Boat rental in Almería — Cabo de Gata, Arrecife de las Sirenas, San José and tips for 2027

Almería lies on a wide bay in the far south-east of Spain, below the walls of its Moorish Alcazaba. East of the city begins the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park: volcanic cliffs, white sand beaches without buildings and coves that are hard to reach by land. From the water you can see the Arrecife de las Sirenas reef, the beaches of Mónsul and Los Genoveses and the village of San José. This guide covers where boats leave from, where to go, the rules and when to come.

Where boats leave from

In the city, boats leave from the marina of the Club de Mar, next to the commercial port and a short walk from the old town. West of Almería, the marina of Aguadulce in Roquetas de Mar and the large marina of Almerimar offer more moorings. Inside the natural park, the small harbour of San José is the closest starting point for the coves of Cabo de Gata.

Where to go

• The bay of Almería (2–8 NM): the long beaches of El Zapillo, El Toyo and Retamar, and the quiet coast towards the Torregarcía tower, good for a short trip and a swim.
• Cabo de Gata and the Arrecife de las Sirenas (about 12 NM): the lighthouse on the cape and the jagged volcanic rocks of the reef, once home to monk seals. The water around the rocks is very clear.
• Mónsul and Los Genoveses (about 15–18 NM): two of the best-known beaches in the park, with dunes and rock formations, between the cape and San José.
• San José and the northern coves (from about 20 NM): from San José, the coast continues to Los Escullos, La Isleta del Moro and the Cala de San Pedro, a cove that can only be reached on foot or by boat.
• Carboneras and Playa de los Muertos (about 35 NM): a beach of white pebbles and turquoise water, best reached from a harbour further north, such as Carboneras or Garrucha.

For more of the Spanish Mediterranean, see our guides to boat rental in Málaga and boat rental in Alicante. If you are travelling by campervan, read the Murcia campervan guide.

Rules and tips

• Without a licence. You can rent a small boat without a licence, up to about 5 metres and 15 hp, by day and close to the coast. Larger boats need a recognised licence, or a skipper.
• Marine reserve. Along the natural park, fishing, diving and anchoring are restricted or prohibited in some zones; follow the buoys and signs.
• Seagrass. The Posidonia meadows are protected; anchor on sand and look for a light patch before dropping the anchor.
• Bathing areas. In summer the beaches are marked with buoys and boats may not enter the swimming zones; reach the shore only through the marked channels, at slow speed.
• Little shelter. The coast of the park has few harbours; plan the route so that you can return quickly if the wind picks up.

Wind and weather

In summer the morning is usually calm and the wind builds in the afternoon. The two main winds are the levante from the east, which raises waves on the eastern side of the cape, and the poniente from the west, which is common in the bay of Almería. Around Cabo de Gata the wind and sea are often stronger than in the bay, so check the forecast every morning.

When to go

The season runs from May to October. In August the sea reaches about 25–26 °C, but the beaches of the park are at their busiest. June and September offer warm water and fewer people. In late August the city celebrates its Feria, and with more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, spring and autumn are also pleasant for a day on the sea.

A boat in Almería with Crystalium Booker

We are still building up our boat offer in Almería. Send us your date and number of people through the contact page and we will look for a suitable boat, and keep an eye on the boats in Almería page for new listings. Do you rent out a boat in or around Almería? List it with us.