Getting There
Rodalquilar is easy 30 minute drive from Almeria Airport (37 km/23 miles).
Almeria has a very pleasant quiet airport with a wide choice of low cost airlines with direct flights from the UK.
Car hire can be easily arranged at the airport through most of the major operators but we also suggest www.carjet.com as a cheap broker for car rentals.
The village is 20 km/12 miles from the main A7/E15 Coastal motorway that runs from the French border and Barcelona.
Alicante airport is a 2 ½ hour drive (264 km/164 miles) and with the opening of the new AP-7 from Cartagena to Vera at the end of 2006, the drive time from Murcia Airport (San Javier) and La Manga will be reduced to 1 ½ hours (186 km/115 miles).
All the approaches to Rodalquilar are stunning and the roads are in very good condition and normally traffic free. There are two main routes into the village.
Driving from the Airport
Exit the airport following signs to the motorway. Exit off onto the N344 in the direction of Níjar/Murcia. Continue along the N344 for about 6km and bear right following signs to Cabo de Gata.
After approximately 9km on this road you will reach a roundabout, take the second exit in the direction of San Jose (not El Cabo de Gata). Continue along this road passing the Michelin test centre on your right.
After about 7.5km the road turns sharply to the right, bear right (direction San Jose) and after a couple of kms, you will pass through the village of La Boca de los Frailes.
Two kms further one there is a turning to the left marked to Rodalquilar, take this road and continue for about 8km – shortly after passing the turn-off to La Isleta del Moro, the road rises up above the coast to the Cerro de la Amatista (Amethyst Mountain), a view-point with parking and an information point that allows magnificent views across the Mar de Alborán.
Carrying on the road, cresting a rise you can see the plain of Rodalquilar spreading out in front of you with the village directly ahead. Continue down the road, lined both sides with Eucalyptus and after 1.5km the road bears sharply road to the right, turn left here entering the village of Rodalquilar.
Follow the road as in winds round the abandoned miners’ houses. Cross the Rambla (dry river bed) and instead of turning right down the main street of the village, go straight ahead towards the church, Goldmine and botanical gardens. Take the 2nd turning on the right (100m) and continue for about 200m until you reach a white block of houses. A9/A10 are the last two houses as you continue down the road.
Driving from the East
Exit the Motorway (A7/E15) at exit 487 to Campohermoso/Las Negras. When you reach the roundabout after the exit, turn left under the motorway. Follow this road for about 2km until you enter the village of Campohermoso. You will arrive at roundabout, turn right and continue for a further 200m until the next roundabout, turn left on this roundabout following signs to Las Negras.
Continue on this road for about 14km, you will pass through the village of Fernán Perez and then with a wonderful view of the sea and valley below, descend towards the village of Las Hortichuelas. Just after Las Hortichuelas there is a turning to the right on the brow of a rise signposted to Rodalquilar. Follow this road for about 4km until you reach the village of Rodalquilar.
Take the first turning off the main road into the village and continue up the ‘main street’ to the end of the village (about 300m) where the road divides, turn right heading towards the church, Goldmine and botanical gardens. Take the second turning on the right (100m a gravel track) and continue for about 200m until you reach a white block of houses.
A9/A10 are the last two houses as you continue down the road.
Driving from the West
Exit the Motorway (A7/E15) at exit 481 to Níjar/Campohermoso (you will have already passed one exit to Níjar!).
Follow the road parallel to the motorway and then South in the direction of Campohermoso for about 5km. Having arrived in Campohermoso, you will reach a roundabout; go straight across in the direction of Las Negras.
Continue on this road for about 14km, you will pass through the village of Fernán Perez and then with a wonderful view of the sea and valley below, descend towards the village of Las Hortichuelas. Just after Las Hortichuelas there is a turning to the right on the brow of a rise signposted to Rodalquilar. Follow this road for about 4km until you reach the village of Rodalquilar.
Take the first turning off the main road into the village and continue up the ‘main street’ to the end of the village (about 300m) where the road divides, turn right heading towards the church, Goldmine and botanical gardens. Take the 2nd turning on the right (100m a gravel track) and continue for about 200m until you reach a white block of houses. A9/A10 are the last two houses as you continue down the road.
Parking
There is ample parking in front of the house and underground parking on request.
Airlines with direct flights from the UK
- Ryanair
- EasyJet
- London gatwick
- London Stanstead
- First Choice
- Manchester
- London gatwick
- Monarch
- Birmingham International
- Luton (from May 2007)
- Manchester
- Jet2
- Newcastle (from May 2007)
- Leeds Bradford (from May 2007)