 | The Great Outdoors in Almería |
Information on the facilities in Almeria for outdoors activities: walks, hikes and cycling activities in the area.
- The province of Almería is situated in the south-eastern corner of the Iberian peninsula
- It has a warm Mediterranean climate with the greatest number of hours of sunshine and lowest rainfall in Europe
- Terrain in the provinces of Almería and Granada is very varied,
encompassing the Costa Tropical and Costa de Almería costal reserves, the Sierra Nevada mountains, canyons, rocky areas and dry desert-like areas
The mild climate means a wide range of outdoor activities is available throughout the year. These include hiking and walking, cycling and mountain biking, horse riding, fishing, sailing, skiing and golf.
Natural Parks & Reserves
- For a full list of natural parks in Andalucía: Click here
Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park
A Unesco Biosphere reserve, this natural park is Andalucía's largest coastal protected area and includes a great variety of landscapes, from semi-desert environments to salt marshes and marine zones. Several sports such as diving , kayaking and marine excursions can be practised here. There are also many hiking/mountain biking paths in the park.
The Cabo de Gata park is accessible from the west through the San Miguel de Cabo de Gata village.
Sierra María-Los Vélez Natural Park
Located in the Province of Almería, this natural park has a varied terrain and an abundance of wildlife. There are desert-like plains, pine forests and Mediterranean vegetation. The park is a refuge for birds, butterflies, squirrels, dormice, boars, badgers, weasels and tortoises. It is characterised by extreme fluctuations in temperature between winter and summer.
Hiking is allowed, as is and caving in the Cueva del Gabar and Cueva de los
Letreros if accompanied by an authorised guide, .
The main entrance to the park is in Vélez Rubio.
Sierra Nevada National Park
Declared a Unesco Biosphere Reserve in 1986, the Sierra Nevada park has a varied landscape including mountain ranges, rivers, slopes, glacial lakes, cultivated lands and gorges.
Visitors may hike, climb, bird watch and ski in the Sol y Nieve resort, located in the west of the park.
The park's entry points are accessible from the A395, A337 and AL503.
Sierra Castril Natural Park
Situated north of the Castril village in the Province of Granada, the Sierra Castril Park is characterised by a mountainous landscape with waterfalls, springs and caves. There are many species of birds, butterflies and mammals such as moufflon (wild sheep) and wild boar.
The limestone walls of the Sierra are used by rock-climbers. There are also several marked walking trails for hikers.
The Almería province caters well to hikers. Avoid private and hunting lands, usually marked by
small diamond-shaped, black-and-white signs and, sometimes, Coto Privada
(private reserve) or
Coto de Caza (game reserve) signs. To hike safely, it's recommended to contact a local tourist office and ask for guides and recommended local publications with trail descriptions.
The Andalucían Mountaineering Federation (Federación Andaluza de Montañismo, FAM) provides information about activities, paths, news, initiation to mountaineering, refuges, competitions and more.
- Federación Andaluza de Montañismo
At: Camino de Ronda 101 Edificio Atalaya (entresuelo oficina 7-G), 18003 Granada
Tel: 958 291 340
Fax: 958 291 340
e-mail
Website (in Spanish)
GR 7 (Gran Recorrido – Long Journey)
The GR7 footpath crosses Andalucía and forms part of the European Route No. 4, which begins in the Straits of Gibraltar, crosses several countries and terminates in Greece.
- Starting in Tarifa (province of Cádiz), the GR7 runs across the provinces of Cádiz, Málaga, Granada, Almería and Córdoba for about 1,250 Km
- There should be red and white signs along the GR7 to help guide walkers.
However, many of these signs have been removed or covered with shrubbery so it is advisable to contact the local tourist office of obtain a copy of the National Geographic
Institute (Instituto Geográfico Nacional, or ING) 1:25.000 and 1:10.000 maps
- It is possible to mountain bike on many sections of the GR7
Walking in Almería Province
- Cabo de Gata: Níjar Cabo de Gata-San José: This route takes a walker approximately eight hours to complete. It crosses the Cabo de Gata- Níjar natural area and some beaches. The sea always lies to the right, acting as a point of reference. The landscape consists of sand-dunes and flatter, rocky
areas
- Cabo de Gata: Níjar las Negras - Punta Polacra (AL-3):
a relatively easy 22 Km route that intersects the Gata-Níjar natural area. It offers a view on the Crow's Cove (Cala del Cuervo) from the town of Las
Negras
- Sierra Nevada Almeriense: Huéneja - Refugio El Roble - Cerro del
Almirez: a six-hour trek of medium difficulty running through a wood of chestnut and oak
trees
- Sierra Nevada Almeriense: Abrucena - Cortijada el Rellenob: a relatively easy hike of four hours. This path takes hikers through the Sierra Nevada without going deep into the
mountains
- Adra Lagoons: this walking path starts and ends in the large town of Adra, founded by the Carthaginians in the 6th century BC. Around the lagoon, bird-watchers' observation points have been built. The most common species in the Adra lagoons are the Pintail, the Shoveler and the Mallard
Duck
