Oasis Al Hamam

If you’re looking to explore the Almería region, guided hikes and cycle rides can be organised along the 36-km Vía Verde de Lucainena, connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the arid ‘Spaghetti Western’ landscapes of the Tabernas Desert. You can relive the glory days of Western films at Mini Hollywood Oasys (half an hour’s drive), a cowboy-themed amusement park complete with movie sets and live-action shows. Down on the coast, spend time exploring the Cabo de Gata Natural Park (about an hour) with its steep cliffs and bizarre rock formations dotting the shoreline. Watch out for wading birds in the wetland lagoon, or take a swim and go kayaking off the often-deserted beach at Las Amoladeras (50 minutes). Back inland, have a potter around historic Lucainena de las Torres (15 minutes’ walk), checking out the simple and calming interior of the 18th-century Church of Our Lady of Monte-Sión and the Hornos de Calcinación (35 minutes), kilns that once fired iron ore. It’s also worth the time spent getting to the Ibáñez Museum (an hour’s drive) for its outstanding collection of contemporary Spanish paintings and sculptures.