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 A region of contrasts with snow capped mountains, fertile valleys, areas of desert and wonderful beaches. There can be few areas where you can drive to the mountains in the morning, spend a couple of hours on the ski slopes, enjoy a spot of lunch and then return to the coast in order to sunbathe on a secluded beach in the afternoon.
Almeria enjoys about 300 days of sunshine a year and is almost certainly the hottest region in Spain. The coastline stretches over 200km and abounds with Blue Flag beaches. These beaches range from long stretches of golden sand to small, secluded coves. This coastline is quieter than most of the Spanish Costas but popular resorts provide all the amenities required. All tastes are catered for. You can laze on a secluded or populated beach, enjoy golf, water sports, the only water park in the area, or skiing. A visit to the Cabo de Gata Natural Park is a must for all lovers of nature. The park covers around 38,000 hectares of land and a further 12,000 hectares under water. It is a vast area of unspoilt nature and beauty where you can walk, cycle or scuba dive. The area has a significant permanent bird population including pink flamingos.
Tabernas is well known for its place in the movie industry. Films made there include – A fistful of Dollars, The Magnificent Seven, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. There are 3 theme parks devoted to the film industry. Although the resorts all have an abundance of shops, many residents head inland at least once a week as the inland towns and villages offer more than charm and beauty. They are within easy reach and the cost of living drops dramatically when you shop there. The weekly markets are especially good for food and clothes. Turre and Huercal Overa are well worth a visit.
Medical services in the area are excellent. The main hospital for the area, which is located at Huercal Overa, is the best in Spain and one of the best in Europe. The excellent motorway connections ensure that the hospital is within easy reach of all the coastal resorts.
 Almerimar
Almerimar is one of the few modern, purpose-built, coastal resorts in Europe. It has around 13 km of glorious sandy beaches. There are shops,bars, restaurants, hotels,and night-life. The town has a 1,000 berth marina and a yacht club. Close to the beach is a superb 27 hole golf course - This is one of the most popular courses on the Almeria coast.
Garrucha
Situated between Mojacar and Vera, Garrucha is a charming, unspoilt fishing town that has also become a tourist destination. The beach is excellent and stretches as far as the eye can see. The 2km long promenade is lined with palm trees and incorporates landscaped areas ideal for sitting and relaxing, as well as play areas for children. There are three ports in Garrucha – Sports, Fishing and Commercial. All the usual water sports are available. There is a good selection of shops, bars and restaurants.
Mojacar
Mojacar can be divided into Mojacar Pueblo and Mojacar Playa. The village of Mojacar Pueblo is perched on a hill overlooking the beach resort. It is a picturesque site of whitewashed buildings and winding cobbled streets. There is a variety of interesting shops together with many excellent bars and cafes. Only 2km away is the beach resort of Mojacar Playa. The beach is glorious and stretches for 17km through Garrucha and onto Vera. Much of the beach is designated as an area of natural beauty. The resort is lively with beach bars, restaurants, discos, hotels and shops. Residential buildings are not allowed to be more than two stories high, with hotels having a maximum of four. Activities available include water skiing, jet skiing, sailing, wind surfing and scuba diving. For those who do prefer to not get wet, you can take a flight in a microlight, enjoy paragliding, go horseback riding, or simply dream the day away on the beach. There is also an 18-hole golf course as well as a modern shopping precinct nearby.
Palomares and Villaricos
The village of Palomares lies just north of Mojacar and is only 1km from the coast. An unspoilt village that retains a very Spanish feel, Palomares has various shops, banks and bars and is within a 20-minute drive of three golf courses. The long stretch of beach is within walking distance and is fairly quiet with just a couple of bars adding excitement. The adjoining resort of Villaricos is a small, unspoilt fishing village with a harbour at each end and a broad promenade linking the two with numerous places to sit and relax. There are two beaches – one pebbled and the other sandy. Villaricos has a good selection of shops, bars and restaurants as well as a diving school.
Roquetas de Mar
A picturesque village of pretty white washed houses side by side with a modern tourist resort along the sandy beaches next door. There is a 3 kilometre long promenade with plenty of shops, bars and restaurants, as well as a golf course beside the beach and plenty of water sport activities. The nearby salt marshes are home to a large bird population including flamingos.
San Juan de los Terreros
A small but attractive resort close to the border with Murcia, San Juan de los Terreros is all charm. Although San Juan de los Terreros is a quiet resort there is still a selection of shops, bars and restaurants to choose from. An attractive new esplanade has been laid out with formations of palm trees. The beach is small, generally quiet and provides a calm, gentle environment that is very safe for children.
Vera
Vera is actually a town some 8km from the coast. When Vera is mentioned it usually does not refer to this prosperous, walled town but rather to Vera Playa. The beach resort of Vera Playa offers everything that is expected of a tourist resort. There are restaurants, bars and shops as well as the only Water Park in the area. At Parque Acuatico you can enjoy the water slides and chutes, swim in one of three pools or merely relax beside them. There are 8km of wide sandy beaches and 2km of this is given over to naturists. This 2km stretch is the most popular nudist beach in Spain. All water sports are catered for and there is an 18-hole golf course.
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