The first beach southwest of San José is Playa de los Genoveses, a lovely, 1km-long stretch of sand framed by two headlands. It owes its name to the Genoese navy, whose ships landed here in 1147 to support the Christian occupation of Almería.
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Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata-Níjar
1.75 MILES
Boasting glorious beaches, vertiginous cliffs and a semi-desert hinterland, this 340-sq-km park occupies Andalucía’s southeastern corner. It’s a wild…
Alcazaba
20.5 MILES
A looming fortification with great curtain-like walls rising from the cliffs, Almerìa's Alcazaba was founded in the mid-10th century and went on to become…
Playa San Pedro
13.59 MILES
Set between dramatic headlands 3km northeast of Las Negras, this sandy hideaway is the holy grail of the park's numerous beaches. The 250m-long playa,…
Playa de Mónsul
1.83 MILES
The most celebrated of the playas off the San José beach road, Playa de Mónsul is a fabulous sandy wedge hemmed in by sharply eroded lava rocks and a…
Catedral de la Encarnación
20.23 MILES
Almería’s formidable, six-towered cathedral, begun in 1525, was conceived both as a place of worship and a refuge for the population from frequent pirate…
Cuevas de Sorbas
24 MILES
These rare and spectacular caves, 2km east of Sorbas, are part of a vast network of underground galleries and tunnels. Guided visits lead through the…
Calas del Barronal
1.05 MILES
The Calas de Barronal consist of four beautiful little beaches (El Lance del Perro, Cala Chica, Cala Grande and Cala Principe) that run along the coast in…
Segundo Recinto
20.57 MILES
The second enclosure of the Alcazaba sits above the Muro de la Campana de la Vela, a wall named after its bell, which once chimed in times of danger. Much…
Nearby Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata-Níjar attractions
1. Calas del Barronal
1.05 MILES
The Calas de Barronal consist of four beautiful little beaches (El Lance del Perro, Cala Chica, Cala Grande and Cala Principe) that run along the coast in…
2. Playa del Barronal
1.56 MILES
This nudist beach, frequented mainly by adults and couples, boasts a lovely 800m-long strip of sand. It's accessible via tracks behind the large dune at…
3. Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata-Níjar
1.75 MILES
Boasting glorious beaches, vertiginous cliffs and a semi-desert hinterland, this 340-sq-km park occupies Andalucía’s southeastern corner. It’s a wild…
4. Playa de Mónsul
1.83 MILES
The most celebrated of the playas off the San José beach road, Playa de Mónsul is a fabulous sandy wedge hemmed in by sharply eroded lava rocks and a…
5. Cala de la Media Luna
2.12 MILES
A half-moon crescent of sand off the main beach road from San José. Accessible by a walking path, it's less frequented than many of the area's better…
6. Cala Carbón
2.39 MILES
A quiet, stony beach about 200m off the main dirt road southwest of San José, accessible by a footpath.
7. Torre Vigía Vela Blanca
2.91 MILES
From its position 3km east of the Faro de Cabo de Gata on the Cabo de Gata promontory, this grounds of this 18th-century watchtower (which is not open for…
8. Faro de Cabo de Gata
4.19 MILES
Marking the southwest point of the promontory, this photogenic lighthouse commands stirring views of a jagged volcanic reef known as the Arrecife de las…