“The Spanish southeast desert hides unparallel beauty paradises, standing among all, the magical cape of Gata , with its abrupt coastline filled with virginal beaches and lonely coves”. Hola Viajes magazine

  Born ten million years ago out of volcanic convulsions in southeast Almería, the mountains and the cape of Gata have nothing to do with the rest of the continent. These landscapes of intense personality are considered the paramount of European magma mountains. Among national and international recognition, this area has been declared as Natural Park , Marine Reserve, Special Protection Area for Birds and Biosphere Reserve for UNESCO. It is a meritable recognition for this natural park that, in spite of its semidesertic landscape, it hosts a variety of ecosystems inhabited by large amounts of animals and plants specially adapted to this area.

  Beaches, coves and headlands: Media Luna, Tizón and Mónsul coves outstand due to its splendorous beauty protected by softened scarps formed by soil heat and salt sea. Likewise, San José offers attractive field trips: to the north there is a trail that leads to all the beaches and coves from Higueras Cove to the Los Escullos anchorage, filled with sublime retreats.  

Scuba diving: The natural park comprises a one mille nautical strip along the coastline with unspoiled depths made of large sea prairies. Crystal-clear waters create the perfect setting for submarine photography.

  Trekking and bicycle: There are interesting routes on firm land. From the Torre García hermitage to the Gata cape we find one of the most colourful routes, along a mandatory stop at the nature reserve salt marsh. From its bird observatory, one can spot out the temporary colonies of hosts such as flamingos and storks.

  Pedro Retamar for “El País” national newspaper