Originally a fishing village, Aguadulce has a yachting marina where you can watch the catch being brought in on traditional Spanish fishing boats. Although the local scenery is nothing to write home about, thanks to plastic sheets covering fields of intensive horticulture, if you drive inland you can see picturesque mountain villages and arid desert landscapes.
The main town in the region, Almeria, has historic buildings, a cathedral and churches. The ancient Moorish fortress of Alcazaba is its most famous attraction.
Mojacar, north of Almeria, is an attractive Moorish town with winding streets, plenty of gift shops and a long beach.
Birdwatchers, scuba divers and animal lovers should visit Cabo de Gata-Nijar, a nature reserve 15 miles east of Almeria, with flamingos, deserted beaches and volcanic landscapes. The city of Granada and its world-famous Moorish Alhambra Palace are three to four hours away and is magnificent. Otherwise, the region has little in the way of cultural attractions.
Golfers can tee off at a range of good golf courses – there are two within five miles of Aguadulce.
Further inland lies a desert region used by the makers of several spaghetti Westerns and even David Beckham's Pepsi advert. You can pretend to be a cowboy at the Wild West theme park, Mini Hollywood, near the town of Tabernas, where Stuntmen stage mock gunfights. If you fancy a more sedate afternoon, it also has a wildlife park.
