be seen. Beyond the lighthouse a track leads to two of the most beautiful beaches in the province and to the pueblo of San José. This track is closed to cars and provides a lovely walk through the Parque Natural.