In the province of Andalusia, 40 minutes away from the coastal areas of the Costa de Almería, you will find a gem of authentic Spain in the "Rambla de Oria". During the summer The Rambla is a dry river bed, but it can flood with heavy rains. It is located between the beautiful village of Oria and Albox.
Our B&B is close to The Rambla at an elevation of about 750m.
Nearby are beautiful hiking and biking trails and by car you can go on cultural or gastronomic exploration in the area. We will be happy to show you the places worth visiting.
The history of Oria dates back to 3,000 BC. People from North Africa came to this area when they were forced to migrate because the Sahara dried up. Copper veins were discovered in the Rambla De Oria.
Oria is an olive oil producing town where you can enjoy tapas and local wine. On the way to Oria, you will be surrounded by olive and almond trees. The almond trees bloom in February and the view is breathtaking!
In Oria, there are many different archaeological remains left over from a turbulent past, showing a varied landscape of green areas and rock forms that lead the way to the Sierra de las Estancias. From here there are unparalleled, spectacular views of the province of Almería.
The natural environment is so beautiful that since the Neolithic period, this area has become a sacred place for those who chose to live here. As a result, many remains of ancient shrines and mosques can be seen in the surrounding areas. However, the most striking archaeological remains can be found in the El Picacho area.
Apart from the beautiful perspectives of the valley and the mountains, Oria offers visitors the historical importance of the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, located among the ruins of a castle and several orchards, which form a beautiful picture on the backdrop of the mountains.
We can also recommend the church of the Sagrada Familia (16th century), which houses the historical archives and whose tower is in Mudejar style, a style found mostly throughout the province.
In Oria we also find the Caserío de los Cerricos, in whose land there are several springs with very abundant water, the most notable of which are named the Polish and Rock of Oria.
In Albox you will find supermarkets, restaurants and tapas bars. On Saturdays there is a flea market and on Tuesdays there is the weekly market where you can buy clothes at low prices and fun gadgets and souvenirs.
The main architectural jewel of the municipality is El Santuario de la Virgens el Saliente de Albox. Built in the eighteenth century, it was also declared a historical-artistic monument.
The town still has one of the oldest active pottery workshops in the province of Almería "Pottery Los Puntas", with 300 year old Arab kilns. It is located on Calle San Leonardo. The Ministry of Tourism appointed it as "Point of Artisan Interest" of Andalusia.
Mojácar Pueblo, translated as Holy Mountain, is a top place to visit. The old village is a white cluster on a hill overlooking the beach and the Mediterranean Sea. The village of Mojácar remains true to its Moorish past, with white washed houses and narrow streets. In many places, the Moorish influence is still visible.
You can learn about the history and legend of the Indalo (see below) and the cave.
If you visit the Museo Casa de la Canana, you will learn a lot about this beautiful white village and how the houses were built. The residents are happy to give you a tour in Spanish or English for a small fee.
To see the Pueblo at its best, it should be explored on foot. There is free parking behind the village.
Pulpí: In December1999, members of the Mineralogist Group of Madrid, at the Rica mine, discovered the Pulpí geode, which is about 8 meters long and 2 meters high. The Pulpí geode is lined with gypsum crystals, some of which are nearly two meters long. Its transparency and state of preservation make it a jewel of nature. It is a unique phenomenon around the world, given its dimensions and the perfection, size and transparency of the crystals.
In Tabernas, which is the only desert in Europe, authentic western scenarios can be experienced in the most original Mediterranean theme park with live shows, a huge zoo with more than 800 animals of 200 different species, swimming pools and a wide range of restaurants.
This was the Hollywood movie paradise for two intense decades, the 1960s and1970s. Illustrious actors have walked there, such as Clint Eastwood, Brigitte Bardot, Anthony Quinn, Claudia Cardinale, Alain Delon, SeanConnery, Raquel Welch, Orson Welles... The Tabernas desert has unique, beautiful and enigmatic landscapes that have been the backdrop for legendary films such as "Lawrence of Arabia", "Cleopatra", "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", "Death had a price" or "Indiana Jones and the last Crusade".
At the foot of a rock lies the small white village of Vélez Blanco, 6 km north of the neighboring municipality of Velez Rubio.
