Cabo de Gata with Kids
A complete guide to what to see in Europe's desert
Welcome to the article where we talk about what to do in Cabo de Gata with kids!
One of the lesser-known places in Southern Spain yet one of the most interesting, especially for children. This captivating region in Spain is the perfect place for a family vacation, offering breathtaking landscapes and activities suitable for the whole family.
It is one of the most beautiful corners of Andalusia: the Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park, where Europe’s only true desert meets some of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean. With about 100 mm of rain per year, Cabo de Gata is the driest place in Europe and the only one on the European continent with a classified desert climate. However, don’t expect a flat and monotonous landscape: the rock formations and promontories within the park have spectacular shapes and colors. Additionally, despite the arid terrain, the flora and fauna of the park are extremely rich: more than 1000 animal and plant species live here, adapted to the high temperatures and scarcity of water.
What to see in Cabo de Gata with kids
Endless stretches of beaches and nature dominate in an extremely varied landscape, with the brightest colors.
Exploring kids-friendly Beaches
To find some relief from the scorching temperatures of the area, there’s nothing like diving into the azure waters of the sea that bathes the 340 km of coastline of the park, dotted with wonderful beaches still relatively unknown to Italian tourists.
Cabo de Gata is famous for its pristine beaches.
For a day of fun in the sun with the kids, don’t miss the San Jose Beach, where the shallow waters are ideal for the little ones. We stayed there for a week, and I must admit that I didn’t want to leave.
I strongly advise against staying here during the typical peak season periods: you’ll hardly find a place, and if you’re lucky, the chances of getting less-than-ideal accommodations (not to say a rip-off) would be high, especially because prices in Andalucia are quite low-cost, and you can find very advantageous solutions.
San José is a strategic point for visiting the park and is a charming little village overlooking a tranquil bay.
It’s very simple, but really equipped to welcome tourism ranging from families to, as already mentioned, surfers of all ages.
In the evening, the promenade comes to life, and you’ll find numerous street vendors specializing mainly in Andalusian crafts.
In any case, if you’re looking for nightlife, this is perhaps a very quiet place.
In San José, there’s also the information office of the natural park where you can find maps and information for all the trails and activities to do.
The types of excursions are numerous!
Other places you can visit in this area are:
– San Miguel de Cabo de Gatahere, most of the inhabitants are still dedicated to fishing.
– Cabo de Gata: a typical town with white houses and rich in palm trees.
– La Isleta del Moro: a small fishing and tourist village.
– Rodalquilar: a mining village located in a valley surrounded by mountains and cliffs of the mining area, now without activity.
– Los Albaricoques: in this village, Sergio Leone filmed “For a Few Dollars More.
When I mentioned “Wild West landscape,” it wasn’t a coincidence: here, the red dirt tracks, the mountains, and the wind that raises the dust are truly cinematic.
Indeed, it was here that the film set of Sergio Leone’s “A Fistful of Dollars” was set up.
Cabo de Gata beaches
This area is rich in fascinating and diverse beaches, almost all of which are only accessible on foot, along paths immersed in pristine and almost wild nature.
One of these is undoubtedly Playa de los Genoveses, but there are also Playa del los Muertos, , el Playazo, and finally Playa de Monsul, one of the largest beaches.
Among the old fishing villages, where you can stop to savor the authentic side of Cabo de Gata with kids
To add even more magic to this surreal landscape are the abandoned buildings and villages that you will encounter here and there while exploring the park by car or on foot, a testament to the harsh living conditions in an area where water is scarce.
My advice is to take a few days and wander through the less-traveled roads of these areas: you will be rewarded with pristine panoramas, red earth, and blue beaches.
Adventure in the Nature Reserve
The Cabo de Gata Natural Park is a true gem for adventurous families. Organize a guided excursion to explore the local flora and fauna, offering children an educational and fun experience.
Established in 1987, this park is the first marine-terrestrial park in Andalusia; of volcanic origin, it is the largest protected area and of ecological importance in the entire western Mediterranean.
In short, from these few lines, you can already understand why I decided to follow the suggestions and take a look!
The B side of Cabo de Gata with kids
One of the reasons why you will hear little about this area of Andalusia is its proximity to the terrible area of the Almeria greenhouses.
It would be false and inappropriate not to talk about this negative aspect in an article that praises this area: the greenhouses.
You may have heard of them since it is a stretch of plastic greenhouses, more or less legal, so large that it is even visible from space. Its surroundings are certainly not the safest in the area; the roads are littered with plastic and abandoned waste, and the odors are the worst you can smell for kilometers.
It seems paradoxical that such a dynamic and varied natural park arises right next to such a heavily polluted area, and I must admit that if I had known about this proximity, I probably would never have stopped in this area, making a serious mistake because, once you pass the area of the greenhouses, a truly spectacular world opens up!
Is it worth visiting Cabo de Gata with kids?
The tourism has brought wealth to these inhospitable lands: the secret we have revealed is indeed long known to tourists of other nationalities. Fortunately, despite some sad episodes of real estate speculation, tourist development has moved towards sustainability. It is still possible to enjoy nature, peace, and silence, interrupted only by the waves of the sea. I also leave you the link to the official website where you can get as much information as possible to decide what to do in Cabo de Gata with kids.
If you are planning a trip with your children in Spain, I leave you the link to the blog area that contains all the articles about vacations in Spain with kids.
Digitally Yours
☀️ Sara ☀️
