The Costa Almeria is located between the province of Granada (Costa Tropical) in the region of Andalucia and the region of Murcia as can be seen on this map (image) with Almeria port and city being right on the tip. The city has an impressive Alcazaba castle which is open to visitors and worth seeing. 
Much of the Costa Almeria has a micro climate meaning it is warm throughout the winter months. Weather data records show it has the warmest and mildest winter temperatures from October to April with low rainfall. This climate is particularly helpful for people with arthritic conditions.
Golfers and package holidaymakers will be familiar with the resorts of Roquetas de Mar and Aguadulce, to the south west of Almeria city, offering all modern and cosmopolitan facilities plus some magnificent sandy beaches and wonderful golf courses. Sadly it also has acres of plasti-cultur (plastic greenhouses) which keep the northern part of Europe in salad vegetables throughout their much colder winters. Roquetas is located some 9km west of Almeria with the salt lagoons of Las Marinas just 4km south of the town and an area where flamingos and other water birds thrive. Almerimar is a newly developed area areas offering some gated communities, marinas, water sports, golf courses, hotels and numerous other facilities. Both Almerimar and Roquetas de Mar located on a low level peninsula sheltered by the mountain ranges behind providing warmer winters and cooling sea breezes in the summer.
Costa Almeria is one of the last remaining unspoilt coastlines in Spain from e rugged and protected coastline of the Cabo de Gata natural park (San José is the most well known beach) and an area with a very low population density, to the sandy beaches of Mojacar playa (with numerous beachside restaurants) and the hilltop Moorish white pueblo of Mojacar itself. This is best explored on foot as the streets were designed for donkeys and not cars. Mojacar pueblo has stunning and extensive mountain and sea views, easy to see why it was chosen to protect the area. the fishing port of Garrucha, Vera (which also has one of the largest and best naturist complexes in Europe) and San Juan de los Terreros (still a largely Spanish resort). 
Development in many coastal areas in Almeria has been carefully restricted to 3 floors above ground level with many complexes being staggered back against the hillside to blend in with the natural terrain. This has allowed them to retain their traditional feel yet still offer all modern facilities and property to purchase without wrecking their natural heritage. Of these municipal areas Vera is by far the fastest growing and a new international school and college (for all age ranges) will be opening between the pueblo and the beach in Autumn 2008.