Kayak Agua Amarga – Cala del Plomo & Cala de Enmedio
Secret coves in northern Cabo de Gata reachable only from the sea
Highlights
- Cala del Plomo: untouched beach north of Agua Amarga, accessible only from the sea
- Cala de Enmedio: one of the most beautiful beaches in the Natural Park, unreachable by land
- Snorkelling in Neptune grass meadows with visibility up to 25 metres
- Exceptional marine biodiversity: bream, octopuses, starfish and mackerel shoals
- Northern Natural Park coastline — far from summer crowds
What's included?
- High-stability sea kayak (single or double)
- Certified life jacket
- Paddle
- Snorkel included (mask and snorkel tube). We recommend bringing your own if you have one.
- Expert guide trained in water rescue
- Activity insurance
- Hydration stop mid-route
- Experience photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need prior kayaking experience?
Can children participate?
Where exactly are Cala del Plomo and Cala de Enmedio?
What happens if the weather is bad?
How do I get to Agua Amarga?
Why might the departure point vary?
How many people are on each departure?
Can I book the tour exclusively for a private group?
Tour information
- Duration: 3 hours
- Difficulty: All levels
- Price: Adults €35 · Children (up to 12) €20
- Snorkel: Mask and snorkel tube included.
- Schedule: Departures at 9:30 and 16:30 (high season). Check availability.
- Meeting point: Agua Amarga, Almería. Exact departure point depends on wind conditions — see notice below.
- What to bring: Swimwear, biodegradable sunscreen, water (minimum 1 litre), water shoes or sturdy sandals.
- Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. In the event of adverse weather, rescheduling at no cost.
Online booking coming soon.
Certified & authorised activity
The ecosystem you will see
The Agua Amarga route runs through the northern sector of Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, the least visited by mass tourism yet equally pristine and protected. Here the coastline alternates white sandy beaches with ochre and reddish volcanic cliffs, creating one of the most spectacular coastal landscapes in the Biosphere Reserve.
Volcanic geology
The headlands framing the coves of this route are Miocene volcanic structures, with the peculiarity of showing greater erosion than the cliffs in the park's southern sector. This erosion has sculpted sea caves, natural arches and volcanic chimneys that take on an entirely different dimension from the kayak. Stratified layers of andesitic rock and volcanic tuffs reveal in cross-section the successive eruption episodes that shaped this coast millions of years ago.
Marine fauna
The waters of the northern sector of Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park Marine Reserve present extraordinary biodiversity. Snorkelling around the coves on this route regularly reveals large octopus, moray eels, red mullet and shoals of white seabream. Volcanic reef areas harbour sea urchins, starfish and increasingly recovering grouper specimens. Rays and conger eels are frequent on the sandy beds between rocky stretches.
Posidonia oceanica
The posidonia oceanica meadows in this sector of the Natural Park are especially dense inside the coves, where calm waters favour their growth. These meadows act as natural current buffers, keeping the cove waters in almost perpetual calm and exceptional clarity. Posidonia oceanica is an indicator of the cleanliness of these waters and one of the reasons why Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park enjoys international recognition as a reference coastal ecosystem.
Route highlights
From Agua Amarga to Cala del Plomo, a journey through virgin coves that only kayak can reach within Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park.
Agua Amarga Beach — Departure point
The route departs from the white sandy beach of Agua Amarga, a small fishing village that has preserved its authenticity despite becoming one of the most valued destinations in Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park. The water colour here is a blue-turquoise of uncommon purity in the Mediterranean, thanks to the abundance of posidonia oceanica in the shallow beds. The village has a bar, restaurant and basic services, being the last comfort before entering the virgin coast.
Punta del Perro — Cliffs and caves
Leaving Agua Amarga bay, the coast turns towards highly spectacular volcanic formations. The Punta del Perro cliffs present horizontal striations characteristic of the park's volcanic geology, and at their base sea caves open up that at low tide allow kayak entry. This first stretch of open coast is also where the guide assesses sea conditions and adjusts the route according to the day's conditions.
