El Toyo Holidays

The Costa de Almeria’s developed a rep for being one of Spain’s must-visit spots for chilled-out holidays. The town of El Toyo, in particular, flaunts a formula that’s bound to get the R&R flowing from day one. The beach is pin-drop peaceful, the family-run eateries are spot-on for candlelit dinners and a sea-view promenade’s on hand for relaxing evening walks.

If you’re looking for an alternative to sun-worshipping, you can trundle over to El Toyo’s 18-hole golf course in less than five minutes’ drive. It’s as professional as they come – it even hosted an international tournament in 2005 – and stacks up a set of palm-and-olive-tree-dotted fairways that are perfect for pros and newcomers alike. Beginners can get to grips on the putting green, or start from square one during a lesson at the club’s academy.

If you’d prefer to leave civilisation behind and get into the thick of El Toyo’s wild side, the Cabo de Gata Nature Park is the place to be. It’s the biggest protected patch of coastline in Andalucia, dolling out 460 square kilometres of deserted beaches, jagged cliffs, zigzagging mountain ranges and bird-filled wetlands. You can get there in under 30 minutes’ drive from El Toyo’s town centre.