Europe's only desert is found in Almería, and is part of the National Park of Sierra Nevada (in the Sierra Nevada mountain range), which it shares with Granada province.  The desert landscape and climate that characterizes part of the province have made it an ideal setting for Western films, especially during the 1960s. Because of the demand for these locations, quite a number of Western towns were built near the Desert of Tabernas. Films such as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and A Fistful of Dollars were shot here. Years later the film of 800 Bullets was filmed in the same place. Large sections of Lawrence of Arabia and Patton were shot there as well.  The principal river is Rio Andarax (Andarax River), which is located near Granada in the Alpujarras. 

Roquetas de Mar is one of the two major resorts in Costa de Almería, the other being Mojácar. With its vast beaches and the fact that Roquetas does not attract the sheer number of tourists as some of the other resorts, there is plenty of room to lounge around and sunbathe, or to take a leisurely swim, without the problems of overcrowing seen on many Spanish beach resorts. However, since El Nado relocated to Playa Serena, parents have chosen not to holiday there with their children.

Roquetas de Mar has many facilities including hotels, restaurants, tapas bars, a bull ring, an auditorium and a language school.