Los Genoveses Beach and Its Trail
3 h · 2.3 kmFamiliesAll year; swimming from June to October
Beach · undeveloped cove south of San José · official trail of 2.3 km and 1 h 30, low difficulty · in summer, cars only with authorisation
From Almería40 min by car (estimated)
Best timeApril – June · September – October
Minimum time1 day
Overall difficultyLow
What to do
What to do in Cabo de Gata
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Mónsul Beach
3 hFamilies and couplesAll year; swimming from June to October
Beach · dark sand between lava flows and the great dune · 4.5 km from San José by track
Vela Blanca Trail, from Mónsul to the Tower
1 h 30 · 3.4 kmHikers and teenagersOctober to May; in summer, first thing in the morning
Linear route · 3.4 km and 1 h 30 each way · 185 m height difference · from the Casa del Mónsul to the Sirenas viewpoint, below the Vela Blanca tower
From Los Escullos to La Isleta del Moro
San Pedro Cove on Foot from Las Negras
Rodalquilar and the Ruins of Its Gold Mines
Cabo de Gata Lighthouse and the Sirenas Reef
Guided Kayak and Snorkel along the Volcanic Cliffs
Introductory Scuba Dive in the Marine Reserve, from San José
Horse Ride to Cala de Enmedio from Agua Amarga
Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Plan the trip
Cabo de Gata, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Cabo de Gata
In spring and in September and October: mild sea, empty beaches and bearable heat. In July and August car access to Genoveses and Mónsul is regulated and you have to get up early. In winter it is sunny almost always, although the water is cold.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
Cabo de Gata your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
The Car Ties It All Together
The park has no coast road: San José, Los Escullos, Rodalquilar, Las Negras and the lighthouse are linked through the interior, with short detours to the sea. By car you see three or four corners in a day. In summer, leave the car in San José to go to Genoveses and Mónsul.
70–130 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepHotel Don Ignacio, on San…
- Getting aroundFrom Almería, A-7 and AL-3108…
- Where to eatCasa Miguel, in San José…
- ServicesLas Amoladeras Visitor Centre, km…
Where to sleep
- Hotel Don Ignacio, on San José's promenade
- La Posada de Paco, small and for adults
- Hotel de Naturaleza Rodalquilar, in the centre of the park
- Camping Cabo de Gata, beside the lighthouse and the salt pans
Getting around
- From Almería, A-7 and AL-3108 to San José: about 40 minutes
- Dirt tracks to Genoveses and Mónsul, regulated in summer
- The lighthouse road does not connect with San José: return by the interior
Where to eat
- Casa Miguel, in San José, open on Sunday at midday
- Alacena Azul, in Rodalquilar
- La Gallineta, in El Pozo de los Frailes, from March to autumn
Services
- Las Amoladeras Visitor Centre, km 7 of the AL-3115
- Car parks at Genoveses and the Casa del Mónsul
Spa, Pool and a Table with a View
Cabo de Gata has no big resorts: luxury here is a four-star hotel with a pool or spa and a morning out by boat or kayak. Two hotels fill that role well.
From €150per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepHotel de Naturaleza Rodalquilar: La…
- Getting aroundBy your own car; in…
- Where to eatAlacena Azul, recovered Almería cooking
- ServicesSpa with circuit and massages…
Where to sleep
- Hotel de Naturaleza Rodalquilar: La Amatista spa, gardens and pool
- Hotel Don Ignacio: pool facing San José bay
Getting around
- By your own car; in summer, a bus from San José to the beaches
- Guided kayak or introductory scuba dive from San José
Where to eat
- Alacena Azul, recovered Almería cooking
- Casa Miguel, market fish and rice dishes
Services
- Spa with circuit and massages at the Hotel Rodalquilar
- Isub San José diving centre, with private boat trips
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Cabo de Gata for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
Shallow-Water Beaches and Short Walks
With children, the park works if you organise it by mornings: beach or walk early, lunch in the shade and something short in the afternoon. The beaches have no facilities, so you go loaded up.
