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.
Duration2 nights
From Almería40 min by car
From MurciaAbout 2 h by car
Best timeMay · June · September · October
Budget€160–280 pp
DifficultyLow
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed for arriving on Friday evening and sleeping two nights in San José, with the western beaches on foot. Saturday is the day for the south and the sea; Sunday, for the heart of the park and the lighthouse, on the way back.
Friday
- 119:00Arrival in San José
From Almería to San José, about 40 minutes via the A-7 and the AL-3108. Leave the car at the hotel and stroll round the harbour and the village beach. If you arrive early, ask for a table at Casa Miguel, on the main street: fish-market cooking and a dining room with memorabilia from films shot in Almería.
Saturday
- 109:00Kayak and snorkel among the caves
Three hours with Cabo de Gata Activo: a short course, navigable caves, volcanic reefs and a swim with goggles. The stretch depends on the sea and they confirm it when you book. From €39 per adult. If you prefer diving, the introductory dive with Isub San José leaves from the village: three hours in all, a dive of less than 12 metres, €120.
- 214:00Lunch in San José and a siesta
Eat in the village and rest through the hot hours. La Posada de Paco and the Don Ignacio have pools.
- 317:00Genoveses and Mónsul on foot
Set off along the track towards Mónsul: the Genoveses trail starts beside the windmill and reaches the cove. Carry on to Mónsul, about 4.5 km from the village, for the afternoon swim and the light on the dune. If you have legs left, the first stretch of the Vela Blanca trail starts from the Casa del Mónsul.
Sunday
- 109:30Rodalquilar and La Isleta del Moro
Twenty minutes by car to Rodalquilar: climb to the gold mine ruins before the sun bears down. Then the walk from Los Escullos to La Isleta del Moro, 1.6 km and 40 minutes along the coast, with a cold drink on arrival.
- 214:00Lunch and the drive back by the lighthouse
Eat at Casa Miguel, which on Sunday is open until 16:30, or at La Alacena Azul in Rodalquilar, open to the public. On the way to Almería, detour through the salt flats to the lighthouse and the Sirenas reef: the road ends there and the drive back to Almería is half an hour.
Cabo de Gata can be seen in a day from Almería, but the park is long and has no coastal road: with two nights you do it without the car in the way half the time. This weekend sleep in San José, walk the western beaches, spend a morning at sea and leave Sunday for the mining village of Rodalquilar, La Isleta del Moro and the lighthouse. From Almería it is about 40 minutes; from Murcia and Granada, a little over two hours; from Jaén, Málaga or Alicante, between two and a half and three hours.
When to go and how do you get to the beaches?
May, June, September and the first half of October: the water is good, the kayak outings run and the beaches have room. In summer the regional government closes the track from San José to Genoveses, Mónsul and Cala Carbón to cars without authorisation; in 2025 it was from 21 June to 28 September. Sleeping in San José makes no difference: the beaches are reached on foot. In winter the plan works without kayaking or swimming, with the trails at their best.
| What | Time | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| Genoveses trail | 2.3 km · 1 h 30 | Everyone, with children |
| Vela Blanca trail | 3.4 km · 1 h 30 | Regular walkers |
| Los Escullos to La Isleta del Moro | 1.6 km · 40 min | Everyone |
| Guided kayak and snorkel | 3 h · from €39 | Recommended from age 7 |
| Introductory dive | 3 h · €120 | Teenagers and adults |
Where to sleep?
San José is the base for this plan: the four-star Hotel Don Ignacio is on the seafront promenade with a pool facing the bay; La Posada de Paco, two stars, is small, recommended for adults, with a spa and its own parking. Rodalquilar, in the heart of the park, has the Hotel de Naturaleza Rodalquilar, with a spa, gardens and triple rooms, which admits pets with notice. With small children or in a motorhome, Camping Cabo de Gata, beside the salt flats, has bungalows for 3 to 5 and a pool with slides from Easter to October.
If you have one more day
Go north: from Las Negras, on foot, to Cala de San Pedro, with no road, the ruins of a castle and clean water. It is the first stretch of the San Pedro-El Plomo-Agua Amarga trail, which in full measures 11.1 km.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
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
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
The same break, your way
The plan stays the same. What changes is where you sleep, how you get there and how much you spend.
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
Nights2
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 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
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
Tips
Worth knowing first
Local tip
Sleep in San José and do the western beaches on foot: in summer you save yourself the regulated access and the rest of the year, the parking.
We'd skip it
August, if you want calm: San José is full, the water in the best-known coves clouds with people and you have to get up early for everything.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Almería?
About 40 minutes by car to San José. From Murcia and Granada, a little over two hours.
Do I need a car?
For Sunday, yes: Rodalquilar, Los Escullos and the lighthouse are far apart and there are few buses. Saturday is done on foot from San José.
Where is it best to sleep?
In San José, to do the beaches on foot. In Rodalquilar, if you want more quiet and a spa.
Can it be done in winter?
Yes, without kayaking or swimming. The trails and the villages are more enjoyable.
How much does it cost?
Between €160 and €280 per person with two hotel nights, meals and one activity.