Cabo De Gata relax guide
San José in Cabo de Gata NP; relax guide
30-01-2023 © Doris Leone
Online Travel Guide
Cabo de Gata was declared a national park in 1987. It is located in the most south-eastern point of Spain and this area is beautiful, many Andaluz is incredibly proud of this natural park in amazing Andalucía! It is a breathtaking and gigantic paradise, with plenty to do and see. Most visitors come here for the lovely, laid-back beaches with cool cliffs. Have a look at my Cabo De Gata relax guide!
Do not get confused, as Cabo de Gata is also a town in the Cabo de Gata National Park.
In this article I like to tell you more about all the relaxing things you can do here, as well as tips for restaurants, good accommodation and information on safety. Maybe you are more interested in all the sportive activities you can do, then read this article further!
The town of San José
Together with my boyfriend, we stayed in the laid-back town of San José, where you have plenty to do. And no, this is not Costa Rica’s capital, but a cute and compact town with plenty of nice shops, fine restaurants and a lovely large beach. In my opinion, the restaurants are better in Almería or Aguadulce, but of course that is everyone’s personal opinion. San José is a nice hippy village, where everyone feels completely free, the locals do not really care as long as you treat their place with respect. You will notice it when you stay here.
Cutest little shop in San José
You can shop just fine in San José, it is mainly geared towards tourists, but if I may say so myself, Salamandra Lámparas is an incredibly nice little shop where you can buy awesome lamps and other homemade souvenirs. Should you want something, but it does not fit in your suitcase? Then you can have it sent to you.
From San José you can do many things and if in the case you have a car at your disposal, I recommend going down the park to find the most beautiful beaches.
Wonderful beaches?
You have a lot of fantastic beaches, it simply does not stop in Cabo de Gata, because they are in fact not landscaped beaches, but natural beaches. Keep in mind that this means you have to bring a lot yourself: plenty of food, drinks and, last but not least, collect your waste, as there are no containers. We all need to contribute to a beautiful & clean planet.
Playa Mónsul
This is a lovely beach that you can easily visit on foot or by mountain bike from San José. It takes you about 20 minutes by bike and just over an hour on foot. Of course, this depends entirely on the number of stops you make. By car, it takes 15 minutes. Playa Mónsul has been the location of many films, including Indiana Jones films.
El Playazo de Rodalquilar
This beach is totally worth a visit. With all the rocks and cliffs surrounding the beach, you can snorkel well here, jump off the rocks into the sea or have a nice walk on the rocks and cliffs. You will also find a cool castle here, called Castillo de San Ramón, which served as a coastal defence fortress in the 18th century. Nowadays, you can rent a room in here and have a lovely stay. It takes just under half an hour by car. If you head towards Rodalquilar beach, do not skip the white village, which is about 2 kilometres from the beach.
San José beach
If you just want to chill out on the beach nearby, head to San José beach, this is a lovely large beach, where you have showers and in the evening, you can eat at one of the restaurants. Other beaches around San José can be found in the other article.
Cabo de Gata is well protected
Many volunteers here do their best to keep the beaches as clean as possible, collectively cleaning up the beaches. We happened to see them cleaning up Playa de los Escullos when we were there. It is also often said that this beautiful and clear seawater is the cleanest sea in Andalusia.
Stargazing!
The nature park is astonishing both during the day and in the night; if you have a clear night, you can see a lot of astonishing stars. Find a dark spot where you have an open view to see the stars.
Safety?
Cabo de Gata is generally well secured by the Guardia Civil, who regularly drive through the park here. Just be aware that when it is dark, and you go hiking, there is a good chance you could be robbed. We saw clothes lying on the ground and even a wallet that was empty. Strange sight, but that does mean you should always keep your eyes open and make sure you do not show off your valuables too much. Other than this, we did not feel unsafe for a moment.
Nice accommodation and restaurants?
Restaurants?
In San José you will find lots of pizzerias, but the best one is Bistró Restaurante Pizzería, where they have a delicious lasagne as well as pizzas. 4 Nudos is a more fancy restaurant where you can eat good fish. If I may say so myself, I think Abaceria San José is the nicest tapas bar, good and typical with some tasty tapas. In the morning, you can go to Andrea Café for a nice tostada with coffee.
Accommodations?
- If you want to relax in the centre of the village and on the beach with a Cafetería on your doorstep, Hotel Cala Arena is a great place
- Want something more authentic and peaceful? Then Cortijo El Sotillo is a wonderful place
- Are you looking for a nice flat where you can cook and have sea views, then Apartamentos Dulcemar Frente al Mar is a good place to stay
- In high season, you could also stay at the Camping Albergue Tau
