Holidays » Spain » Costa Almeria Holidays

Costa Almeria is an almost totally unspoilt area of Spain. There you will find beaches with white, fine grained sand and safe bathing, secluded coves sheltered by cliffs, lively fishing harbours and marinas, rugged desolate areas, salt lagoons and nature reserves. The capital Almeria has some exciting architecture including the Cathedral with its gothic interior and the vast moorish Citadel of Alcazaba which dominates the town.

The fishing harbour at Villaricas has, as a magnificent backdrop, the sierra Almagrera mountain. This lively resort has many excellent fish restaurants. There are some spectacular caves close by. Children and adults alike will enjoy the exhilaration of the water park at Vera.

The Blue Flag Beach at Aguadulce with its palm lined promenade is very popular with families with its white sandy beach and gentle waves. San Jose lies in a shallow bay and possesses the finest of beaches and is the perfect holiday destination for those seeking a peaceful and relaxing holiday. The tapas bars and cafe's in the sandy streets demand a slower pace of life. Although there are a wide variety of hotels, apartments and villas, there is a noticeable lack of high rise apartment blocks in Costa Almeria.

Certain beaches are popular with nudists such as Cerrillos beach at Roquetas de Mar which is a peaceful area not suited to young children because of the heavy seas. The salt lagoons at Las Marinas are good vantage points from which to watch the flamingos and other species of water birds. Tabernas, sixteen miles from Almeria city is the village where many of the famous westerns were made because the landscape resembles the old Wild West. The film lots have been developed into small theme parks and a children's zoo.

The Costa Almeria is host to many music, dance and festivals particularly through the summer months. Flamenco dancing is especially popular as it is the traditional dance of the gypsies of Andalusia. Bull fighting remains part of Spanish culture although the spectacle is no longer so popular among tourists. There are bullrings in Almeria and Tabernas.

The nightlife in the Costa Almeria is understated. With many wonderful restaurants serving a wide variety of traditional Spanish fare as well as international cuisine it has all the ingredients for the perfect end to the day. For those of a more lively nature there are pubs and bars. You will find everything from high fashion in elegant boutiques, particularly in Marbella's Golden Mile and in Malaga, to souvenir shops on the sea front.

Inland, traditional crafts are found such as hand carved kitchen utensils, pottery and leather goods. If this is insufficient, there are shopping trips to Gibraltar and even to the markets of Morocco.