Once a traditional fishing town, Roquetas de Mar is now a popular holiday resort, visited by tourists throughout the year. It was designated a National Tourist Amenity in 1967.
The old coastal town, dating from Roman times, is a maze of narrow, Moorish streets, though now surrounded by hotels and shops. However, signs of its history still exist, for example in the remaining tower of Castilla de Santa Ana and in other 16th to 18th century fortifications along the Roquetas coastline.
Situated on the Costa Tropical, Roquetas de Mar possesses many good beaches with amenities for water sports. Other sports that are catered for include golf, tennis and horse-riding.
In contrast to the holiday beaches, the salt marsh at Las Marinas, 5km. south of Roquetas, attracts flamingos, little egrets and avocets, while at Punto Sabinas, bird watchers may be lucky to sight crested larks or a great grey shrike.
