El Campillo de Rodalquilar: Volcanic Landscape and Mining History
Accommodation in El Campillo De Rodalquilar
When visiting El Campillo de Rodalquilar, there are several highlights to consider: Rodalquilar’s volcanic landscape and mining history, the El Albardinal Botanical Garden, and hiking trails at Cerro del Cinto and along the coast. The routes vary in length, time required, and character.
Volcanic Landscape and Mining History
Rodalquilar lies in the heart of Cabo de Gata-NĂjar Natural Park and within a volcanic caldera. It is also a former mining settlement: its origins date back to the Diocese of AlmerĂa’s alunite mining at the beginning of the 16th century. Its later mining history included amethysts, kaolin, andesite, lead, silver, and gold; the gold mines closed in 1966.
The Casa de los Volcanes is Andalusia’s first geotourism center. Its tour introduces the concepts of geodiversity and geology, offers insight into the geological eras, and ends in the Sala Rodalquilar with the region’s mining history. The center is housed in a former building in Rodalquilar’s gold-processing complex, where gold was precipitated and smelted until the 1960s. The tour thus moves from geological topics to the history of mining.
El Albardinal Botanical Garden
The El Albardinal Botanical Garden is located in the former mining village of Rodalquilar. It showcases endangered species and species found exclusively in the volcanic Sierra of Cabo de Gata. The tour also includes non-native species that have adapted to local conditions. In addition, the garden features traditional fruit and cereal crops and illustrates the connection between traditional land use and nature conservation. While the Casa de los Volcanes focuses on geology and geological eras, the garden is about plants, land use, and nature conservation.
The garden entrance is on C/ Fundición, through Rodalquilar. After Rodalquilar’s church, the garden’s parking spaces are on the right.
Hiking Trails and Nature
The two circular trails at Cerro del Cinto differ in distance, duration, and difficulty. The S09 Cerro del Cinto Corto is 4.4 km long, takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, and is rated easy. The S10 Cerro del Cinto Largo is 10 km long, takes about 4 hours, and is rated moderate. Check the practical conditions again before your hike.
The S10 loops around Cerro del Cinto through a volcanic landscape shaped by mining. Along the way are geological formations, mine entrances, and abandoned mining settlements. The shorter S09 also takes in habitats along the Rambla de las Yeguas: after rainfall, pools of water can remain there for months, providing a habitat for Iberian water frogs, Spanish pond turtles, and ladder snakes. Chameleons can also be seen in the scrubland.
The S12 La Molata trail focuses on the coast. It follows a rugged coastline with cliffs and small coves and offers panoramic views of El Playazo Bay.
Coast and Historic Structures
El Playazo is near El Campillo de Rodalquilar, at the foot of the volcanic caldera of Rodalquilar. The beach can be reached via a paved road from the AL-4200. Check access conditions before setting out.
At the northern end of El Playazo Bay stands the BaterĂa de San RamĂłn; construction was completed in 1768. Nearby is a fortress built in 1510 to protect the alunite mines opposite. El Playazo also has a wealth of natural life underwater and is one of the most popular spots for divers.
Rodalquilar is home to the natural park’s administrative center, where visitors can obtain information. If you wish to use this information service, check its availability before your trip.
Discover more destinations: SuflĂ, VĂ©lez-Blanco, Terque, Alcontar, Beires, Chirivel, Carboneras, Balerma
For the regional travel overview: Almeria.
