Serene and Charming El Cabo De Gata with San Jose
El Cabo de Gata is a modest little town situated in Almeria, Spain. You will discover this quaint resort town as you head east on the coastline. Its beaches are filled with coarse sand as far as the eye can see.There are a sufficient number of buses which ply daily from El Cabo de Gata to Almeria and back; with a stop at Retamar, which lies in between these 2 towns. Retamar is actually a retirement and holiday resort development.
Upon your arrival at El Cabo, you will be greeted by the surrounding blue, the Laguna de Rosa Lake, which is a protected conservation territory by the conservation society. It is the home of flamingos and various species of birds and waders all through the summer. There are plenty of bars, shops, and cafés around the town, as well as a fish market.
Accommodations:
Good places to stay may be sparse, which makes it even more challenging a task during the high season as there are only two hostels located upstairs of Playa bar and Mediterraneo bar on the beach. These are high budget accommodations which offer only the basic amenities.
However, with the growing tourist numbers, more accommodations are built such as the Calle Barrionnuevo hotel, and the Hostal Las Dunas which are a bit of a distance from the beach. These hotels charge the up-market prices for their en-suite rooms. Another more affordable and more adventurous accommodation alternative is the Cabo de Gata campsite which is also nearby.
It even has a restaurant and a pool.
It can be quite windy at the beach during the afternoons, and it is quite a long walk back to Las Salinas or the Salt Pans eastward for a drink or snack at the café or bar.
San Jose:
Further to El Cabo de Gata, you will reach San Jose if you travel by bus. San Jose has been established as a popular tourist resort with sandy beaches and small coves offering shallow water.
Again, accommodation may be challenging during the summer, though there is the least expensive hotel a distance away on the main road with a reasonably priced menu in its restaurant.
There are the more expensive hotels closer to the village with acceptable en-suite rooms. However, you can opt to try out the campsite accommodations at Camping Tau which lies near the beach. It may be a better option as there are plenty of bars, cafes, and restaurants, as well as a supermarket that carries quite a bit of everything.
Los Escullos:
Further up the coast, you will find Los Escullos which offers a nice beach with high budget accommodations; namely, Casa Emilio, which is a beachfront hotel-cum-restaurant.
You can travel further 2 km east of Casa Emilio to find a quaint fishing town that offers a lazy atmosphere and sandy beach, with one hostel that overlooks the harbor.