- What works bestGenoveses: water that stays shallow…
- Where to sleepCamping Cabo de Gata: bungalows…
- Where to eatCasa Miguel, in San José…
- Bear in mindOn the beaches there is…
What works best
- Genoveses: water that stays shallow for many metres and a 2.3 km trail
- From Los Escullos to La Isleta del Moro: 1.6 km, 40 minutes
- The lighthouse and the Sirenas reef, at sunset
- Guided kayak from age 4, recommended from 7, in 2+2 kayaks
Where to sleep
- Camping Cabo de Gata: bungalows for 3 to 5, pool with slides
- Hotel de Naturaleza Rodalquilar: triple rooms
Where to eat
- Casa Miguel, in San José: rice dishes and film decor
- Picnic on the beach: buy supplies in San José before setting out
Bear in mind
- On the beaches there is no shade or beach bars
- In summer, go to the beaches before ten
- Stony trails: a baby carrier is better than a pushchair
What to do as a family
Sea, Caves and a First Dive
For teenagers, Cabo de Gata is a water place: kayaking among caves, mask and snorkel on the rocks and, if they feel like it, their first scuba dive. On land, a couple of trails with coves at the end.
- What works bestIntroductory scuba dive with Isub…
- Where to sleepCamping Cabo de Gata, with…
- Where to eatCasa Miguel, in San José
- Bear in mindTo dive you must fill…
What works best
- Introductory scuba dive with Isub San José: dive at less than 12 m
- Guided kayak and snorkel along the cliffs
- San Pedro cove on foot from Las Negras
- Vela Blanca trail, from Mónsul
- The ruins of the Rodalquilar gold mines
Where to sleep
- Camping Cabo de Gata, with bungalows
- Hotel Don Ignacio, on San José's promenade
Where to eat
- Casa Miguel, in San José
- Sandwiches for the cove, bought in the village
Bear in mind
- To dive you must fill in a medical questionnaire
- Trails with no shade: always water and a hat
What to do with teenagers
Sand, Still Water and Half-Hour Walks
With children up to six, stay in the south of the park and don't chain together more than two things a day. Los Genoveses beach is the best: they can wade in without it getting deep.
- What works bestLos Genoveses beach, in the…
- Where to sleepCamping Cabo de Gata: bungalows…
- Where to eatCasa Miguel, in San José…
- Bear in mindParasol, water and food: there…
What works best
- Los Genoveses beach, in the morning
- The walk from Los Escullos to La Isleta del Moro, 40 minutes
- The lighthouse viewpoint and the Sirenas reef
Where to sleep
- Camping Cabo de Gata: bungalows, playground and pool with slides
Where to eat
- Casa Miguel, in San José, at midday
Bear in mind
- Parasol, water and food: there is nothing on the beaches
- Baby carrier for the paths
- In July and August, nothing in the sun between 12:00 and 17:00
What to do with young children
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're drivingin style
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Hotel Don Ignacio
Why we like it: A four-star hotel on San José's seafront promenade, with a pool facing the bay, a buffet breakfast and rooms with a sea terrace.
Hotel La Posada de Paco
Why we like it: A two-star adults-recommended hotel in the centre of San José, with a spa, pool and its own parking, two minutes from the beach.
Hotel de Naturaleza Rodalquilar
Why we like it: A four-star boutique hotel with a spa in Rodalquilar, in the centre of the park, with gardens, a pool and a restaurant open to the public.
Camping Cabo de Gata
Why we like it: A two-star campsite of the Campingred network beside the park, with motorhome pitches, bungalows for 3 to 5 people and a pool with slides.
Services for this trip
Areas, for any way of travelling
| Area | Who it's for | Average night |
|---|---|---|
| San José | The base village: Genoveses and Mónsul beaches, kayaking and diving | |
| Rodalquilar and Las Negras | Centre of the park, gold mines and coves on foot | |
| Cabo de Gata and the lighthouse | Salt flats, birds and campsite, 30 min from Almería |
Where to eat
Where to eat in Cabo de Gata
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Casa Miguel in Tierra de Cine
What to order: the arroz a la marinera (minimum two portions), a chopped Níjar tomato salad and the fish of the day that the staff recommend
Alacena Azul Restaurant
What to order: the €25 menu, with Almería tomato with garlic and bonito, fried John Dory or fried fish and a house dessert
© La GallinetaLa Gallineta
What to order: a rice dish to share, a banda or del senyoret, or a fish stew
Map
Everything on the map
The places to stay and services on the map are the ones for the way you travel. Turn on the layers you want and tap a point to see its details.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Nearby
Near Cabo de Gata
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Get up early in summer
By ten o'clock there is already a queue at the access to the western beaches.
