|
Heading east along the coast, the closest resort with any appeal is the modest EL CABO DE GATA , where there is a lovely expanse of coarse sand. Five buses a day run between here and Almeria, making an intermediate stop at Retamar, a retirement/holiday development. Arriving at El Cabo, you pass a lake, the Laguna de Rosa , protected by a conservation society and home to flamingos and other waders throughout the summer. Around the resort are plentiful bars, cafes and shops, plus a fish market. Accommodation is limited and in high season often impossible to find; the two hostales (?18-27) above the bars Playa and Mediterraneo (tel 950 371 137) on the beach are both quite expensive for basic accommodation. The new Hostal Las Dunas , c/Barrionnuevo 58 (tel 950 370 072; ?36-48), set back from the beach, is an even pricier option for en-suite rooms. Nearby there's a campsite, Cabo de Gata (tel 950 160 443; open all year) with its own pool and restaurant. The beach gets windy in the afternoons, and it's a deceptively long walk eastwards to Las Salinas (The Salt Pans - exactly that) for a bar and cafe. Beyond lies SAN JOSE , also reached by bus from Almeria. This is an established and popular resort, set back from a sandy beach in a small cove, with shallow water, and fine beaches within walking distance. Accommodation , however, can be hard to come by in summer. Casa de Huespedes Costa Rica (tel 950 380 103; ?18-27), on the main road a little way out, is one of the most inexpensive and also serves a reasonable menu . Hostal Bahia , c/Correos 5 (tel 950 380 114; ?36-48), is a comfortable modern hostal in the centre, and the more upmarket Hotel Las Gaviotas on the way into the village (tel 950 380 010; ?48-60) has decent en-suite rooms. You'll also find a good campsite , Camping Tau (tel 950 380 166; April-Oct), close to the beach. There are again numerous excellent bars, restaurants and cafes, and a well-stocked supermarket. Next along the coast is LOS ESCULLOS , with a reasonable beach and a pleasant, if slightly overpriced, beachfront hotel-restaurant, Casa Emilio (tel 950 389 761; ?36-48). Two kilometres further east, LA ISLETA is another fishing town, with a sleepy atmosphere, a sandy beach and a hostal overlooking the harbour, Hostal Isleta de Moro (tel 951 389 713; ?27-36); this reasonably priced place has a popular bar-restaurant for tapas and meals. At LAS NEGRAS , 5km further on, there's a cove with a pebbly beach and a few bars and restaurants; there's a brand-new hostal , Arrecife (tel 950 388 140; ?27-36), close to the village estanco ; if it's full, you can enquire here about a room in a private house or renting an apartment nearby.
Your Tip for El Cabo de Gata and San Jose
Help other backpackers! Write your own guides and backpacking tips to El Cabo de Gata and San Jose - they will appear instantly on this page - Please only write a tip/guide to El Cabo de Gata and San Jose - visit the main El Cabo de Gata and San Jose forum to ask a question!
Please do not post links to your site here (they won't work) - please use the El Cabo de Gata and San Jose webguide section below! Thanks.
|
