Nerja, beaches for everyone
Nerja has no fewer than 10 beaches! Two of these - Burriana and Torrecilla - were awarded the prestigious Blue Flag award in 2006. The Blue Flag deals with water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety. Burriana Beach is one of only 2 beaches in the whole of Andalucia to have won a 'Q-Standard Quality Award' for its fantastic quality and cleanliness.
Add to this the other, more isolated, beaches along the coast close to Nerja and in neighbouring Maro, and you can see why Nerja is the perfect location for a beach holiday, whether you are looking for watersports and beach bars, small secluded coves or almost deserted beaches that can only be accessed by foot.
Playa Burriana, Nerja - Blue Flag beach, Q-Standard Award
This is the largest and most famous of Nerja's beaches, and is composed of a mix of fine sand and pebbles. There are a wide-range of restaurants, cafes and shops on the beach front, many of which serve delicious fresh fish and seafood.
Palm umbrellas and sunbeds can be hired here as well as pedalos in high season. There are also watersports and other activities on offer such as scuba-diving and day cruises along the coast.
Playa Burriana can be reached by road (there is plenty of parking but it does fill up in summer, particularly at the weekends) or by foot from the town centre, passing through the Parador area of town.
Playa Torrecilla, Nerja - Blue Flag beach
This is probably Nerja's second most popluar beach, at the other side of town from Burriana Beach. It has been artificially widened to create a perfect beach for young children with shallow and generally calm water, and soft sand. Sun-beds and umbrellas can be hired here and there are plenty of restaurants and cafés in the vicinity.
Playa el Salón. Nerja
This Nerja beach is a real find! Just a stone's throw from the centre of Nerja but not stumbled across by the majority of visitors, it is small and secluded, with good sand and a beach bar. To get there, follow the cobbled walkway which leads off to the right of the Balcón de Europa, down the side of the Toboso apart-hotel.
Playa Calahonda, Nerja
This can be found to the left of the Balcón and is reached via a fairly steep path down by the side of the Tourist Office on the left-hand side of the Balcón. This is a small and picturesque fisherman's beach, with a mixture of sand and small pebbles. The rocks on either side make it a sheltered beach and there is a restaurant open during the summer months, with sun-beds and umbrellas for hire too.
Playa Caletilla, Nerja
This is a very small beach in front of the Hotel Balcón de Europa, with softer sand than some of the other beaches in the area which tend to be more shingly. It can be reached either via the Hotel or from the Playa de Calahonda.
Playa Carabeo, Nerja
This beach is found along the coastal promenade (Paseo de los Carabineros) which runs from the Balcón to Playa Burriana (although the last part of this is now closed due to unstable cliffs). It can be reached either from this coastal path or from the end of Carabeo street via a flight of steps.
Playa Carabeillo, Nerja
This small bay lies between Carabeo beach and Burriana beach, and can be reached via steps from the end of Carabeo street. The coastal promenade which would previously have taken you from here to Burriana Beach is currently closed due to rock falls from the cliffs.
Playa El Chucho, Nerja
This is a small beach in between Torrecilla beach and El Playazo, where the River Chillar reaches the sea.
Playa El Chorrillo, Nerja
This small cove can be reached from the coastal path (Paseo de los Carabineros) and is between Playa Calahonda and Playa Carabeo.
Playa El Playazo, Nerja
This beach is at the most western end of Nerja and at about 2km long, it is Nerja's longest and most rugged beach, stretching right along to the Marinas de Nerja hotel complex It is a good place to go to escape the crowds, and the beach still has all the usual facilities such as showers and toilets (open only during the summer months) and beach bars along the front. Access to the beach is possible both by car and on foot.
Even more beaches near Nerja: Almuñecar and La Herradura
Beaches in Almuñecar and La Herradura The old coast road from Nerja to Almuñecar is a most scenic route, and between La Herradura and Almuñecar there are in the region of 25 beaches to choose from. If you are in a car they are easily accessible from our villas, These range from secluded coves to main beachfronts.
Playa de Cantarriján
Playa de Cantarriján lies on the western side of the Cerro Gordo promontory and there are two ways to reach it by car. The original entrance is a steep road winding down the hillside, in good condition, and is signposted off the old road that runs around Cerro Gordo. A newer entrance, off the main N340 about 200m from the tunnel, affords less arduous access to the beach. The beach is a mix of sand and shingle and is designated a nudist bathing area, although the western end tends to be conventional sunbathers. There are a couple of good beach bars one of which is open throughout the year.
Between mid-June and mid September vehicular access is not possible for conservation reasons. Cars can parked and there is a mini bus running all day to take you down to the beach 1€ each way.
Playa de La Herradura,
The beach runs the entire 2 km width of the horseshoe bay that gives the village of La Herradura its name. It is mainly fine sand and even in summer it's never really crowded. There are numerous beachbars, restaurants and shops and there are plenty of watersport activities available.
Playa de Berengueles,
A small sandy beach beside the Marina del Este on the rocky Punta de la Mona and very popular for watersports based in the port. There is a good beachbar/ restaurant.
Playa del Muerto,
Access to this beach is on foot from the Playa de Cotobro. It consists of secluded shingle coves and rocks and is officially recognised as a nudist bathing area. There are no services in the area
Playa de Cotobro,
A picturesque bay just around the headland with a small sand and shingle beach and one restaurant. Walking around the rocks leads to Playa del Muerto.
Playa San Cristóbal,
This is a long shingle beach to the west of the town. Its has a wide promenade with an assortment of hotels and apartment blocks. There are plenty of beach bars and restaurants to choose from and various seasonal watersports.
Playa Puerta del Mar,
This is Almuñécar's main beach and runs from the aquapark past the mouth of the Rio Verde as far as the castle and Cross in the centre of town. It is a spacious beach and is very popular during the high season.
Playa Velilla,
This is a 2 km sand and shingle beach running the entire length of Velilla. Bars, restaurants and shops are dotted all along the front, and there is a watersports centre in the middle of the beach. Access is easy but parking in summer can be a problem.
Playa El Tesorillo,
This popular sandy beach is small but cosy and there are two good beach bars. Tesorillo means 'The Little Treasure' by the way.
Playa El Pozuelo,
Another small beach shaded by eucalyptus trees - crack the leaves on the spine and take a whiff! This beach does tend to get crowded in high season as it's close to a large hotel. There are a couple of places on the beach to eat and parking is generally not bad
Playa de Cabria,
Access to the beach is via the N340 down the riverbed or from the coastal 'paseo' via Taramay. Yet another small (but popular) beach with good eating facilities. An even smaller cove can be reached by walking east around the headland.