The Almeria province is Andalucias most eastern province and is the hottest and driest of them all. This province takes 3000 hours of direct , relentless sunshine beating down on upon large stretch of mountainous semi-desert. Northwest of the coastal capital, Almeria city, there is a great sucession of mountain ranges rising to over 2000m, along with dry riverbeds. To the east of Almeria the arid mountains meet the coast at the hilly Cabo de Gata peninsula. Here there are magnificent beaches which are strung between sensational cliffs. There are beautiful coastal resorts such as San Jose and Mojacar, and quaint villages inland like Nijar which enhance the appeal in an otherwise desolate environment.