El Campillo de Rodalquilar: Volcanic Landscape and Mining History

Near El Campillo de Rodalquilar lies El Playazo at the foot of the volcanic caldera of Rodalquilar. The beach can be reached from the AL-4200 road via a paved path.

Culture

The Casa de los Volcanes is Andalusia’s first geotourism centre. Its tour introduces the concepts of geodiversity and geology, provides an insight into the geological ages and ends in the Sala Rodalquilar with the mining history of the region. The Casa is located in a former building of the Rodalquilar gold-processing complex, where gold was precipitated and smelted until the 1960s.

Rodalquilar is a former mining settlement whose origins date back to the Almería bishopric’s alunite mining at the beginning of the 16th century. Rodalquilar’s later mining history included amethysts, kaolin, andesite, lead, silver and gold; the gold mines were closed in 1966. The gold rush in Rodalquilar began in the 1880s and ended in the 1990s.

The El Albardinal Botanical Garden is located in the former mining village of Rodalquilar. Traditional fruit and cereal crops are displayed there; the garden also illustrates the connection between traditional land use and nature conservation.

During its tour, the botanical garden presents endangered species and species exclusive to the volcanic Sierra of Cabo de Gata, as well as non-native species adapted to local conditions.

Nature

Rodalquilar lies in the heart of Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park and is situated in a volcanic caldera. The S10 Cerro del Cinto Largo trail leads around Cerro del Cinto through a volcanic landscape shaped by mining, with geological formations, mine entrances and abandoned mining settlements. The S10 circular route is 10 km long, takes about 4 hours and has a moderate difficulty level.

The S09 Cerro del Cinto Corto circular route is 4.4 km long, takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes and has a low difficulty level. Along the S09, pools of water can remain in the Rambla de las Yeguas for months after rainfall; they are home to grass frogs, Spanish pond turtles and horseshoe whip snakes, while chameleons can also be seen in the scrubland areas.

The S12 La Molata trail runs along a rugged coast with cliffs and small coves and offers panoramic views of El Playazo Bay.

Orientation

Rodalquilar is home to the natural park’s administrative centre, where visitors can obtain information. Access to the El Albardinal Botanical Garden is via C/ Fundición through Rodalquilar; after Rodalquilar church, the garden’s car parks are on the right.

Near El Campillo de Rodalquilar, El Playazo can be reached via the ALP-326 and has a car park. The seabed at El Playazo is exceptionally rich in nature; the site is one of the most popular places for divers.

The S16 cycle and walking loop can be started in Rodalquilar. Described as a new circular route, it is a proposal במסגרת the Sustainable Tourism Plan for Níjar 2022–2024 and connects the three notable places of Los Albaricoques, Cortijo del Fraile and Rodalquilar in Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park.

Further destinations to discover independently: Aguadulce, Mojácar, Garrucha, Macael, Fernán Pérez, Oria, Tabernas and Purchena.

The Batería de San Ramón is located at the northern end of El Playazo Bay; its construction was completed in 1768. Near El Campillo de Rodalquilar there is also a fortress built in 1510 to protect the alunite mines opposite.

For the broader travel overview: Almeria.