Try find the best beach in Cabo de Gata, in AlmeríaIt is not easy, especially when it comes to a natural park with 64 kilometers of coastline in which the proposals are many and just as hypnotic. White villages, crystalline beaches and volcanic moors make up one of the best (if not the best) settings on the Spanish coast during the summer season, turning the search for the perfect beach into the best summer adventure in southern lands.
In order to share with you my favorite beach and its secret location, we will start in the town of San José, the first point on this route to a place lost between mountains and cliffs whose access will require a certain sense of adventure.
San José, starting point towards paradise
When we drive down the eroded roads of Cabo de Gata, half an hour from the city of Almería, the presence of this "sea of plastic" made up of so many greenhouses does not seem to fit in with the existence of a hidden paradise. However, as we approach the coast the secret charm of this land explodes in small towns and some of the wildest beaches in the Mediterranean.
If I had to choose the best beaches in Cabo de Gata These would undoubtedly be those of San José, the most touristic fishing village of the natural park designated as one of The 7 Natural Wonders of Spain in 2014. Going south from this town along the dirt roads means entering a range of ideal possibilities for lovers of beaches, naturism and the low overcrowding.
We start in Genoveses beach, perhaps the most commercial but no less beautiful beach in this area, and we continue to Barronal, located a 10-minute walk from a parking lot where our car can only be parked until 9 at night after having paid 5 euros per vehicle over the weekend (a norm that has started to raise blisters among park goers in recent years).
The fact of having limitations regarding parking can be a problem when it comes to staying longer on the best beach in Cabo de Gata, but it is not impossible.
Cala Chica, the best beach in Cabo de Gata
Photography: Alberto Piernas
Surely every visitor to Cabo de Gata has a favorite beach: Mónsul, Playa de los Muertos, San Pedro, etc. However, the advantage that Cala Chica has, my favorite beach in Cabo de Gata, lies in a complicated access whose reward is well worth it.
When going to this beach we will park the car and walk towards the sea until we reach the gap formed between two mountains through which the presence of Barronal sneaks, a beach also highly recommended to spend the day if climbing cliffs and mountains is not it's your thing.
If you want to continue towards Cala Chica, the best will be stand at the entrance to Barronal and turn left, ascending a dune that ends up becoming a mountain. From there, a path is drawn between the steep edges of the cliff marked by an erased chalk while our body oscillates towards a raging Mediterranean when hitting these volcanic lands. Trying to maintain attention and not carry too much weight will be paramount.
After skirting the top of the cliff and climbing a rocky ledge for about fifteen minutes we will access an adjoining mountain formed by small stone steps whose ascent reveals the presence of Cala Chica, the most beautiful beach that I have seen in my life.
The privileged position of this beach allows us to enjoy a paradise where, at best, We will run into one or two couples in the middle of August. The other two that we will not come across may have built their little "chambao" with rocks and the remains of dry palm trees in the caves located in front of this crystal-clear beach.
Camping in one of the caves of Cala Chica is the best option when it comes to enjoying this privileged environment, especially because the beach, despite its name, is long enough not to meet anyone and enjoy our corner of peace. The only "but" would indeed be wanting to spend the night on this remote beach. The way to achieve this is possible, except that it requires some organization.
Security checks that no car exceeds the established schedule, so camping in Cala Chica It may not be an easy task at first, since the only option is to reach it on foot from San José, where we will have parked the car. Reaching Cala Chica from the town will take us 30 minutes and will require a little heavy equipment at the time of starting the march (a Decathlon Refuge type tent will be enough).
Once we make sure that we have parked the car outside the limits of these beaches, all that remains is to enjoy a paradise in which respecting the environment is essential and nobody will come down to bother you at night except, perhaps, some harmless fox attracted by that private moon.
The best beach in Cabo de Gata is located near San José and it is called Cala Chica, a place whose discovery will provoke in you the certainty of being on the last undiscovered beach in Andalusia, perhaps in Spain. Undoubtedly one of the most wonderful beaches in Spain and a favorite destination for the Danes, as our Danish friends from trendhim.