Agua Amarga: Beach, Nature and History

Beach and Nature

Agua Amarga is one of the urban beaches in Cabo de Gata-Níjar Nature Park.

Playa de Agua Amarga beach is 550 metres long and 30 metres wide.

It is located almost entirely in the town centre and has fine golden sand and crystal-clear water.

Playa de Agua Amarga is accessible to people with reduced mobility and is a ten-minute walk from the car park.

Paths

The Vía Verde de Lucainena a Agua Amarga is a linear route 6.5 kilometres long in each direction, with an estimated walking time of 2 hours and 30 minutes in each direction and a low level of difficulty.

It follows the former railway line of the mining train as a route for walking and cycling.

The Vía Verde de Lucainena a Agua Amarga passes through steppes, ramblas and cortijadas, offering views of the coast.

At the start of the Vía Verde de Lucainena a Agua Amarga there is a car park with 12 spaces; another car park with more than 30 spaces is located next to the mineral loading dock.

The S13 San Pedro–El Plomo–Agua Amarga trail runs along a rugged coast of volcanic origin with cliffs, gorges and coves.

It is an 11.1-kilometre linear trail with an estimated walking time of 4 hours and 30 minutes and a medium to high level of difficulty.

One cove along the trail is framed by two limestone formations eroded by the action of the sea; it has 150 metres of golden sand and crystal-clear water, as well as views of the mineral loading quay and Mesa Roldán with its tower.

History

The remains of buildings belonging to the mineral loading quay can be found on Agua Amarga beach.

The mineral loading quay operated from the late 19th century until 1942.

That year, the last cargo ship, the “Bartolo”, set sail.

The remains of the mineral loading quay were included in the General Catalogue of Andalusian Historical Heritage in 2003 through a collective general listing by the Consejería de Cultura.

The railway line from Lucainena de las Torres to Agua Amarga ended in Agua Amarga.

The earliest historical references to Agua Amarga are attributed to the Nasrid period; at that time, the site is said to have been a Muslim anchorage called “Chavala” in the district of Pechina.

Culture

The open-air painting workshop “Los paisajes de Agua Amarga” was held for the third time; artists worked at various locations on the beach and in the town centre.

Agua Amarga’s “Noche en Blanco” is a recurring event and was held for the ninth time.

Orientation

Agua Amarga has a municipal tourist information point with the identifier PIT-AL-00006.

Find more destinations here: Cantoria, El Campillo De Rodalquilar, Berja, Las Norias, Alcolea, La Cañada, Tonosa and Pulpí.

Spaces are designated at the end of the S13 San Pedro–El Plomo–Agua Amarga trail; spaces are also designated at Cala del Plomo.

To the overarching travel overview: Almeria.