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Discover more than 10 best European Beaches: 'Cabo de Gata - Nijar' - an unspoilt secret paradise in Southern Spain
Congratulations! You are about to discover the best European beaches – an almost totally unspoiled paradise:
You may spend days touring and visiting all corners of this Natural Park, discovering moonlike landscapes, lost filming locations, unspoilt coves and beaches of fine sand and crystal clear waters, which have nothing to envy to those of the Carribean. It is truly one of the best places to visit in Europe.
Welcome to The Natural Park of Cabo de Gata – Nijar (Almeria) :
The Natural Park of Cabo de Gata offers visitors marvellous beaches with a volcanic, moonlike environment. The sea-bed is hiding an ecosystem, unique in Europe, consisting in wide meadows of Posidonia, these also act as natural measurements for water quality. In these clear and transparent waters there live sponges, snails, sea stars, urchins, anemones, corals and jellyfishes as well as the halibut, etch and sea bream. A great diversity of flora and fauna marina attract diver enthusiasts from all over Europe. The good news is that there is no need to be a professional diver to enjoy these beautiful sea-beds. We dive and snorkel there frequently. I recommend you a water proofed camera.
Before you prepare your luggage, take a ‘tinto de verano’, relax and enjoy your tour from the armchair:
More than 10 Best European Beaches, some of them belong to the list of 'unofficial' naturist beaches in Spain:
This is, without doubt, one of the last bastions of wild European beaches and untouched nature. Unrepentant hippies and increasingly foreigners, discover the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata, seeking alternative ways of life. It is indeed a 'different world' which my husband, kids and I need to visit frequently, to recharge batteries, slow down and renew our souls from the busy and stressful life in Barcelona. I cannot think of any better natural therapy than a break in the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata-Nijar. Every time we come here, we discover another amazing story or another historic settlement but above all, we enjoy peace, amazing beaches and hidden coves which suit all tastes. Lets explore them:
There is the ‘Los Genoveses Beach’, where you keep going and going quite a while until the water finally covers you. David Lean, director of the movie ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ (1962) decided to use this beach as the backdrop for the attack on the train scene. Quite close from here, just behind the rocks and dunes, you will be surprised by the
Monsul Beach
, with its fine, black sand. Huh! You found another lost filming location! Congratulations. This impressive beach was used by Steven Spielberg as backdrop in Indiana Jones and it is probably the best beach in Spain. Both beaches are very close to the former fishing village San José. Another great and beautiful beach is the ‘El Playazo Beach’ near Rodalquilar village. But what about those hidden coves? Some of them can only be reached on foot. I recommend you to visit: Cala San Pedro, accessible by boat or following a trail along the mountains. Other hidden coves you mustn’t miss are: Cala de Enmedio, Cala Rajá, Cala del Plomo, Cala Higuera and Cala Carbón.
Before you continue exploring more awesome European beaches, please take a minute to read the following blue box. Hey, you see? We are actually strolling through one of the most fragile ecosystems on Earth!
The Natural Park of Cabo de Gata-Níjar is a natural area of a great diversity ranging from the depths of the Sea to Sierras of a volcanic origin, via wetlands and sandy beaches. It encompasses 38,000 ha. inland and 11,624 ha. of sea, shared between the municipalities of Almeria, Níjar and Carboneras.
In 1997, the park was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve , also obtaining the names of Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA), Ramsar site, Site of Community Interest and, most recently Special Area of Mediterranean Interest (SPAMI). It is also part of the European GEOPARKS.
The climate is almost unique in Europe, characterized by its aridity similar to that in North of Africa, being the annual rain fall less than 169 mm. As a result of this climate and the variety of environment, the area harbours an important representation of flora and fauna.
Among its main habitats are the Azufaifo scrublands (Ziziphus lotus), Mediterranean xerophytic pastures, salt flats, gypsum flats, and the singular submerged grassland of Poseidonia oceánica (or Neptune Grass).The highlight is the amazing richness and originality of its fragile ecosystem. The most valuable features are its endemic and exclusive species, which nowhere else on earth can be found, such as the 'Dragoncillo del Cabo' (Antirrhinum charidemi), the 'Godolobo del Cabo' (Verbascum charidemi) and the 'Aulaga Mora (Ulex canescens) amongst the flora and the Trumpeter Bullfinch and Alondra de Dupont, amongst the fauna.
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Another one on my list of Best European beaches is the
Playa de los Muertos (The beach of the dead):
Its name harks back to an ancient story of ships and shipwrecks. Rather than a Mediterranean beach it could be anywhere in the Carribean. The amazing water clarity of turquoise color contrasts with tiny white pebbles. Not in vane it was voted by Spaniards to be the best beach in Spain.
Enjoy these unique European beaches and its magic surroundings, full of history, stories and secret corners!
Although the following video is in Spanish language, after you watched it, you will agree with me that the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata, can truly brag about featuring the best European Beaches:
Playa de los Muertos (The beach of the dead):
Its name harks back to an ancient story of ships and shipwrecks. Rather than a Mediterranean beach it could be anywhere in the Carribean. The amazing water clarity of turquoise color contrasts with tiny white pebbles. Not in vane it was voted by Spaniards to be the best beach in Spain.