- 2Walk to the beaches from San José
The track is flat and you save on parking.
- 3Check the wind
With levante, look for the western coves; with poniente, those in the north, towards Las Negras.
- 4Bring everything
Water, food and shade: there are no services on the park's beaches.
The Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park is the wildest stretch of coast in the Spanish Mediterranean: sixty kilometres of volcanic cliffs, beaches without a single building, white fishing villages and an interior of farmhouses and prickly pears in the driest area of Europe. It was declared a natural park in 1987, its waters have been a marine reserve since 2001 and it forms part of a geopark. It is not a place of great monuments: you come to swim, to walk between coves and to look at the seabed.
How do I get there from Almería, Murcia or Granada?
By car. From Almería it is about 40 minutes to San José along the A-7 motorway towards Murcia and the AL-3108 road, which heads south from the San José exit. From Murcia, about two hours along the A-7 southwards. From Granada, a little over two hours along the A-92 and the A-7. These are estimated times: allow more in summer and on long weekends.
The park has no road along the coast. Each village has its access from the interior: San José and Los Escullos from the AL-3108 and the Rodalquilar road; Las Negras, from Rodalquilar or Campohermoso; the lighthouse, from Almería along the AL-3115, which skirts the salt flats and ends at the point. To go from the lighthouse to San José you have to go back inland. The bus companies serving the area, according to the Junta, are ALSA, Autocares Bernardo and Frahemar, but with few departures: for a day or a weekend, a car is the practical choice.
Where do I park and how do I get to Genoveses and Mónsul?
The two most famous beaches are south of San José, at the end of a dirt track. Outside summer you drive in with your own car: there is a car park of about 20 spaces beside the Genoveses trail and another of about 50 at the Casa del Mónsul, about 4.5 km from the village. In summer the Junta closes that track to vehicles without authorisation; in 2025 it was from 21 June to 28 September. Those weeks you get in with controlled spaces or on the bus from San José, or on foot. The same rule limits to five the number of kayaks that can go together without a permit.
In the villages, parking is easy from October to May and difficult in August. If you sleep in San José, leave the car at the hotel and walk to the western beaches.
How much time do I need?
One day covers the essentials of the south: a morning at Genoveses or Mónsul, lunch in San José and the afternoon at the lighthouse and the Sirenas reef. With two nights you add the centre of the park: the walk from Los Escullos to La Isleta del Moro, Rodalquilar and its gold mines, and the cove of San Pedro on foot from Las Negras. With three, a morning at sea: kayaking between caves or an introductory dive in the marine reserve.
When to go?
April, May, June, September and October are the best months: the water is good from June and lasts until October, the trails can be walked without the heat and the beaches have room. In July and August it is very hot, the villages fill up and you have to get up early for the beach. In winter it is almost always sunny and the trails are at their best, although swimming is only for the brave and some restaurants close, such as La Gallineta, which reopens in March.
Where to sleep?
San José is the most convenient base: it has most of the hotels and restaurants, the diving centre and the western beaches on foot. Here are the Hotel Don Ignacio, on the seafront, and La Posada de Paco, small and designed for adults. Rodalquilar is the quiet alternative, in the centre of the park, with the Hotel de Naturaleza Rodalquilar and its spa. With small children or in a motorhome, the Camping Cabo de Gata is next to the lighthouse and the salt flats, with bungalows and a pool with slides.
What not to expect
There are no long promenades or beaches with sunloungers: at Genoveses, Mónsul or San Pedro there is no shade and no bars. Bring water, food and a parasol. The wind changes the sea from one day to the next: the kayak companies choose the stretch according to the forecast, and it is wise to have a plan on land for the day of the levante.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best beach for children?
Los Genoveses: water that stays shallow for many metres and a short, flat trail.
Can you drive to Mónsul in summer?
Only with an authorised space. In 2025 access was regulated from 21 June to 28 September; the alternative is the bus from San José or going on foot.
Do you have to pay to enter the park?
No. You only pay for activities with companies and, in summer, the regulated access to the western beaches.
Can you kayak without experience?
Yes, on a guided route. Cabo de Gata Activo runs from late April to mid-October, from €39 per adult.
How many days do you need?
One for the south, two to see Rodalquilar and Las Negras too, three if you want a morning at sea.
Where can you get information about the trails?
At the Las Amoladeras Visitor Centre, on the road from Almería to Cabo de Gata, km 7.