Roquetas de Mar is in Almeria (province) of Spain

Understand

This is a low-key tourist resort town on the Mediterranean coast of Spain, about 18 kilometres 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. Most visitors in the summer months are Spanish, with few British and German package tour groups visiting.

The population of Roquetas de Mar is around 80,000, 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.

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 Almiera, about 40 minutes drive away. This is served by the major UK low cost carriers. Also accessible from Malaga if you fancy a 2 hour drive on a mixture of 21st century autobahn and 18 century coast road.

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. 

Do

• Windsurf or Kitesurf - 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 cream protector factor 40 or umbrella-sun. Snorkel is possible. (45 minutes distance in car). UNESCO and WTO declarated a region special nature. Nudism is practiced at some beaches.
• Flamenco - sing and dance typical andalusian. Spetacle.
• Kart circuite in Roquetas
• Mario Park - Water park for kids.
• Commercial Centre - "Gran Plaza" for shopping.
• Marble Stone workshop - in "Macael" Macael town.

Visit Museum of Almeria or green house "invernaderos" agriculture for tourism visits. 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

Eat

• Tapas (a small variety for degustation of Spanish kitchen) It's comprends: 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.
• Omelete Potatoes - (tortilla de patatas or tortilla española)
• Paella - (seafood and rices). Typical Spanish.
• Gazpacho - (vegetables juice: tomato, cucumber, pepper, vinegar, oil, salt, water, ice)
• Fish - Mediterranean Sea food.
• Fruits - Melon and watermelon "sandia", oranges.

Drink

Beer pilsen. 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 term combinated the beer and lemon drink.

• 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, also.

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)