- Sierra Nevada and Las Alpuharras: for longer routes lasting from one to nine days, this route takes hikers up mountains and through valleys in the Sierra Nevada. It can be challenging in places due to the variety of terrain including cold mountain summits and lower, warmer valleys. This route provides the opportunity of birdwatching and views of the Sierra Nevada natural area and of the Guadalfeo, Adra and Andarax
rivers
- Sierra Nevada almeriense: Ohanes - Tices - Puerto de Santiliana - Ocaña: a high-difficulty 55 Km trekking route that requires mountain climbing experience, especially in the winter. It is recommended that walkers stay one night in Tices and accomplish the trek in two days. The route is accessible by car or bus from
Almería
- Sierra Nevada almeriense: Fiñana - Cerro de la Cumbre - Cerro del Almirez:
this path requires climbing experience. It leads deep into the mountains and has panoramic views of the mountainous landscape. The route takes approximately two days to complete. It can be accessed by road from
Almería
Walking in Granada Province
- Sierra Nevada: Güéjar - Sierra Pantano de Quéntar: climbing a hill, this easy route provides views of the Sierra de Huétor, Quéntar and its valley and a Mediterranean forest. It is accessible by road from Granada and
Seville
- Sierra Nevada: De Veleta al Mulhacén: walkers require a private vehicle to access this track from Granada. It is a relatively easy five-hour trek across the Sierra Nevada natural
area
- Sierra Nevada: Peñones de San Francisco-Refugio del Elorrieta: part of the GR-3, this medium-difficulty route starts at the university shelter and heads south west along the Veleta road to Yeguas hills, lagoon and the Elorrieta shelter, which is the highest in Spain
(3,187m)
- The Valley of Lanjarón: this medium-difficulty 8 Km path cuts through the Lanjarón chestnut forest to the Lanjarón river. It is accessible in spring and
autumn
- From Veleta to Mulhacén: suitable all year round (although very warm in summer), the route leads hikers up the highest peak in the Iberian peninsula. It takes about six hours to
complete
- Sierra Nevada: Pradollano-Veleta: this six-hour route requires some mountaineering experience as it is particularly rocky in certain areas. There are views of the Sierra Nevada and the Alpujarra region. It is accessible by road from
Granada
- For further information on routes and how to reach them: Click here
The Andalucían Cycling Federation (Federación Andaluza de Ciclismo) offers advice, news and information about competitions.
- Federación Andaluza de Ciclismo
At: Edificio La Compañía 4 local 8, 11403 Jerez de la Frontera
Tel: 956 348 812
Fax: 956 348 617
e-mail
Website (in Spanish)
Urban Cycling
There is no continuous bicycle path (carril bici) through the city of Almería. However, paths can be found in Rambla, Parque Nicolás Salmerón and Paseo Marítimo (from the river to the University and El Toyo).
A long bicycle path equipped with lamplights runs across the northern part of Granada (Jun). More paths are planned to link Granada, Churriana and Las Gabias and Granada-Vegas del Genil with a bicycle path and to build more paths around the city.
Mountain Biking in the Province of Almería
- Almería - Enix: a relatively easy uphill route covering uneven terrain that takes approximately two hours to
complete
- Tabernas - Mini Hollywood - Colativí: taking approximately three hours to complete, this is an uphill route suitable for beginners and intermediate
cyclists
- Cabo de Gata - San José: a relatively basic two-hour route through the natural areas of Cabo de Gata and Níjar. It includes both steep downhill stretches and uphill
climbs
- Olula de Castro - Rambla de Verdelecho - Mini Hollywood:
a predominately downhill basic two- route crossing the Desierto de Tabernas natural area. The path surface includes gravel, sand and
mud
- Senés - Velefique: this route last approximately three hours and runs through a traditional rural area. There are many exits along the
path
- Purchena - Senés: covers about 33 Km with steep uphill climbs and downhill runs. Lasting approximately six hours, this route is of medium
difficulty
Mountain Biking in the Province of Granada
- La Zubia - La Cortichuela: a medium-difficulty three-hour track crossing the Sierra Nevada natural area. The path climbs steadily and forks in
places
- Víznar - Cueva del Agua - Víznar: there are no particularly difficult stretches on this 2.5-hour path that runs through the Sierra del Huétor natural
area
- Fuente del Pino - Baza: lasting approximately five hours and covering 45 Km, this medium difficulty route has downhill and level stretches and covers sand and gravel
surfaces
- Caniles-Zona de Acampada de la Fuente del Pino: a 24 Km route with steep slopes and loose gravel, it takes approximately four hours to
complete
- For more mountain bike routes from the Andalucía tourist board: Click here
Andalucía is famous for its pure breed, the Spanish or Andaluz horse. The landscapes of the Almería and Granada provinces are excellent for horse riding.
There are many horse riding trails as well as farms, ranches and hotels
providing riding lessons and horses for hire.
The Andalucían Horse Riding Federation (Federación Andaluza de Hípica) offers information about licences, competitions, horse riding centres, rules and events.
- Federación Andaluza de Hípica
At: Ramos 71 esc. B 3º izq, 04003 Almería
Tel: 950 260 047
e-mail
Website (in Spanish)
- At: Urb. Los Lanos 6º fase Casa 25, 18620 Alhendin (in Granada)
Tel: 958 207 053
- To find riding courses, horse routes, horse holidays and other information about riding in Andalucía: Click here
- For a list of local horse riding centres and schools see The AngloFILE Equestrian: Horses & Riding
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