Roquetas De Mar lies on the coast west of the city of Almería and encompasses 16 kilometres of the Almería coastline, including 15 kilometres of beaches. The sea is an obvious starting point when choosing a destination; the area also includes a protected coastal landscape and places with maritime and archaeological history. If you are looking for hotels in Roquetas De Mar, first consider whether beaches, nature or cultural heritage will be your main focus.

City Beaches and Water Sports

With the exception of Playa de Cerrillos, the beaches of Roquetas De Mar are urban beaches. They have road access, daily cleaning during the season, police patrols, first-aid stations and a dedicated ambulance service. Daily cleaning is seasonal; operational details may also vary depending on the season. Playa de Las Salinas is a 1,330-metre-long urban beach, named after the former salt pans of San Rafael. A wide range of water sports is possible there.

Playa de Cerrillos offers a different coastal perspective: it is 2,620 metres long and lies within the protected Punta Entinas-Sabinar Natural Area. Posidonia seagrass meadows lie off this beach and other beaches along the coast. Diving there is considered particularly impressive. Thus, within the coastal theme, urban beaches with water sports and a beach in a protected natural area offer different points of interest.

Punta Entinas-Sabinar Natural Area

Punta Entinas-Sabinar offers a different focus from the urban beaches. The coastal area features living dunes up to seven metres high, salt-tolerant vegetation such as juniper groves and mastic shrubs, as well as halophytes. There are also temporary lagoons and pools. Numerous paths are suitable for walking and cycling; there are also good opportunities for birdwatching.

The temporary lagoons attract waterbirds and migratory birds, including flamingos, grey herons, avocets and ducks. The birds you may see vary by season. If you do not want to focus your stay solely on the beach, you will find nature, trails and birdwatching here as distinct themes. The landscape is clearly different from the urban beaches, without suggesting that both interests offer the same experience.

Culture and History by the Sea

The Ribera de la Algaida o de Turaniana archaeological zone has been protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural since 1991. Its archaeological sequence spans from the Middle Bronze Age of the Argaric culture to the Middle Ages; the site also includes significant finds from the Roman period. The site includes the so-called Puerto de los Bajos, which was used as an anchorage. Its history is not limited to a single period: the site brings together a long time span and evidence of how the coast was used.

Castillo de Santa Ana is a 17th-century fortress. During attacks by pirates and corsairs, it served as a refuge for the inhabitants of Roquetas De Mar. Today, the fortress houses exhibition halls, and its courtyard provides a venue for talks, concerts and performances. If an event is important to your trip, check the dates in advance, as the programme may change.

The restored Faro de Roquetas de Mar is also used for cultural purposes and houses an exhibition space. Aula del Mar is an interactive museum at the port of Roquetas De Mar, where visitors can discover the city’s connection to the sea. Traditional fishing equipment is on display, and the development of local fishing is also explained. Exhibitions and programmes may change. If a particular offering is important to you, check the current dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Agua Amarga, Los Cerricos, Serón, Carboneras, Albox, Bedar, Fondón, Antas.

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