FAQ
The short version of everything in the guides — what people actually ask before they go.
In summer only until the car parks fill: motor vehicles pay a single €6 fee, the speed limit on the track is 20 km/h, and the barrier closes at set hours or early when the car parks are full. A shuttle bus from San José drops you at the beach access points, and walking or cycling is free. Outside the summer regulation access is free, but you must park in the designated car parks. The dates change each year.
From the sea. Kayak and snorkel tours take 3 hours; boat trips run from San José (1 hour 45 minutes) and from Carboneras (2 hours, 11 passengers at most).
Trips depend on wind and swell. The small-boat route from Carboneras, for example, notifies you and refunds if the sea doesn't allow it.
Yes — a 2-hour 4x4 tour from Almería covers a volcano-top viewpoint, the salt flats and their flamingos, and the Mermaid Reef.