Poblado Naturista (Vera Natura), Spain

AT THE START of the new century, a number of separate naturist apartment complexes with individual architecture and facilities have been developed along the beach at Vera (‘Vera Playa’) – first there was Vera Natura, then followed La Menara, Bahia de Vera, Parque de Vera and Torremar Natura. They have now grown together into a large naturist village – Poblado Naturista, each set in well-kept traffic-free gardens.

LOCATION The town of Vera is situated on the Costa Almeria at the north-eastern end of Andalusia, Spain’s southern-most province. The nearby mile-long sandy beach of the same name has been officially designated for naturist use.

CLIMATE The Costa Almeria boasts 322 days of sunshine annually, with an average of five hours daily even in winter, producing enviable tans year-round. The sea is noticeably warmer than on the Costa del Sol. The air is so clean and clear that nearby Tabernas has been chosen as the site of an observatory. The sea is similarly unpolluted.

RESORTS Vera Natura has direct access to the beach. There is a large pool, an indoor pool, a children’s pool and play area and petanca (boule). Football and volleyball are on the beach.
La Menara is 200m from the beach. Pleasant gardens with swimming pool and children’s pool. Built in Moorish style with fountains and arched windows and doors.
Bahia de Vera is 300m from the beach and has well-kept gardens with a pool and children’s pool. There is also an indoor pool, small tennis court (bring your own bats and balls) and a children’s playground.
Parque de Vera is 150m from the beach and has extensive gardens and sunbathing lawns. The pool is floodlit at night.
Torremar Natura is 250m from the beach has a pool and children’s pool with sunbathing lawns and a kiddies’ corner as well as an indoor pool.

ACCOMMODATION All accommodation is privately owned and individually equipped. Most apartments are in 2-storey buildings with terrace and a small garden, garden furniture and 2 loungers on the ground floor, or large balcony on the first floor. Duplex apartments are on 2 upper floors. Kitchens are well equipped with at least a 2-ring hob, some with microwave or grill, fridge, coffeemaker, toaster, all crockery and cutlery, even satellite TV and air-conditioning (extra charge).

Apartment 1 (1-2 people) Living room with bed/settee, kitchenette with dining table or breakfast bar, bedroom with mostly twin beds, some with double bed and bathroom/wc.

Apartment 2 (4-5 people and 1 child) Living room with bed/settee and kitchenette, bedroom with double bed, bedroom with twin beds, bathroom with shower or round bath tub and wc.

Duplex (4 people and 1 child) – Vera Natura only Living room with bed/settee, kitchenette with breakfast bar and wc on the lower level; bedroom with double bed, second bedroom with twin beds and bathroom with round bathtub on the upper level.

Bed linen is changed once a week, towels twice. Cots are available at no supplement There is a charge for private covered parking, otherwise there is free on-street parking.

FACILITIES A restaurant/snack bar (‘Chiringuito’) is right on the beach and serves à la carte meals as well as fast food. There is a nude side with terrace and a ‘textile’ side as well as several other restaurants in the nude area. Vera Natura has a well-stocked supermarket, service launderette and a reception desk with multi-lingual staff.

Within two miles there are both a golf course with 2 x 18 holes and also a scuba-diving school. Further restaurants, supermarket and cash machines are in nearby Puerto Rey and Garrucha.
A bar with musical entertainment is near Reception. (The evening entertainment at the nearby Hotel Vera Playa is also open to casual visitors).

SIGHTS & EXCURSIONS The area has many archaeological sites revealing Phoenician, Roman and Carthaginian histories. Visits to the local markets are very popular: Mojacar on Wednesdays, Garrucha on Fridays and Vera on Saturdays.

Garrucha is the nearest town, about three miles away. It is a little fishing port with interesting fish and street markets.

Mojacar, about 10 miles away, is a picturesque village of flower-decked white houses on a promontory, dating back some 5,000 years. It overlooks the shimmering Mediterranean. Visitors from all over the world are attracted by its colourful past and give its bars and restaurants a cosmopolitan atmosphere.

The Indalo, also known as the Mojacar Puppet, has been used in Mojacar since ancient times: When finishing the white-washing of their houses, the townswomen would draw this symbol over the doors to keep bad spells and storms away. The Indalo is now the symbol of the whole province of Almeria, its gracious ambassador and messenger of luck.

Mini-Hollywood: The desert near the village of Tabernas was the scene of many Spaghetti westerns: Mini-Hollywood consists of two Wild West towns purpose-built for filming such epics as The Good, the Bad & the Ugly. Other local film productions include Lawrence of Arabia, Anthony & Cleopatra, Treasure Island, Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade. See the saloon, jail, bank, sheriff’s office and watch a bank raid and shoot-out at midday.

Almeria, the province’s capital, is dominated by the Alcazaba, a 10C fortress. Visit the old town with its picturesque narrow streets hugging the hill below and the cathedral. In the modern part of the town there are enticing shopping malls, and a busy port serves to export lead, iron ore and white marble. Other sources of income are agriculture and tourism. Open-air market day is Tuesday.

Granada is one of Spain’s most interesting and beautiful ancient cities. After a pleasant drive through the mountains, visit - on foot - the 14C Alhambra, the citadel of the Caliphs of Granada, perched on a hill overlooking the city, and the nearby Generalife gardens. Then on to the cathedral where, in the Capilla Real (royal chapel), the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella of Castille are buried, and the Silk Bazaar.

Vera is just 6 miles away. On Saturdays most of the town centre becomes a giant open-air market selling practically everything.

WHAT OUR VERA NATURA HOLIDAY PRICES INCLUDE