The Cabo De Gata Natural Park of Andalucia

The Cabo De Gata Natural Park – Andalucia’s greatest tourism asset. When you see the advertisements on television or in magazines for Andalucia, what you are often looking at are photographs or videos taken in the Cabo De Gata Natural Park.

With its wide open spaces, dramatic jagged mountain peaks and quaint seaside villages, it is obvious why this region of sensational natural beauty is one of Andalucía’s most persuasive tourist selling points.

In fact this distinct landscape on the Spanish peninsula is the yardstick by which other places in the Andalucian province are measured by. It is the showcase for the south of Spain and is the jewel of Andalucia.

The coastline swings towards the north at the Cabo De Gata and sea temperatures are colder on the western side towards Almeria than they are on the eastern side towards the delightful coastal town of Mojacar, with its whitewashed ‘pueblo’ perched on a hillside overlooking the Mediterranean.

There are three distinct approaches which you can use to enter the Cabo De Gata. One is from the west via Almeria, through the never ending sea of poly tunnels where the fruit and vegetables you buy from supermarkets in the UK are likely to have been grown, until you come across the exquisite tourist town of San Jose.

You can also enter the Cabo de Gata via the north east, taking the coast road from Mojacar to the lovely fishing village of Agua Amarga. Alternatively you drive into the natural park by slipping off the motorway in between Almeria and Mojacar, near the town of Nijar.

The shape of the coastline, which creates distinct changes in the temperature of the sea, is part of the reason why the Cabo de Gata possesses such diverse marine environments. There are several different types of environment which, over such a relatively small coastline, certainly transcends the ‘normal’.

This marine life-rich stretch of coast is particularly great for scuba diving as many of the natural sights are under the sea. Although the inland nature is also extremely beautiful and scenic, with the unique shaped hills capping a wide open plateaux, creating an interesting and unexpected landscape.

Naturally tourism is an essential part of the economy of the Cabo de Gata but the region never seems to be too over crowded, even in high summer, whereby a visit to the potent tourism marketing asset of Andalucia, provides a refreshingly tranquil alternative from the crowds on the busy resorts of the Costa del Sol.

Equally as stunning as the Natural park is the collection of luxury villas in Andalucia from Vintage Travel.