Beaches in Nerja
19 beaches and coves with crystal-clear waters between the cliffs and the Costa del Sol.
In short
Nerja has 19 beaches and coves along about 12 km of coast, from El Playazo in the west to Cantarriján in the east. There are three kinds: the small town beaches below the Balcón de Europa (Calahonda Beach, El Salón Beach and La Caletilla Beach), the long beaches with every service (Burriana Beach, El Playazo Beach and La Torrecilla Beach) and the coves of the Maro-Cerro Gordo cliffs (Maro Beach, Torre del Pino Cove and El Cañuelo Beach).
The most popular is Burriana Beach (4.5 on Google from 18,831 reviews). 5 fly the Blue Flag in 2026: Burriana Beach, Maro Beach, El Chucho Beach, La Torrecilla Beach and El Playazo Beach.
Find your ideal beach
The best beach in Nerja for…
Families with children
Sand, lifeguards in season, showers, beach bars and step-free access.
Walking from the town centre
Small coves right below the Balcón de Europa with calm water; they fill up early in August.
Calahonda Beach · El Salón Beach · La Caletilla Beach · Carabeo Beach
Crystal-clear water and snorkelling
Coves in the Maro-Cerro Gordo cliffs nature reserve, with rocky seabeds and hardly any buildings.
Maro Beach · Barranco de Maro Cove · Torre del Pino Cove · El Cañuelo Beach
Kayaking
The routes to the Maro waterfall and the sea caves start here.
Naturist beaches
Secluded beaches and coves, most reached on foot.
Cantarriján Nudist Beach · Molino de Papel Beach · Las Alberquillas Beach · Torre del Pino Cove
19 beaches
Arena oscura y gravaBlue Flag
Arena oscura y guijarrosBlue Flag
Grava y piedra
Arena oscura y grava
Arena oscura y grava
Grava fina y arena oscura
Dark sand
Guijarros y grava oscura
Guijarros y piedras
Arena oscura y grava
Dark sand
Arena gruesa y piedras pequeñasNerja beaches compared, west to east
Lifeguards and beach bars are for the summer season. Ratings from Google.
| Beach | Area | Type | Length | Lifeguards | Parking | Food & drink | Naturist | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Playazo BeachBlue Flag | West (La Torrecilla) | Dark sand | 1,7 km | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | 3.9 |
| El Chucho BeachBlue Flag | West (La Torrecilla) | Grava fina | 200 m | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | 4.2 |
| La Torrecilla BeachBlue Flag | West (La Torrecilla) | Dark sand | 300 m | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | 4.3 |
| El Salón Beach | Centre (Balcón de Europa) | Dark sand | 200 m | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | 4.6 |
| La Caletilla Beach | Centre (Balcón de Europa) | Dark sand | 50 m | — | Yes | Yes | — | 4.6 |
| Calahonda Beach | Centre (Balcón de Europa) | Dark sand | 120 m | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | 4.5 |
| El Chorrillo Beach | Centre (Balcón de Europa) | Dark sand | 60 m | — | Yes | — | — | 4.5 |
| Carabeo Beach | Centre (Balcón de Europa) | Dark sand | 120 m | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | 4.6 |
| Carabeillo Beach | Centre (Balcón de Europa) | Dark sand | 70 m | Yes | Yes | — | — | 4.6 |
| Burriana BeachBlue Flag | Burriana | Dark sand | 800 m | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | 4.5 |
| Piedra de Tarzán Cove | Burriana | Arena gruesa y piedras pequeñas | 35 m | — | — | — | — | 4.5 |
| Barranco de Maro Cove | Maro | Cantos rodados y grava | 80 m | — | — | — | — | 4.2 |
| La Caleta de Maro Beach | Maro | Dark sand | 250 m | — | — | — | Yes | 4.3 |
| Maro BeachBlue Flag | Maro | Dark sand | 500 m | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | 4.2 |
| Molino de Papel Beach | Maro cliffs | Cantos rodados grandes | 470 m | — | — | — | Yes | 4.1 |
| Las Alberquillas Beach | Maro cliffs | Dark sand | 650 m | — | — | — | Yes | 4.4 |
| Torre del Pino Cove | Maro cliffs | Guijarros y piedras | 115 m | — | — | — | Yes | 4.5 |
| El Cañuelo Beach | Maro cliffs | Grava y piedra | 350 m | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | 4.6 |
| Cantarriján Nudist Beach | Maro cliffs | Guijarros y grava oscura | 380 m | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | 4.5 |
Beaches in Nerja & Maro: the local guide
Nerja and neighbouring Maro pack an astonishing variety of coastline into a few kilometres of the eastern Costa del Sol. From the wide, family-friendly sands of Playa de Burriana to the secluded coves hidden beneath the cliffs of the Maro-Cerro Gordo natural park, there is a beach for every kind of day by the sea.
Use the interactive map and filters above to find your ideal spot: check live jellyfish status, look for Blue Flag beaches, filter by services such as sunbed hire, chiringuitos, showers or parking, and sort by distance to find the closest beach to you.