Aguamarga Anchorage Guide

The Anchorage

Open sandy bay at the northern end of the natural park. Good holding in sand throughout. Wider bay than Plomo or San Pedro — more swinging room. Excellent shelter from Poniente. Exposed to Levante (E/NE) but the bay is wider and less funnelled than anchorages closer to the cape.

Setting Your Anchor

The bottom at Aguamarga is primarily sand with reliable holding when properly set. Before dropping anchor, check the DONIA app (free, Spanish Government) to confirm you are over a Posidonia-free sandy patch — anchoring on Posidonia is prohibited throughout Spain and fines can reach €600,000. Use the following approach:

1. Check DONIA app first. Open the DONIA app before approaching and identify the sandy patches suitable for anchoring. Posidonia meadows in Almería can be extensive — do not assume any bay is clear without checking.
2. Approach slowly and check your depth sounder on the way in. At 3–10m, deploy at minimum 7:1 scope (70m chain at 10m depth).
3. Drop into the wind or current and pay out chain steadily as the boat drifts back — do not allow chain to pile on top of the anchor.
4. Set firmly in reverse. Apply moderate throttle astern for 30–60 seconds. The chain should tighten and the boat should stop moving back.
5. Take a GPS bearing. Note your position once set and compare to the scope calculator to confirm adequate chain for the depth.

Recommended anchor types for this bottom: SPADE, Rocna, CQR. See our guide to anchor types by bottom for detailed comparisons.

Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm

Overnight stays at Aguamarga are feasible but require monitoring. The anchorage is exposed to E and NE winds and swell.

Set your GPS anchor alarm to 90m radius before going below for the night. 90m suits the wide bay at 3–10m depths with generous scope. The bay is wide enough for a larger radius without risk of grounding. Reduce to 70m if anchoring in the shallower inner zone close to the beach.

On this coast, the Levante (E/NE) can arrive with little warning and accelerate dramatically around Cabo de Gata headland. If you are anchoring in an exposed bay and Levante is forecast overnight, set a conservative alarm radius and be prepared to depart or move to a more sheltered position. The Safety Anchor Alarm app will wake you the moment your boat drifts — giving you time to react before the situation becomes dangerous.

Year-round anchorage feasible in settled Poniente conditions. April–June and September–November best. July–August: modest crowds for a natural park anchorage. Winter Levante storms can make this untenable; the village is one of the few NP stops with inhabited shelter nearby.

Navigation Hazards

• Exposed to Levante (E/NE) — bay is open to E; leave in Levante F4+ conditions
• Fishing boat traffic to/from the beach — maintain clearance from their routes
• Depths drop quickly outside bay — check sounder on approach from N

Rules & Regulations

Aguamarga lies within or adjacent to the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park (Parque Natural). This is a protected natural area but not a marine reserve — there is no entry fee and free anchoring is permitted in most bays. However, Posidonia protection rules apply in full: anchoring on Posidonia oceanica is prohibited throughout Spain and subject to severe fines.

• Anchoring fee: Free
• Maximum stay: 5 days
• Key restrictions: Northern edge of Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park. Posidonia rules apply — verify with DONIA app. Keep clear of fishing boat approaches to the beach.
• Posidonia: Anchoring on Posidonia oceanica is prohibited throughout Spain. Fines up to €600,000 in the most sensitive zones. Use the DONIA app before every anchor drop.

For a full overview of Spanish anchoring rules, see our overnight anchoring rules by region guide.

Facilities

• Fresh water: Not available on site — Almería is the driest region in Europe. Arrive with full water tanks. Nearest water: Aguamarga village (0.5nm)
• Fuel: Not available — nearest: Aguamarga village (0.5nm)
• Restaurant: Several restaurants and bars in the village, open year-round (reduced hours Nov–Mar). Fresh fish a specialty.
• Provisions: Available

Skipper's Tips

1. Best stop for dinner ashore within the Cabo de Gata park — village restaurants serve excellent fresh fish.
2. Good provisioning point: small shop in the village. Last major provisioning before the remote stretch N to Carboneras is in Carboneras itself.
3. The beach is quiet in spring and autumn — one of the least touristy villages on this coast.
4. For overnight: if any E is forecast, anchor further into the bay for maximum shelter from NW quadrant.
5. A pleasant walk south along the coastal path toward Cala del Plomo from here.