El Saltador Bajo: Natural Environment, History and Trails

El Saltador Bajo is designated in Carboneras as an archaeological site dating from the Copper Age. For travel planning, historical traces, landscape and trails can be considered as separate topics; the individual sites can be arranged according to interest.

Natural Environment and Settlement

The Rambla del Saltador belongs to the natural environment of the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park. At the same time, El Saltador Bajo is one of the settlement nuclei designated within the zoning area of this natural park.

The hamlet is part of El Saltador, the northernmost settlement nucleus of the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, and El Saltador lies in the foothills of the Sierra de Cabrera. Located on the left bank of the rambla, this hamlet is the most compact of the hamlets of El Saltador and has the greatest number of houses.

Small springs once irrigated the cultivated areas on the right bank of the Rambla del Saltador; many of these areas are now planted with olive trees. For personal orientation, you can consider the road layout, plaza and hiking trail as different topics.

Culture and History

Historical livelihoods in El Saltador included collecting esparto grass for the fibre industry, agriculture, livestock farming and mining.

El Cumbrero is located near El Saltador on the Rambla del Saltador. The Las Juntas water mill, also known as Molino de Beatriz Ruíz, is situated there; it was formerly powered by water from a nearby spring, which was channelled to the mill wheel.

The now-abandoned Peñas Negras mine lies in the Barranco del Arto, near El Saltador. The ruins of some installations and the entrances to the mine adits are visible there.

In the vicinity of the mine, there are limonite and hematite outcrops in Triassic limestone. Some ruins of the mining installations are visible from the barranco, while access to the extraction areas is via a steep climb.

Routes and Orientation

The AL-6112 road provides direct access to the western part of El Saltador Bajo; El Saltador can be reached directly from Carboneras via the AL-5105 road.

A main road accessible to motor traffic runs through El Saltador Bajo from west to east and leads to Plaza Tierno Galván. The local medical practice and sports and children's play areas by the rambla are located at this square and can be reached via a staircase.

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in El Saltador Bajo, you can compare travel dates, category and cancellation policies on the respective listing pages. The topics of the natural environment, historical traces and routes provide an objective basis for personal travel planning.

Other Places

For your own research: Nijar, Las Hortichuelas, Uleila Del Campo, Líjar, Antas, Tabernas, La Breña, Alcolea

Hiking and Local Festivals

A hiking route through a hunting area requires particular caution during the hunting season.

Local festivals are celebrated in El Saltador at the end of August.

A hiking trail in El Saltador Bajo is described as a draft.

For the overarching travel overview: Almeria.