Cala de Enmedio — The cove of silence
Cala de Enmedio — "the middle cove," between two volcanic headlands — is one of the best-kept secrets of Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park. Only accessible from the sea or after an hour's walk along an unmarked trail, this white-sand beach with crystal-clear water receives very few visitors even at the height of summer. The sandy beds and volcanic rocky formations flanking it are a snorkelling paradise.
Cala del Plomo — The most remote destination
The furthest point of the route is Cala del Plomo, a beach of great beauty whose name recalls the lead and silver deposits exploited since Phoenician times. No road reaches it, and the nearest trail requires over two hours on foot from Agua Amarga. Only the kayak offers a comfortable way to arrive. The contrast between the dark volcanic sand and the deep turquoise water creates a chromatic palette of notable intensity, especially in the early morning when the Mediterranean light arrives at a low angle from the east.
History and curiosities of the area
The Agua Amarga area hides a history of precious minerals, smugglers and coastal lookouts stretching from the Phoenicians to the 19th century.
The origin of the name: sulphurous waters
The toponym "Agua Amarga" (Bitter Water) refers to the sulphurous and brackish springs that emerge in the area, whose bitter, mineral taste was well known to the fishermen who anchored in this bay. These underground springs originate in the hydrothermal activity associated with the park's Miocene volcanism, and some are still perceptible on the beach at low tide. In the 18th century it was an emergency watering point for vessels, though its water was unpalatable to sailors due to its characteristic taste.
Phoenician and Roman mining at Cala del Plomo
The name Cala del Plomo (Lead Cove) is no coincidence: the entire northern zone of what is now the natural park was intensively exploited for its minerals from antiquity. The Phoenicians were the first to extract lead and silver from these mountains around the 6th century BC, and the Romans continued and expanded the operation. In the 19th century, during the Spanish mining fever, these seams were re-exploited until exhaustion. Remains of 19th-century mining installations are still visible on the hillsides overlooking the sea from the route.
The Torre del Perulico and coastal defence
Above the cliffs facing Cala de Enmedio stands the Torre del Perulico, an 18th-century watchtower built to spot the Berber corsair vessels that ravaged the Almería coast. These watchtowers formed part of a coastal defence system extending along the entire Andalusian Mediterranean coast, manned by lookouts who lit bonfires to alert nearby villages to approaching corsairs. From the kayak, the tower's silhouette against the volcanic cliff is one of the most striking visual elements of the Agua Amarga route.
About the departure point
The day before your excursion we will contact you with the exact departure point. We depart from La Fabriquilla (Levante wind) or Las Negras (Poniente wind), depending on sea conditions that day.
Please don't worry. We will send you all the information about the departure point by email the day before your excursion.
What our clients say
“We had a brilliant excursion! The instructors were friendly and fun. We had a good tour of the coastline and then stopped for snorkelling which was incredible.”Google
“Los mejores monitores, muy pendientes de todo el grupo. Una experiencia increíble y 100% recomendada. El recorrido por cabo de Gata espectacular.”Google
“SOIS LOS MEJORES!! Mágica experiencia que hemos tenido mi familia y yo. Espectacular paseo y belleza de fondo marino que hemos disfrutado. GRACIAS a Lucas y Joaquín por la dedicación, seguridad y el cariño que transmiten.”Google
“Experiencia muy linda! Los guías muy predispuestos y simpáticos! La pasamos muy bien con mi familia, la zona del snorkel fenomenal. Lo disfrutamos mucho! Recomiendo la empresa.”Google
“Experiencia en familia inolvidable! En todo momento nos sentimos seguros, íbamos con dos niñas de 9 y 5 años y los monitores estaban muy pendientes de todos.”Google
“Nos lo hemos pasado estupendamente!! Una gran experiencia, tanto la ruta en kayak con unas vistas preciosas, como el snorkel. Los monitores siempre atentos y muy simpáticos. 100% recomendable!!”Google
Convinced? Book your spot now