Wild camping areas

Puerto de la Ragua

Public property

Suitable for: 

Vehicles only

Overview: 

A large open parking area at a recreational area at the top of a 2000 meter pass. Great mountain walks, but

be ready for changeable and cold weather outside of Summer.

Can be busyish with walker and picnicers during the day but no-one ever stops the night.

Great views from nearby vantage points.

Clean running spring water available

Altitude ( meters ): 

2000meters

Shade: 

Yes

Mobile signal: 

No

Can be the odd large cow about ...... The road past the parking area can be quite fast.

Camping Spot Description

Puerto de la Ragua is a public recreation area with a restaurant/bar and cross-country ski hire in the winter,

and a visitors centre ( although they all seem to open to a completely unpredictable schedule ). There is a

huge parking area with few visitors and almost no-one seems to ever overnight here. There is a clean

spring for drinking water which runs all year on the roadside about 400 meters south of the parking area.

The hiking, the spectacular views and the general isolation are the attractions here. In winter the weather

can be pretty grim because of the height, and the road is sometimes closed to traffic without snow chains.

In summer the cool nights are a refreshing change from the Spanish plains. There is a website ( in

Spanish ) here http://www.puertodelaragua.com/index.html.

Getting There

Directions: 

Simple. It is well signed. Just follow the road North from Laroles ( in the Alpujarra region ) or arrive from the

South via Calahorra

Access: 

JUst off the road so no problem for large vehicles etc.

Location

37° 6' 48.4704" N, 3° 1' 47.8308" W

Camping Spot Map

El Playazo

Owned By: 

Public property

Suitable for: 

Vehicles only

Overview: 

A beautiful seaside spot in the protected natural park of Cabo de Gata. Stunning views.

Contributor's Ratings

This beach is very quiet except for August ( and to a lesser extent July and September ). There are no

facilities.

Amazing panoramic view of the crystal clear Med.

No drinking water source available

Suitable for dogs: 

Camping Spot Description

This spot is an official parking area within the Cabo de Gata Natural Park. Although overnighting is not

permitted, the Spanish police ( the Guardia ) will leave you alone as long as you park within the designated

areas ( generally surrounded by a picket fence ). If you don't you may be rudely challenged at 6:30am as

we once discovered ). In addition to the beach you can walk to Las Negras via the beautiful fort of San

Ramon. There are a couple of small shops and bar/restaurants in nearby Rodalquilar, although there are

often closed out of high season.

Getting There

Directions: 

From the main road passing Rodalquilar take the signed track to "El Playazo". Just before the main parking

area as you hit the beach hand a right alongside the picket fence and then just follow the bumpy track.

Access: 

The last bit of track can be very muddy after rain ( which is only occassional in Almeria ), and very rutted in

the dry. Normally shouldn't be a problem for most medium sized campers.

Location

36° 51' 28.8144" N, 2° 0' 14.5404" W

Cala de San Pedro

Essentials

Public property

Suitable for: 

Tents only

Overview: 

A beautiful secluded beach only accessible by foot ( 45 mins ? ) or boat in the Cabo de Gata natural park.

Inhabited by friendly hippies !

No cars, but there is a small transient population of "hippies" living in shacks and some more solid houses.

Probably busy with parties through August ?

Stunning beach, stunning views.

Camping Spot Features

Access to Drinking Water: 

Clean running spring water available

Altitude ( meters ): 

0meters

Camping Spot Description

This is a remote beach that can only be accessed on foot or by boat. There is a small transient population

of "free-spirits" living in shacks and tents etc. There is a fast flowing spring by the old ruined mill type

building. Plenty of space to pitch a tent, and just enjoy the tranquility and beauty of the setting.

Getting There

Directions: 

In the centre of Las Negras you will find a sign for "Playa de San Pedro". Follow this sign and let the other

"San Pedro" signs guide you to the information sign at the start of the route, which you find some 800

meters further on, on the right hand side of the road.

Access: 

Foot/bike or boat travellers only. The walk would probably be sweltering hot in summer.

