Almería is better known for its greenhouses than for its wilderness, and yet there is a wild strip of coast next to Almerimar where nobody built anything: Punta Entinas-Sabinar. It is the best place of the Poniente for a day off the bike.
What it is
Punta Entinas-Sabinar is a protected natural area between the municipalities of El Ejido and Roquetas de Mar, declared in 1989 by the Andalusian law 2/1989. It covers about 1,960 hectares as a Paraje Natural, and about 785 hectares of them have the stricter status of Reserva Natural (the figures vary a little between sources). It is also a Ramsar wetland and a bird protection area.
It is made of a long belt of dunes, with two groups of wetlands behind: the Charcones de Punta Entinas and the Salinas de Cerrillos, the old salt pans. The name “Sabinar” comes from the sabina juniper trees that grow in the sand.
Birds and other wildlife
The lagoons and salt pans are a stop for migratory birds, and the municipal tourism office counts more than 200 species. Flamingos are among the most striking sights of the lagoons and salt pans. The dunes have their own, harder to see, wildlife.
Why it is still here
Behind the dunes stretches the sea of greenhouses of the Campo de Dalías. That the area was not covered in plastic is a matter of protection: the reserve is a green and sandy island in the middle of one of the most intensive farming landscapes in Europe. Standing on a dune, with the white roofs on one side and the sea on the other, you understand both sides of Almería.
How to visit
- From Almerimar it is a short trip along the coast road. The trails are flat and easy, and good for a walk. Check the rules of the protected area before you take a bike in.
- There is a visitor centre at Almerimar. Its opening hours change from year to year, so ask the El Ejido tourism office before you go.
- Bring water, a hat and binoculars. There is almost no shade.
- The best light is at sunrise and in the last hour of the day.
Near our routes
All our loops from Almerimar start close to the reserve, so it is easy to combine a ride with a walk the day after.
Photos of Punta Entinas: ANE (CC BY 3.0) and Ismael Olea (CC BY 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons. Other photos: Ride Almería.