Isla de San Andrés

Isla de San Andrés is a small volcanic islet complex off the coast of Carboneras, in the province of Almería, sitting right in front of La Puntica beach. It acts as a natural gateway to the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park and holds official protection as a Natural Monument, declared by decree of the Andalusian regional government in 2003.

What does the island look like?

Seen from above, the two rocky islets that make up the site form a shape often compared to a whale — the larger one known as Isla Grande and the smaller as Isla Chica. Both are low-lying and sit very close to the mainland, making them easy to spot from the beach without needing a boat. Their volcanic origin gives the rock a dark, rugged texture that stands out sharply against the pale sand of the nearby shoreline.

What lies beneath the water?

The real richness of this site is underwater. Extensive meadows of Posidonia oceanica, a flowering plant endemic to the Mediterranean, surround the islets and perform several essential ecological functions: they prevent coastal erosion, oxygenate the water and keep it clear. These meadows support a wide range of marine life, including groupers, corvinas, cuttlefish, octopuses and crabs, which feed and spawn among the seagrass. The condition of these underwater habitats is one of the main reasons the area was placed under legal protection.

Which animals can be spotted here?

Above the waterline, Isla de San Andrés is an important site for seabirds. Visitors may observe shearwaters, cormorants and storm petrels around the rocks. Some species, such as the yellow-legged gull, use the islets as a nesting ground, adding further ecological value to this small but biodiverse stretch of coastline.

Does the island also have historical significance?

Yes — beyond its natural value, Isla de San Andrés carries a cultural dimension as well. Traces of a Hispano-Muslim necropolis have been found on the site, giving it additional historical and heritage interest. The presence of such an archaeological find on such a small, isolated location suggests that the surroundings of Carboneras were inhabited and used by people long before the area's modern tourism development.

Why is it worth a look?

Isla de San Andrés packs geology, marine biology, birdlife and history into a very small area. Its proximity to La Puntica beach makes it a natural landmark for anyone visiting this stretch of the Almería coast, while its status as a Natural Monument underlines how ecologically significant this small fragment of Andalusian shoreline is, despite its modest size.

Frequently asked questions

Can you walk onto the island? Isla de San Andrés is a protected Natural Monument, and its main conservation goal is to safeguard seabird nesting habitats and the underwater Posidonia meadows — access and activities in such protected areas are regulated by nature conservation rules.

Where exactly is it located? The islets lie off the coast of Carboneras, in the province of Almería, directly in front of La Puntica beach, east of the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park.

What animals live around the island? The surrounding waters are home to groupers, corvinas, cuttlefish, octopuses and crabs, while seabirds, including the yellow-legged gull, nest on the rocks above.

What gives the island its protected status? The site was declared a Natural Monument under Decree 250/2003, issued on 9 September 2003 by the Andalusian regional government.