Location

36° 54' 6.4548" N, 1° 58' 56.7516" W

Mirador de la Piscina

Roadside

Public property

Suitable for: 

Vehicles only

Overview: 

A large parking area next to a municipal swimming pool. The pool is closed for most of the year. Great views.

Below a country road so there is some passing traffic. When the pool is open in July, Aug, and Sept I wouldn't

recommend this spot unless you like the sound of screaming children !

Panoramic mountain views, and on a clear day you can see the sea in the distance.

No drinking water source available

1000meters

There is a road passing the spot and there are ibex ( wild mountain goats ) on the surrounding hillsides.

Camping Spot Description

The Alpujarras is a beautiful region of Andalucia on the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

This spot is a large flat, parking area carved into the mountainside by a municipal swimming pool. The pool

is closed except in July, Aug and Sept. Whilst the pool is closed there are no facilities. When open there is a

bar, and I'm sure no-one would mind if you passed the night in the parking area. Fresh spring water is

available nearby from fountains in any of the local villages.

Getting There

Directions: 

The spot is equidistant from the villages Yegen and Mecina Bombaron. Approach from either and you can't

miss the swimming pool.

Access: 

No problems for any vehicle type.

Location

36° 58' 45.9876" N, 3° 8' 36.042" W

Isleta de Moro

Public property

Suitable for: 

Vehicles only

Overview: 

A beachside parking area near a tiny fishing hamlet.

V. busy in July and Aug with Spanish holidaymakers, and always some activity.

Very pretty sea and beach views.

No drinking water source available

Camping Spot Description

This a popular spot with motorhomers in the Cabo de Gata natural park. Although not the quietest place,

you are 30 seconds from the beach and a couple of minutes walk from the local amenities of the traditional

fishing village.

Getting There

Directions: 

Use the Google map and you can't miss the parking area as you arrive at the village.

Access: 

No problem whatsoever for any type of transport.

Location

36° 48' 59.3064" N, 2° 3' 5.4144" W

Genevoises beach

Public property

Suitable for: 

Vehicles only

Overview: 

A public parking area where vehicle camping is tolerated, next to a long and sandy beach with shallow

waters great for children.

Contributor's Ratings

Usually a few other vans around, although the parking area is large. Can be v. crowded in Summer.

The beach is amazing. The parking area less so.

No drinking water source available

Camping Spot Description

A great place to relax by the sandy beach. Popular with windsurfers. No facilities whatsoever but the nearby

town of San Jose has everything you could need. Great walks in the nearby mountains but as this is the

driest and hotest place in Mainland Europe make sure you carry a bottle of water and wear a hat. In

summer this parking area may not be accessible to vehicles as they close the track and bus people in from

San Jose in an attempt to reduce the environmental impact of vehicles. Outside of Summer no problem.

Getting There

Directions: 

Head for San Jose and follow the signs for the beaches ( playas in Spanish ) of Monsul and Genevoises.

Access: 

up a 3 KM bumpy track but no problem.

Location

36° 43' 57.0144" N, 2° 9' 7.3584" W

Negratin Lakeside

Public property

Suitable for: 

Vehicles and tents

A great lakeside camping spot, with a stoney beach.

This place is occassionally visited by fishermen and the odd picnicing family in the Summer months.

Amazing views over the reservoir and a spectacular mountain backdrop.

No drinking water source available

Walking trails or routes nearby: 

Camping Spot Description

Fantastic wild camping spot on the shores of a huge reservoir. Good swimming. Very tranquil. Scorchingly

hot in July and August. There is also a more traditional beach ( i.e. pedaloes and ice creams available ) just

further on from the campsite in nearby Freila.

Getting There

Directions: 

Drop down all the way through Zujar and take the road along the lakeside. After passing an agricultural

greenhouse above the road the turnoff to the lake is about 1KM further. If you reach the area recreativa

( looks like an octagonal bar/restaurant ) then you've gone too far.

Access: 

Bit of a tricky track down from the roadside. The first 50 metres are steep and potholed. We managed it in

our motorhome tho'

Location

37° 35' 33.1728" N, 2° 49' 15.6684" W