Tabernas: Badlands, Culture and Regional Cuisine

The Desierto de Tabernas protected natural area, protected since 1989, is characterized by eroded badlands with ravines and wadis. Its special botanical and fauna value includes rare species and the endemic Tabernas crucifer Euzomodendron bourgaeanum.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Tabernas, compare travel dates, room category and cancellation policies on the offer pages. To help decide where to stay, you can consider the focuses on landscape, culture, trails and cuisine separately and assign them weights according to your own plans.

Nature and Trails

The entire route of the Sendero La Serrata PR-A 481 lies within a ZEC area of the Natura 2000 network and forms an ecological corridor between the Sierra Alhamilla natural area and the Desierto de Tabernas natural area. The almost flat Sendero del Desierto PR-A 269 runs through the rambla valleys of the Desierto de Tabernas.

A hiking trail starts and ends at the municipal tourist information office; it leads to the Rambla de los Molinos, which flows into the Rambla de la Sierra. The Tabernas–Lucainena de las Torres cycling stage runs at the foot of the northern slope of the Sierra Alhamilla through arid terrain, rambla valleys and olive groves, and past cortijos.

This stage is 22.9 kilometers long and involves 350 meters of elevation gain. The Ruta en 4x4 por el Desierto de Tabernas runs through rambla valleys and various landscape formations within Tabernas; at the stops, there are explanations relating to geology, history, the landscape or film.

Culture

In Tabernas, the Iglesia parroquial de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación is registered as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC) in the Monument category. The Mudéjar church has three naves, as well as portals in the Renaissance and Mannerist styles.

The furnishings include the image of the Virgen de las Angustias and an altarpiece made in 1865 by D. Policampo from white and green marble in the chapel of the Virgen del Carmen. The Centro de Interpretación Terrera Ventura y Desierto de Tabernas explains the geological formation of the desert and the Chalcolithic society of the Los Millares culture that lived in the settlement of Terrera Ventura in the 3rd millennium BC.

The Castillo de Tabernas is a municipal monument classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC). A paved path beside the Municipal Sports Pavilion leads to it; from there, it overlooks the town of Tabernas, the desert and the surrounding sierras.

Since January 2026, the Castillo de Tabernas has been temporarily closed to visitors due to archaeological measures and restoration work. Founded in 2011, the Almería Western Film Festival is an international festival that combines film screenings, meetings, tributes, music and activities.

More destination pages: Guazamara, La Cañada, Pechina, Marchena, Lubrín, Taberno, Berja, El Cortijo Grande

Regional Cuisine

Traditional Tabernas cuisine includes Olla de trigo, sopa de ajo almeriense, Gazpacho, cocido de morcilla, Gachas, Remojones, Ajillo de papas, Caldo colorao and Gurullos.

The Almazara Castillo de Tabernas offers guided tours of natural and traditional olive oil production, as well as tastings of various extra virgin olive oils.

For the higher-level travel overview: Almeria.