Natural Park Cabo de Gata
A unique climate, the volcanic origin of the soils and the diversity and uniqueness of flora and fauna are the result of the contrasts between the coastline of the terrestrial marine environment and represent the best introduction to Geopark Cabo de Gata Nijar, the most protected area of the Mediterranean coast.
The Sierra forms inlets of great beauty that give rise to the fifty kilometers of the best preserved cliffs in the European Mediterranean. There are city beaches such as San José and Aguamarga. Beautiful natural beaches such as Mónsul and Los Genoveses. Hidden and almost inaccessible bays, spectacular volcanic cliffs and reefs such as Punta de los Muertos and Mesa Roldán. Dune formations and inner lagoons that create attractive landscapes such as the Salinas del Cabo de Gata, an exceptionally humanized space for birds. Here you will find it all!
Fauna and Flora
The Natural Park Cabo de Gata has more than a thousand unique types of flora, showing its botanical uniqueness. In the arid plain we find populations of wild olive trees, palmitos and wild fig trees, climbing the abrupt volcanic slopes, dense formations of esparto and rosemary, covering the plains, azufeifo, a hawthorn with deep roots that stabilize the dunes and a remarkable population of steppe birds, birds of prey and vipers.
But the most remarkable enclaves of this natural space are undoubtedly the seabed, which is formed by vast meadows of oceanic posidonia, authentic submerged forests that are home to a wide variety of fauna. The Salinas de Cabo de Gata, an exceptional place for breeding, wintering and migratory transmission of water birds such as the pink flamingo, as well as numerous shorebirds. Other places of interest include the nearby Rambla Morales lagoon, where you can observe more than eighty bird species, or the San Andrés Island Natural Monument, in front of the beaches of Carboneras.
Lighthouse Faro de Gata - Cabo de Gata
Cabo de Gata
Sheeps in Rodalquilar - cabras en Rodalquilar
Lighthouse Faro de Gata - Cabo de Gata
Activities
The maritime character of this nature park determines the presence of a powerful range of activities. Diving, in clear and transparent waters in Las Negras, La Isleta or San José, boat routes to coves of unusual beauty such as Cala Chica or San Pedro, canoeing or swimming along the best beaches of the Mediterranean coast.
The network of signposted trails offers many hiking, horseback or cycling tours that allow you to discover the natural and cultural heritage of a protected area that has up to 150 properties classified as of ethnological interest (farms, water wheels, water troughs and mills) large number of fortresses and castles, in their time Berber pirate defense. Likewise, the Geopark is home to numerous mining-related archaeological and industrial complexes, including the Rodalquilar gold installations and the Agua Amarga mineral jetty.
