Activities & Attractions
Scenic Route from Mojácar to Carboneras via Sopalmo – Coastal Beauty of Almería
Scenic Route from Mojácar to Carboneras via Sopalmo
Distance: Approx. 24 km | Travel Mode: Car, bike, or hiking | Highlights: Coastal views, Sopalmo village, Mirador de la Granatilla
Route Overview
The journey from Mojácar to Carboneras via the remote village of Sopalmo follows the winding AL-5105 along the Mediterranean coast. It’s a 24-kilometre stretch full of dramatic sea views, rolling hills, and peaceful countryside.
Sopalmo: A Hidden Gem
Midway along the route lies Sopalmo, a quiet Andalusian hamlet known for its traditional homes and artistic community. It’s the perfect place for a short stop, with a small chapel and a nearby natural spring.
Mirador de la Granatilla
Shortly after Sopalmo, you’ll reach the Mirador de la Granatilla, a lookout point that offers some of the best views along this coast. Expect sweeping vistas of sea cliffs, turquoise water, and untouched nature.
Popular Hiking Trails
- Sopalmo – Granatilla Trail: A gentle 90-minute walk through a dry riverbed with colourful rock formations.
- Sopalmo – Adelfa Trail: A medium-difficulty hike of 14 km (round trip), ascending to 742 metres, with panoramic views and old mining ruins.
Arriving in Carboneras
Carboneras greets you with wide beaches, fresh seafood, and a laid-back coastal atmosphere. It’s a rewarding endpoint for this scenic road trip or cycling route.
Public Transport Option
Prefer not to drive? There’s a bus (Line 3) from Mojácar to Carboneras in under 35 minutes, departing from the Parque Comercial. More details available on Rome2Rio.
Tips for the Journey
- Pack water and sunscreen, especially if you plan to hike.
- Stop at the Mirador for unforgettable views.
- Visit Sopalmo early in the day for peace and quiet.
This route offers a raw and unforgettable glimpse of Almería’s coastline—quiet, dramatic, and full of surprises around every turn.
Activities & Attractions
Lubrin launches gastromining route linking mining heritage and gastronomy
Published January 3, 2026 | Category: Activities & Attractions
TL;DR: Lubrin has launched a new gastromining route that links local gastronomy with the town’s mining and geological heritage.
Lubrin connects mining heritage and gastronomy in a new inland route
The inland municipality of Lubrin has introduced a new gastromining route that brings together two defining elements of the area: its mining and geological heritage and its traditional food culture. The initiative is designed to highlight how landscape, extraction and local cuisine have shaped the town over time.
Rather than creating a themed trail or tourist circuit, the route focuses on interpretation. It offers visitors a structured way to understand how mining activity influenced settlement patterns, land use and daily life in this part of Almeria, while anchoring that story in local gastronomy.
A route rooted in geology and history
Lubrin sits within a landscape marked by mineral extraction and geological diversity. For generations, mining shaped the economy of the area, leaving behind physical traces in the terrain as well as less visible social and cultural legacies.
The gastromining route uses this backdrop as its foundation. Geological features, former mining zones and historic sites are connected through a coherent narrative rather than isolated points of interest. The emphasis is on understanding why Lubrin looks the way it does today, and how its environment influenced both work and food.
This approach aligns closely with a broader shift in inland tourism across Almeria, where interest is moving away from volume-based visits toward context-driven experiences.
Food as cultural continuity
Gastronomy plays a central but grounded role in the route. Local dishes such as gurullos, traditionally prepared with rabbit or seasonal game, are presented not as attractions in themselves, but as part of a living tradition shaped by geography, climate and historical labour.
Mining communities required calorie-dense, practical food, often based on local produce and preservation techniques. By incorporating gastronomy into the route, Lubrin highlights how food connects past and present, offering insight into everyday life rather than restaurant culture alone.
This makes the experience particularly relevant for visitors interested in food as heritage, not just consumption.
Not mass tourism, but slow exploration
The route is clearly not designed for large groups or rapid consumption. Distances, terrain and the nature of the content favour a slower pace, suitable for walkers, small groups and independent travellers.
There are no expectations of crowds, ticketed entry points or entertainment-style staging. Instead, the route functions as an interpretive layer added to the existing landscape, allowing visitors to engage at their own rhythm.
This makes it a natural fit for inland Almeria, where scale, silence and space remain part of the appeal.
Who this route is for
The gastromining route in Lubrin will appeal most to:
- visitors interested in mining and geological heritage
- travellers seeking inland, non-coastal experiences
- walkers and slow-tourism enthusiasts
- food-minded visitors curious about local traditions
It is less suited to those looking for short, high-impact attractions or heavily signposted tourist circuits.
