Roquetas de Mar

Roquetas de Mar is in Almeria (province). This is a low-key tourist resort town on the Mediterranean coast of Spain, about 18 km from the provincial capital city of Almeria. The town has many long, blue-flag, beaches which are kept meticulously clean. The resort is uncrowded and caters more for families and older travellers than similar resorts on the Costa del Sol. The nightlife is varied but relatively quiet.

Understand

Castillo de Santa Ana

The population of Roquetas de Mar is around 95,000 (2018), with many of those being immigrants from northern Europe who have settled in the last 15 years. Tourism and agriculture are the mainstays of the local economy, with the region producing large amounts of vegetables in plastic greenhouses, destined for supermarkets in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK.

Most visitors in the summer months are Spanish, with few British and German package tour groups visiting.

Climate

This area is said to be the sunniest region of Europe with 3,000 hours of sunshine annually and very low rainfall. As a result, this is a good destination for sunseekers and those keen on watersports. The town boasts a kite surfing school, sailing school, language school and a dive centre.

Get in

The nearest airport is at Almería, approx 40 minutes drive. There's no direct buses through to the airport, though the M-330 bus runs between Roquetas and Almería every 30 minutes. Bus information can be found CTAL (Almería metropolitan transport) website

Malaga airport is approximately 2 hours away via the A-7 autovía (no toll). Almería port also has ferry services (both for vehicles and foot passengers) to the Spanish city of Melilla, as well as Morocco and Algeria.

Get around

The resort is not very large, and is quite flat. Most places are walkable, though be sure to wear suitable clothing as the sun can be far more brutal than it feels, even in summer, due to the low humidity and sea breeze. Be sure to cover up and stay hydrated. The M-330 bus makes several stops around the resort and runs half hourly, continuing on to Almería city.

See

• Puntas Entinas Natural Park (To the west of Roquetas de Mar). A wetland and bird sanctuary where you can see flamingoes, stilts, terns and many other water birds. The beach of Puntas Entinas is an unofficial naturist zone. 
• Visit Museum of Almeria or green house "invernaderos" agriculture.

Do

• Windsurf or kitesurf — the wind in Roquetas for extreme sports is very good.
• Walk or bike in the Green Corridor parallel to the beach.
• Natural Park Cabo Gata Nijar — beautiful beaches, sun and water. Recommended sun block factor 40 or umbrella-sun. Snorkelling is possible. (45 minutes distance in car). UNESCO has declared it a region if special nature. Nudism is practised at some beaches.
• Flamenco — typical Andalusian singing and dancing.
• Kart circuit in Roquetas
• Mario Park — a water park for kids.
• Marble Stone workshop — in Macael town.

Within striking distance of the Alhambra, in Granada, but make sure you book your ticket in advance as they are severely restricted and not sold on the day

Buy

• Commercial Centre — "Gran Plaza" for shopping.

Eat

Lighthouse (Faro)

• Tapas — (a small variety for degustation of Spanish cuisine). It includes: fish, cheese, jamon serrano, tortilla with a drink (beer or wine, in general). Eat in bars and restaurants. Typical only original-based in Almeria and Granada regions.
• Omelet Potatoes — (tortilla de patatas or tortilla española)
• Paella — (seafood and rices). Typically Spanish.
• Gazpacho — (vegetables juice: tomato, cucumber, pepper, vinegar, oil, salt, water, ice)
• Fish — Mediterranean Sea food.
• Fruits — Melon and watermelon "sandia", oranges.

Drink

• Pilsner beer. Spanish beer marks are: Mahou, Alhambra, Estrella Galicia, 1906, Damm, San Miguel. Make with alcohol (4-6%) or non-alcohol drinks or light.
• "Clara" is a mixed drink combining beer and lemon tonic water.
• Wine or "vino". Origin denomination of quality: Rioja, Ribera del Duero. Three colors: "tinto" (dark red), "rosado" (pink), or "blanco" (white or yellow-white). Vino de la tierra: Laujar or Alpujarra are wines of Almeria and Granada regions. (7% - 12% alcohol)
• Mosto grape juice non-alcoholic. 0%
• Sangria or Tinto De Verano. Wine variety with orange juice or gaseosa drink or champagne, and ice with small portions of orange and lemon.
• La Casera - gaseosa drink. non-alcohol
• Water - "Lanjaron" is a good mark of Sierra Nevada in Granada region. Vichy Catalan, a spirit water of quality.

Sleep

Hotels or hostels. Preferred in Aguadulce (a quartier of Roquetas de Mar). Near the beach with Mediterranean Sea views. In Summer hostels has a good and economic price. Almeria is one Spanish region with the cheapest prices for accommodation.

• Diverhotel Roquetas, Sierra Nevada, 41. (updated May 2019)