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Roquetas de Mar Travel Guide
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Cabo de Gata Natural Park © Hector Garcia |
Overview The popular holiday resort town of Roquetas de Mar, one of the
major resorts in Costa de Almeria, was once a sleepy, picturesque
fishing village, dating from Roman times, and it still retains its
warren of Moorish alley-like streets and pretty aspect of
white-washed houses ascending the hillside. Hotel and apartment
complexes, however, are beginning to dominate the skyline
especially along the long, sandy beaches adjacent to the village.
Tourism is big business along the holiday strip in Roquetas de Mar,
with shops selling local crafts jostling with numerous restaurants
and bars, and myriad activities on offer from horse riding to scuba
diving or sailing. Roquetas has an 18-hole golf course (at Playa
Serena), a bull ring and a specially designated nudist beach. Those
interested in history will enjoy exploring the ruins of the
medieval Castilla de Santa Ana and other fortifications in the
area, and bird-watchers have a treat in store at the Las Marinas
salt marsh and Punta Entinas beaches a few miles south of the
village, where flamingos, egrets and avocets gather. The resort is
popular with both Spanish and foreign tourists and the spacious
beaches ensure that it feels less over-crowded than many other
Spanish beach resorts.
Shopping Shopping in Roquetas is aimed at tourists, with the usual
souvenir options like postcards, t-shirts, and beachwear. There are
a few markets worth visiting, particularly the Thursday open-air
market.
Restaurants Costa de Almeria is known for its fresh produce and seafood, and
the port of Roquetas de Mar receives its fresh catch every morning.
You'll find many great seafood restaurants and tapas bars on the
promenade. There are a variety of international restaurants to suit
tourists' tastes, but a great way to sample local cuisine is at one
of the many tapas restaurants. British and American staples are
easily found and the selection of restaurants should be more than
sufficient for all tastes.
Nightlife There isn't much of a nightclub culture in Roquetas de Mar, but
the hotels offer a variety of entertainment for a low-key night
out, including live music and shows. The Teatro Auditorio hosts
classical music and dance performances. A few hotels have their own
discotheques, including the dancing rooms at the Sabinal and
Zoraida hotels. The Bull Ring also offers live entertainment. M25
is a popular British themed sports pub for tourists.
Activities Aside from the lovely beaches in Roquetas, there are interesting
architectural and historical sites to visit, including the Our Lady
of the Rosary Church and the Santa Ana Castle, as well as Roman
ruins at the Torrequebrada archeological site. There are many
scenic spots in the nearby reserves, including Punta de Entinas
Sabinar Natural Park and Cabo de Gata Natural Park. Roquetas de Mar
is also conveniently close to Almeria, which is worth a daytrip
when holidaymakers get tired of the sun, sea and sand. Roquetas
hosts a number of festivals throughout the year, including the
Three Wise Men Parade in January, the Night of San Juan in June,
and the Moragas in December.
Negatives Jellyfish tend to visit the shores of Roquetas de Mar which can
make swimming and water activities difficult; the town has tried to
put buoys and netting up to stop the jellyfish but tourists should
still take precautions. Entertainment and nightlife is very low
key.
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