Local context matters
What gives this route its value is not novelty, but authentic context. Lubrin is not reinventing itself as a destination; it is articulating what is already there.
By linking mining heritage with gastronomy, the municipality reinforces a sense of place that is often lost when inland towns are reduced to viewpoints or stopovers.
For practical details, updates and local information, visitors can consult the official Lubrin town hall website: https://www.lubrin.es/.
Why this matters for inland Almeria
Initiatives like this gastromining route reflect a wider effort to diversify inland tourism without distorting local identity. Instead of importing external concepts, Lubrin builds on its own history and environment.
For the province as a whole, this approach helps distribute visitor interest beyond the coast while maintaining realism about scale and capacity.
The route does not promise transformation. It offers understanding — and for the right visitor, that is enough.
Looking for more inland routes, heritage experiences and low-impact attractions across the province? Explore our latest guides in Activities & Attractions.
Events
Costa de Almeria Rally confirmed for 2026
Published December 22, 2025 | Category: Events
TL;DR: The Costa de Almeria Rally has been officially confirmed for the 2026 season of the Spanish Asphalt Rally Championship. The 51st edition will take place on September 18 and 19, marking the event’s second consecutive year on the national calendar.
Costa de Almeria Rally confirmed for 2026
The 51st Costa de Almeria Rally has been officially confirmed as part of the Spanish Asphalt Rally Championship (CERA Recalvi) for the 2026 season. The event will be held on September 18 and 19, 2026, securing Almeria’s place on Spain’s national asphalt rally calendar for a second consecutive year.
The confirmation follows the success of the milestone 50th edition, which took place at the end of October and beginning of November 2025. That event marked the Costa de Almeria Rally’s debut as a round of the national championship and played a key role in its return for 2026.
The 2026 Spanish Asphalt Rally Championship calendar was approved during the Ordinary General Assembly of the Royal Spanish Automobile Federation, held on December 20 in Alcorcon (Madrid). The championship will consist of five events, with one round still pending confirmation.
In addition to the Costa de Almeria Rally, the confirmed events on the 2026 calendar are:
- La Llana Rally (Catalonia) – April 10–11
- Villa de Adeje Rally (Canary Islands) – May 8–9
- Costa de Almeria Rally – September 18–19
- Ciudad de Valencia Rally – November 27–28
The Almeria Automobile Club has welcomed the confirmation and has already begun preparations for the 51st edition of the rally. Organisers have highlighted the continued motivation that comes with the event’s national championship status, both for teams and for the province as a whole.
Visitors who attended the landmark 50th edition in 2025 can also explore our coverage of last year’s event, including the 50th anniversary kick-off and a detailed spectator guide.
For motorsport fans, teams and visitors, the announcement reinforces Almeria’s growing presence on Spain’s competitive rally map and confirms the Costa de Almeria Rally as one of the key asphalt events of the 2026 season.
Looking for upcoming races, festivals and things to do in Almeria? Browse more updates in our Events section.
Events
Mojacar Christmas: Festive Shop Window Competition Underway
Published December 20, 2025 | Category: Events
TL;DR: Mojacar Christmas celebrations include the town’s traditional shop window competition, where local businesses decorate their displays with festive creativity. A professional jury and public voting via Facebook will decide the winners, with cash prizes awarded in early January.
Mojacar Christmas Shop Window Competition Lights Up the Town
Mojacar embraces the Christmas season with colour, creativity and community spirit. Alongside its festive lights, family activities and seasonal events, the town is once again hosting its traditional Christmas shop window competition, encouraging local businesses to transform their displays into festive scenes.
The competition has become a familiar part of Christmas in Mojacar, adding warmth and visual charm to the streets while supporting local commerce during the holiday period.
What’s New This Year
This year’s edition stays true to the essence of previous competitions but introduces several notable updates. A professional jury will now be responsible for selecting the winning shop windows, assessing each display based on creativity, originality, decoration, lighting and overall Christmas spirit.
Public participation also plays a role. Residents and visitors can vote for their favourite displays through the Mojacar Town Hall’s official Facebook page. Votes are cast by reacting to the published photos of participating shop windows — every positive reaction, from a simple like to a love or care, counts as a vote and adds to the final score.
Key Dates and Prizes
The competition follows a clear schedule throughout the festive period:
- December 30: The professional jury visits participating businesses.
- January 6 (11:59 pm): Deadline for public voting via Facebook reactions.
- January 7: Announcement of the three winning shop windows.
Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three displays, with €500 for first place, €300 for second and €200 for third.
By combining professional judging with public involvement, the competition adds another engaging layer to Mojacar Christmas, creating a festive atmosphere that can be enjoyed while strolling through the town during the holiday season.
Want to discover more events, fiestas and things to do across the province? Browse the latest updates in our Events section.
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