in Costa Almeria, Spain
Barcelo Cabo de Gata
Updated 1 July 2026
- Baby
- Toddler
- Kid
- Teen
This is the gateway hotel to the Cabo de Gata natural park, sitting in the purpose-built El Toyo quarter twenty minutes from Almeria and about ten from the airport. Four outdoor pools, one of them heated, a kids club for five to twelves and a big calm site make it work for families, but the real reason to book is what is next door: volcanic coves, empty beaches and the wildest coastline in mainland Spain.
Our verdict
The one to book if you want a comfortable, spacious hotel and a week of exploring Cabo de Gata. Hire the car from the airport, you are ten minutes away.
The rooms
Around 230 bright rooms, many with sea views, all with a terrace, a bath as well as a shower and plenty of wardrobe space. Family configurations connect two rooms, which is the honest way to sleep five without a sofa bed argument.
At a glance
- Pools
- 4 outdoor, one heated
- Kids club
- Ages 5 to 12, included
- Airport
- About 10 minutes by car
- Nature
- Cabo de Gata park next door
How the KidProof Score works
Every hotel is rated on eight things families actually care about, then weighted by how much each one drives your choice. Room setup counts the most. The little touches break the ties.
Sleeps how many? Connecting rooms, family suites, a real extra bed?
Clean travel cot, high chair, bottle warmer, changing table, kit to borrow.
Shallow pool or paddling area, playground, kids club (free or paid).
Quick breakfast, kids menus, allergy options, snacks on hand.
Secured windows, protected corners, watched pool, well kept grounds.
Laundry, in-room fridge, stroller access, parking, reliable Wi-Fi.
Close to family attractions, easy transport, park tickets or access.
Welcome gift for the child, staff who talk to kids, themed rooms.
Why families love it
- Four outdoor pools, one heated for shoulder season
- Kids club for ages 5 to 12 plus a playground
- Ten minutes from Almeria airport, twenty from the city
- On the doorstep of the Cabo de Gata natural park
🗓️A day here with kids
- 8:30
Breakfast then load the car
Take water and shade, the park has almost no facilities.
- 10:00
A cove morning
Genoveses or Monsul, both are calmer before the afternoon wind.
- 14:00
Lunch in San Jose
The little port town has proper restaurants and shade, unlike the beaches.
- 17:00
Hotel pools
Back for the heated pool and the club's late session.
Family things to do nearby
Playa de los Genoveses
A huge wild bay with no buildings at all, shallow and sheltered, reached by a dirt track and worth every bump.
Cabo de Gata salt flats
Free hides along the road let children watch flamingos through the scopes, best in late afternoon light.
Boat trip to the coves
Small boats from San Jose run family trips along the volcanic cliffs, with a swim stop in clear water.
Is it right for your kids?
Baby
0 to 1 yr
Spacious rooms with baths, cots and quiet corridors, though the park beaches are not pram terrain.
Toddler
1 to 3 yrs
Shallow pool areas and the playground work well, and Genoveses is the one park beach that suits this age.
Kid
4 to 11 yrs
Kids club, snorkelling in the coves and flamingo spotting, an unusually interesting week for this age.
Teen
12 yrs and up
Kayaking, diving and the drive to San Jose give teens more to do here than at a standard beach resort.
Plan your stay
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Live prices & availability
Stays near Calle Juegos de Casablanca, El Toyo, Retamar, 04131 Almeria, Spain
We compare Booking, Expedia, Hotels.com and more so you book at the best price. Prices update in real time.
Parents also ask
Is the hotel beach sandy?
The El Toyo shore is a mix of coarse sand and gravel, fine for swimming but not the soft white sand of the brochures. The park's sandy bays are a short drive away.
Can we do this without a car?
You can stay put by the pools, but El Toyo has little around it and the park is the whole point, so a car is strongly recommended.
Does it work outside high summer?
Yes, and it is one of the few here that does, thanks to the heated pool. Cabo de Gata in April or October is warm, empty and glorious.
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