San Jose-Nijar: Beaches, Trails and History

San José is located in Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, which is also designated as a geopark and biosphere reserve.

Nature and Trails

The 2.6-kilometre-long linear S04 Sendero Azul trail directly connects El Pozo de los Frailes and San José through the natural park; the route is of low difficulty and has good accessibility.

The S03 Loma Pelada hiking trail passes through a volcanic coastal landscape with cliffs and small coves surrounded by geological formations created by ancient lava flows.

Near the S04 Sendero Azul, there is a eucalyptus grove in San José. European goldfinches and serins usually breed there; short-toed larks are easy to observe there.

Around the Sendero Vela Blanca are Cala Carbón, Mónsul, Los Genoveses and Torre de la Higuera to the north, and Cala Rajá, Cala del Arenal, Punta Baja, Arrecife de las Sirenas and Cabo de Gata to the south.

Beaches and Coves

Playa de Mónsul is located in San José, Níjar, in Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park and served in 1989 as a filming location for a well-known scene from “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”, directed by Steven Spielberg.

Playa de San José is the largest urban beach in the town centre of San José; it has fine sand and a very gently sloping entry into the water.

Playa de San José also offers an adapted access route for people with disabilities, toilets, showers and lifeguards.

Playa Cala Higuera can be reached from San José via an unpaved road that ends at a car park. Its seabed is suitable for scuba diving.

Cueva del Tabaco near Cala Higuera is a cave formed in white sedimentary rock and is considered a suitable diving location.

Centro de Buceo I-Sub is a diving centre in San José, Níjar, in Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park.

Townscape and History

San José is a town with whitewashed houses arranged in terraces on the slopes around its bay and the town’s beach.

The name San José is associated with a defensive battery built in the 18th century on the orders of Charles III; it was intended to protect the coves of Sollarete and Genoveses.

San José has a traditional fishing heritage in which the Jábega and Moruna fishing gear was used.

In Cala Higuera, the Moruna fishing system is used in late spring to catch “Lechas” (Pez limón). According to the description, Cala Higuera is the last place where this traditional fishing method is practised.

Access to the Western Coves

Access by motor vehicle to the beaches and coves of Genoveses, Barronal, Mónsul, Media Luna and Cala Carbón, located west of San José, is regulated from 20 June to 27 September.

Other places at the same level are Rodalquilar, El Pozo De Los Frailes, Las Negras, La Isleta, Los Albaricoques.

To the higher-level travel overview: Nijar.