Localities in Cabo de Gata

San Jose, Pozo de los Frailes, Boca de los Frailes, Los Escullos, La Isleta del Moro Arraez, Rodalquilar, Las Hortichuelas, Las Negras, Fernan Perez and Agua Amarga.

Nijar has been declared one of the most beautiful towns in Spain due to its picturesque urban planning of medieval origin, made up of white houses, narrow stone streets and facades permanently decorated with flowers.

In its natural environment, you can find mountains, desert landscapes and Mediterranean coasts, which gives it a unique diversity in the region. Its flora and fauna are also very rich, with a great variety of species found in its surroundings.

Tourism is the most developed economic activity in the municipality of Nijar, which is one of the favourite destinations of thousands of travellers from all over the world, who are drawn by its natural beauty, its pleasant climate and the many attractions found within the Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park.

As for handicrafts, the jarapas are famous – a very colourful typical fabric of the region, with which rugs, blankets and bedspreads are made, using artisan looms.
 

Near Cabo de Gata Village we can visit the Cabo de Gata Saltworks, the Cabo de Gata Lighthouse, or the Nature Interpretation Center of Las Amoladeras.

This village began to be populated in the 18th century by fishermen who took advantage of the richness of the marine fauna of the place. In those days, it was a small village of humble seafarers surrounded by dunes, which gradually disappeared over time.

Its extensive beach is the main tourist attraction. Near it, there are several areas ready to camp in front of the sea and enjoy the spectacular sunsets.
 

Its houses, mostly low and white, are built on the cliffs that surround the sea and some on the nearby hills. Along its promenade, one can find a varied sample of crafts, art objects and souvenirs of all kinds, as well as art shows, music and entertainment, which give a lively nightlife to the place.

San Jose offers a variety of activities to those who visit it, such as excursions to nearby places of geological interest, with rock formations of volcanic origin rich in minerals of various types, photography tours, bird watching, diving and kayaking, windsurfing, horseback riding and bicycle riding, among others.
 

Due to its convenient location and peaceful surroundings, this is an ideal destination for accommodation, which is why it is highly sought after by tourists who visit Cabo de Gata.

This population is settled along the Rambla de Los Frailes and its inhabitants are distributed on both sides, extending towards the slopes of the nearby hills. Its former inhabitants dedicated themselves to agriculture and livestock, although these activities were declining with the rise of tourism.

Its old village centre is made up of typical buildings of Mediterranean architecture, with single-storey houses, rectangular and whitewashed.
 

During the first half of the 20th century, most of its inhabitants were workers in the nearby mines, producers of lead and silver.

Its name comes from the natural environment where it is located, a mouth or access to the sea between two hills, and on the other hand from the Dominican friars, former owners of these lands.

This locality served as a crossing point and confluence point for the abundant herds that grazed in the vicinity. Most of its streets are not paved, and in the vicinity of the village, you can see cisterns, an old windmill and other vestiges preserved from its agricultural-livestock past.

Boca de los Frailes is a village with a rural setting that maintains typical elements of the farmhouses that surrounded it, preserving the architectural elements and constructions of its remote past unchanged.
 

Its beautiful natural environment makes it an ideal place for rest and relaxation.

In its vicinity is El Arco Beach, where you can practice multiple sports activities such as surfing and diving. The fossilized dune found on El Arco Beach is the largest in Europe. It is an impressive rock formation on the seashore. From there, you can see spectacular landscapes, making it an ideal place to take pictures. It is also a suitable place to practice mountain biking and hiking, with a free camping area facing the sea.
 

In its surroundings, there are several beaches and coastlines of volcanic rock, which offer spectacular views. In the northern part of the village is the Amatista Viewpoint, on a high cliff, from which you can enjoy the surrounding seascapes.

Artisanal fishing continues to be an important commercial activity for its inhabitants, although the tourism sector has grown quite a bit in recent times. Various accommodation options are offered to the visitor, as well as a good number of restaurants specializing in the fresh fish of the day.
 

Rodalquilar experienced a real gold rush from the end of the 19th century and much of the 20th. Large deposits of the precious metal were exploited and attracted considerable immigration from all over Spain and Europe.

As a consequence of this mining boom, several mining villages were founded that today are in ruins. These facilities have often been used as a location for filming movies and commercials. Today they are a place of tourist interest.

Its beaches, with crystal clear waters and fine sand, are very popular and have all the necessary services to make the tourist's stay more pleasant.

For lovers of outdoor activities, there are several hiking trails, from which you can see beautiful views of the nearby coasts and hills.
 

This small population had agriculture as its main economic activity, and the six threshing floors whose ruins can still be seen in its surroundings remain as a testimony. In them, the work of threshing the cereals grown in the area was carried out.

Its location in the heart of the Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park has helped position the village as an accommodation centre for visitors who prefer a quiet, country setting. Just two kilometres away is the coast, with its many spectacular beaches.
 

The landscape of this coast is arid and rocky, with an abundance of stones of volcanic origin and sands of a characteristic dark tone. It is an ideal place to practice diving and snorkelling, through which you can admire its spectacular underwater landscapes. Kayak excursions can be made to the nearby beaches and coves, of great natural beauty.

The village has various accommodation options and there is the possibility of camping in a special area set up for it.
 

The Cortijo del Fraile is one of the village's historical monuments that has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest. In this farmhouse, the events that would inspire the poet Federico Garcia Lorca to write his famous work Bodas de Sangre took place. This has made it one of the most visited places in the village.

Some inhabitants of the place maintain the custom of practicing cultivation on a smaller scale in traditional gardens. Although it does not have special facilities for tourism, its rural setting, its rich history and the tranquillity of the village are ideal for those who prefer a peaceful environment.
 

In the vicinity we can visit the Mesa Roldan, an impressive volcanic dome on top of which are the Mesa Roldan Tower and the Mesa Roldan Lighthouse, and where you can enjoy some of the best views of the Natural Park. There is always a steady flow of people visiting the Los Muertos beach, one of the most valued beaches of the Natural Park.

This coastal village has traditionally been dedicated to fishing as the main economic activity, although its beaches have allowed the development of tourism to a considerable degree.

In its surroundings are hidden coves surrounded by cliffs, ideal for those seeking quieter and more secluded places. On the hills surrounding the village, buildings of unique architecture rise, from which one has a wonderful view of the coast and the rock formations around it.