El Campillo de Rodalquilar: Volcanic Landscape and Mining History

El Campillo de Rodalquilar invites you to explore a setting shaped by volcanic landscapes, mining history and the coast. Rodalquilar lies in the heart of Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park and is situated in a volcanic caldera.

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in El Campillo de Rodalquilar, the offer pages allow you to compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies. Travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies are separate points of comparison, without losing sight of the landscape and experiences.

Culture and Mining

Rodalquilar is a former mining settlement whose origins date back to the Bishopric of Almería'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 closed in 1966. The gold rush in Rodalquilar began in the 1880s and ended in the 1990s.

The Casa de los Volcanes is Andalusia's first geotourism centre. Its tour introduces visitors to 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 centre is located in a former building of the Rodalquilar gold-processing complex, where gold was precipitated and smelted until the 1960s.

Botany and Nature Conservation

The El Albardinal Botanical Garden is located in the former mining village of Rodalquilar. It showcases traditional fruit and grain crops and illustrates the connection between traditional land use and nature conservation. Its tour presents endangered species and species exclusive to the volcanic Sierra of Cabo de Gata, as well as non-native species adapted to local conditions.

The entrance to the El Albardinal Botanical Garden is via C/ Fundición through Rodalquilar. After the church of Rodalquilar, the garden's car parks are on the right. Rodalquilar is also home to the natural park's administrative centre, where visitors can obtain information.

Trails and Wildlife

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 circular trail is 10 km long, takes approximately 4 hours and has a moderate difficulty level.

The S09 Cerro del Cinto Corto circular trail is 4.4 km long, takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes and has a low difficulty level. After rainfall, pools of water can remain in the Rambla de las Yeguas for months, providing a habitat for grass frogs, Spanish terrapins and horseshoe snakes; chameleons can also be seen in the shrubland areas.

The S12 La Molata trail runs along a rugged coastline with cliffs and small coves and offers panoramic views of El Playazo Bay. Different trail lengths, walking times and difficulty levels provide a clear basis for comparison when planning your own day.

Coast and Sea

In the immediate vicinity of El Campillo de Rodalquilar, El Playazo lies at the foot of Rodalquilar's volcanic caldera. The beach can be reached via a concrete path from the AL-4200 road. In the immediate vicinity of El Campillo de Rodalquilar, El Playazo can also be reached via the ALP-326 and has a car park.

The seabed at El Playazo is rich in natural features; the site is one of the most visited places for divers. At the northern end of El Playazo Bay stands the Batería de San Ramón, whose construction was completed in 1768.

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

You can reach other local pages via Vicar, Terque, Líjar, El Pilar, Tabernas, Vera, Purchena and Marchena.

In the immediate vicinity of El Campillo de Rodalquilar stands a fortress built in 1510 to protect the alunite mines opposite.

For the main travel overview: Almeria.