Salar de los Canos

Salar de los Canos is a coastal saline wetland in the municipality of Vera, in the province of Almería, Andalusia. Sitting between the mouths of the Antas and Almanzora rivers, right by Vera Playa, it is one of the few surviving pockets of natural wetland along this stretch of the Costa de Almería.

What is this place?

The name "salar" refers to the way seawater seeps and filters into the lagoon, giving its waters a distinctive salinity and shaping a unique halophilic vegetation adapted to salty conditions. The site covers roughly 57.38 hectares and is listed in the inventory of wetlands of Andalusia. Although the lagoon was once connected to the sea, the spread of tourist development around Vera Playa has permanently cut it off, turning it into an enclosed inland ecosystem fed mainly by groundwater and rainfall.

What will you see?

Salar de los Canos is above all a haven for birdwatchers. More than 150 species have been documented here, making it one of the region's most important ornithological sites. Greater flamingos are present year-round, and the lagoon is also one of the few places in the area where the endangered white-headed duck and the marbled teal breed. In spring, the wetland fills with migratory species arriving from Africa, some staying for months to nest, while winter brings flocks escaping the cold of northern Europe. Herons and other wading birds round out the scene, feeding along the shallow margins.

How to get there?

The lagoon lies in Vera Playa, between the towns of Vera and Garrucha, and forms part of a larger wetland complex that also includes the Laguna de Puerto Rey. The easiest access point is via Calle Río Antas, from where paths run along the lagoon's edges, allowing visitors to walk quietly and watch the birds without disturbing their natural habitat.

When to visit?

Spring is the best time to come, when the lagoon is alive with birds returning from Africa, while winter brings a different set of wintering species. Bringing binoculars is worthwhile — this is not a built-up tourist attraction but a natural reserve, where quiet and patience are the keys to good wildlife watching.

Conservation status

In February 2026, the Vera town council unanimously approved an urban planning agreement that permanently protects Salar de los Canos from further construction. The decision launched formal procedures to guarantee the ongoing protection, conservation and public use of the site, the result of years of effort by local organizations and residents committed to safeguarding this unique ecosystem.

Frequently asked questions

Is Salar de los Canos open to visitors? Yes, the site is publicly accessible and can be explored on foot along marked paths, especially from the Calle Río Antas entrance in Vera Playa.

What birds can you see at the lagoon? The most notable is the greater flamingo, present all year, alongside the endangered white-headed duck and the marbled teal. More than 150 bird species have been recorded overall.

Is the lagoon connected to the sea? Historically it was, but tourist development around Vera Playa has permanently isolated it, turning it into a closed saline ecosystem.

Is it worth bringing binoculars? Definitely — this is primarily a birdwatching site, and binoculars make it much easier to spot species feeding on the far shallows.