Cabo de Gata Active guide
San José in Cabo de Gata NP; active guide
Perhaps you have chilled out enough by now and are ready for some more activity. Are you curious about all the outdoor activities you can do in this stunning national park, such as special hikes or a lovely bike ride, then Cabo de Gata is the place to be! So, which activities can you easily do from the town of San José if you do not have a car at your disposal? Have a look at my Cabo de Gata active guide!
Maybe you are more interested in all the relaxing things you can do, then read this article further.
Online Hike & Bike Guide
Rent a mountain bike
In San José, you can rent a mountain bike for around €25 p.p. per day. We rented a bike from Sports Shop Medialuna, and they charge a €50 p.p. deposit. There are plenty of cycling routes, but if you want a nice impression of a great route me & my partner did, check this one out!
Starting point San José
Start from San José, in this Cabo de Gata active guide, towards the village of Pozo de los Frailes, where you can cycle along a footpath that is partly paved and partly unpaved. This village has a waterwheel well which was used to fetch water. It will take you about 15 minutes to get here.
Cycle through the shortcut
Take this route to avoid the main road, you make your way through paths that run between the greenhouses. It may not be the most passable route, we got off our bikes here for a while. The route goes via Pozo de los Frailes to the AL-4200 road and from there you cycle on along the road to Playa los Escullos. This is a fine paved road with some steep inclines here and there, but if you have a bit of good fitness, it is definitely doable. This shortcut route will take you about 20 minutes, depending on your fitness level.
Playa los Escullos
This is a wide and beautiful beach where you can relax just fine. In addition, you will find awesome cliffs at the beach that you can climb. If you are a photographer or simply love taking pictures, you can have a blast here! On top of the cliff you will find a Spanish castle, called Castillo de San Felipe, from the 18th century, which served as a coastal fortress for defence from inland. It is unfortunately no longer open as a sightseeing attraction, but cool to see from the outside.
Cycle on to the final point, Isleta del Moro
How cool, on the way to Isleta del Moro we came across another film set, who were busy shooting for a film. Who knows, you might come across one too, as there are a lot of films being made in Cabo de Gata. The route is a bit steep, but definitely doable, once you have almost reached Isleta del Moro, fortunately all you have to do is cycle down the mountain. This route takes about 15 minutes.
Isleta del Moro is an idyllic town with just a few white houses and a handful of restaurants. There is even a small supermarket if you want to get something for the beach. From the Mirador (lookout point) you have spectacular views. Should you want to enjoy a delicious meal, you can eat well at Restaurante La Ola.
Hike over the astonishing cliffs
Sample route we did
The outward journey: start at Playa de los Genoveses
From San José, you can take a very nice hike towards Playa de los Genoveses. On the way there, you leave the town via a path that goes along the cliffs. This is an incredibly cool path along the typical agaves that all grow here, feast your eyes! Also check out all the cacti, fat plants and all the other flora.
Google Maps shows the start of the cliff route to Playa de los Genoveses. Once you get to the beach, at the beginning you have lots of trees you can sit under. Further down the beach, there are lots of wind & kite surfers if there is a good wind. If, like us, you want to keep walking, this is possible, walk down the entire beach towards the next cliff, Mirador del Morrón. Climb up via this cliff and check out all the wonderful bays, the views from the cliffs are phenomenal. If you are lucky, you can have one of these bays all to yourself.
The beautiful coves (Calas in Spanish) are Cala de los Amarillos, Cala Príncipe, Cala Chica del Barronal and Cala Grande del Barronal. In between is the beach Playa del Barranco del Barronal.
The way back, end point: San José
From the cliff Mirador del Morrón, you can return over the Playa de los Genoveses, but at the end of the beach you can go back via a different route, past the typical mill. Instead of the cliff route, at that point, you can take the inside, passing under the pine trees. Eventually, you walk through the agave plants up a small mountain, where this mill stands. From there, you can follow the path towards San José.
Another lovely hike from San José: small hike to Cala Higuera
Should you love to go to the beach towards the end of the afternoon and maybe have a snack too? Then take a small hike of about 25 minutes to Cala Higuera; you will not find sand beach here, but large boulders. Personally, I recommend going up the cliffs and enjoying the view and the low-hanging sun. In the evening, you can have a nice dinner at El Refugio, but beware of it is only open in high season.
Other activities in this Cabo de Gata active guide?
Diving
In case you love diving, there are numerous diving schools, some good ones are:
- Diving Center Isub in San José
- Alpha Diving Center in San José
- Diving sub-Lijo in Isleta del Moro
Snorkelling & kayaking
Snorkelling is definitely something you should do in Cabo de Gata, as the water is clear and there are many lovely spots for snorkelling. With this guided snorkelling tour, you get everything you need (including snorkelling gear and fins) & you will discover the rich biodiversity of Cabo de Gata Natural Park. You can also combine a snorkelling and kayaking tour in one, like with this transparent kayak tour. How cool is it to see the sea while enjoying the scenery? The great thing about a kayak tour is that it allows you to visit beaches and caves that cannot be reached on foot.
Wind & land activities
- Kitesurfing or windsurfing
- Horse riding through the dunes at sunrise
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Last update: 07-12-2024 © Doris Leone
‘Un abrazo’ and maybe we will see each other one day; Doris Leone
