Spain - Roquetas De Mar Information

Roquetas de Mar was once a fishing village but is now a holiday resosrt and one of the areas main tourist attractions. Roquetas de Mar is situated 25km west of Almeria and 160km east of Malaga and has 8 kms of wide sandy beaches along its coastline. The airport at Almeria is just 30 minutes away. It has a population of over 65,000 and is rising making it the fastest grown Mediterranean City in Andalucia.

The salt lagoons which begin at Las Marinas which is 4 kms south of Roquetas de Mar is part of the Natural Park and its salt marshes attract many species of birds, including flamingos who come here to breed.

Away from the coast Roquetas de Mar is well known for its intensive greenhouse farming although tourism is still the main income.

Roquetas de Mar is also known for its golf courses and boasts of its own splendid 18 hole course but is also within 20kms of Almerimar and La Envia Golf. There are excellent facilities for all kinds of water sports including water-skiing, jet-skiing, swimming, fishing, diving, sailing etc.

The historic centre contains several monuments such as the church or Nuestra Senora del Rosario from the 17th century, the castle of Roquetas and the Arab watchtower of Cerrillos.

There is a small marina which is surrounded by typical Spanish tapas bars and restaurants many specialising in fish dishes which bought in fresh each day by the local fishermen.

There is an abundance of bars, restaurants and hotels catering for all nationalities and souvenir shops which sell all kinds of local crafts. There is also a mini train which is available to explore the resort.