Vélez-Blanco is part of the Sierra María-Los Vélez Nature Park and the Ruta de los Castillos (Castles Route) through Andalusia. It is as popular a destination for lovers of rural tourism and sports as it is for lovers of culture and history. The information office of Almacen del Trigo offers information about the town and the surrounding nature park.
The Castillo-Palacio (Renaissance Castle) that crowns the center of the town is the main attraction, one of the jewels of the Spanish Renaissance. Built atop an ancient Arab castle in the 16th century, commissioned by the first Marqués de Los Vélez, and declared a National Historic Monument, it rises on a rock more than 1,000 meters long and offers the most spectacular views of the surrounding area.
There is much to do in the Sierra María-Los Vélez Nature Park. Hikers can choose between several marked routes, such as the Pinar de las Muellas, Sierra Larga or Solana del Maimón. The best way to know what is offered in the park is to contact the Centro de Visitantes, Almacéndel Trigo, on Avenida Marqués de Los Vélez.
The cave paintings of the Cueva de los Letreros are one of the most important archaeological treasures of Almeria. The symbol that identifies this Andalusian province is the Indalo, drawn on the walls of the cave.
There is no consensus yet on the meaning of the Indalo, but the arch is probably a rainbow and several theories give the symbol a divine interpretation.
The Indalo was discovered in 1868 by Antonio Gongónia y Martinez, and over time became a local lucky symbol that people depicted at the entrance to their homes to keep out evil spirits
The cave is located in the municipality of Vélez-Blanco, sheltered by a wall of the Maimon Grande. Both the aforementioned Indalo and another of its most characteristic figures, known as El Brujo, are notable examples of the rock art style of the Spanish East. The cave is included among those that make up the good "Rock Art of the Mediterranean Arc of the Iberian Peninsula", listed by UNESCO in 1998 as part of the World Heritage of Humanity.
The beaches are beautiful and quiet. You should definitely visit Playa de Mojácar because these beaches are among the most beautiful in all of Almería. The pristine yet touristy beaches cover about 17 km and many have Blue Flag status. They are also part of the Cabo de Gata Nature Park. You can soak up the sun, eat and drink at one of the many chirringuitos, small beach bars along the coast. A visit to Playa de Mojácar is not to be missed during your vacation.
In Garrucha you will find the famous "red shrimp of Garrucha," fished only in local waters.
For the best tapas, head to Boracay Beach. Garrucha has a beautiful palm-lined promenade for an evening stroll around the bay.
At Vera Playa you will find Europe's most popular naturist resort and here you can enjoy a true naturist experience.
Aquavera Parque Acuático. This water park is a must for families visiting the Vera Playa area. In addition to the tubes and slides, there are three large pools where you can relax or enjoy the waves and have lunch. Aqua Vera is open from May to mid-September.
San Juan de los Terreros is a coastal town belonging to the municipality of Pulpí. It is known for its beautiful beaches.
Across the coast of San Juan de los Terreros there are two small volcanic islands - the natural monument Terreros Island-Black Island.
The mostcharacteristic monument in town is the castle of San Juan de los Terreros, built in 1764 on a promontory overlooking the coastline of Almería and Murcia.
A nice market along the coast on Sundays, can be found in Villaricos. Local vegetables, fruits and herbs are sold, as well as all sorts of other things like clothes, handbags and fun souvenirs.
Cabo de Gata is an area of volcanic origin in the province of Almería in the southeast of the Spanish region of Andalusia with an area of 45,663 hectares. It is also a protected National Park and the largest coastal protected area in Andalusia.
The park includes different areas of coastal dunes, beaches, steep cliffs, salt marshes, a significant wetland of 12,200 ha, inland arid steppes and dry riverbeds. Designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1997, this natural park is home to an extraordinary wealth of wildlife, including many rare and endemic plants.
1. Visit the old gold mines near the village of Rodalquilar! Who knows, maybe you will find a piece of gold...?
2. The village of Rodalquilar, located near the Rodalquilar valley, is also a good base for a cycling or hiking vacation.
3. The pottery village of Nijar sells beautiful and inexpensive ceramics.
4. In San José and Islata del Moro are Paddi diving centers (closed in winter) for diving along the coast of Cabo de Gata.
5. Through the active tourism center SUBPARKE, which is located in Camping los Escullos near Isleta del Mar, you can snorkel, kayak and go biking and hiking.
