El Cañuelo Beach
Pebble cove with very clear water in the Maro-Cerro Gordo Cliffs, with two beach bars and a summer minibus down from the car park.
El Cañuelo Beach (Playa del Cañuelo) lies inside the Maro-Cerro Gordo Cliffs Natural Area, between Maro and the border with Granada province, about 12 km by car from the centre of Nerja. It is a 350-metre cove of gravel and pebbles at the foot of the cliffs, with very clear water and rocks on both sides that make it one of the best places in Nerja for snorkelling. You cannot drive down to the cove: you leave the car at the free car park on the N-340 and take the summer minibus or walk down.
Getting down to the beach
From the car park to the beach is just over 1 km along a wide, steep track (a drop of about 160 metres). In season, a minibus does the trip in about 5 minutes, leaving roughly every 15 minutes from 10 am. In summer 2026 the ticket cost €2.60 return: pay in cash when you get on and keep the ticket for the way back. On foot it takes about 20 minutes down and over half an hour back up, a hard climb in the heat. In the late afternoon there are queues for the ride back up.
Facilities
There are two beach bars on the sand: Chiringuito Las Piedras, the best rated (fish, rice dishes and sardine skewers; about €20-40 per person), and Restaurante El Paraíso del Cañuelo, simpler and cheaper (€10-20). In summer you can hire sunloungers with a parasol, about €10 each in 2026 according to visitors. There are no showers, no public toilets and no bins: take your rubbish back up to the containers at the car park. Dogs are not allowed and camping is forbidden.
What it is like
The shore is gravel and flat pebbles, with a little more sand towards the eastern end, so water shoes help. The cove is sheltered between two headlands and the water is usually calm, but it gets deep quickly in the middle. For snorkelling, head for the rocks at either end, where there are lots of fish close to the shore. In the afternoon, tour boats anchor off the beach. There is little shade: bring a parasol, water and sun cream.
To the west is Torre del Pino Cove and to the east, on the Granada border, Cantarriján nudist beach. If you want a beach with more facilities in this area, Maro Beach is 4 km away. Compare it with the rest in our guide to Nerja's beaches.
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1 videoEl Cañuelo Beach — video 1
Beach information
Beach fact sheet
Jellyfish today
Today, 31/10/2026, the jellyfish risk is no risk. The water is at 20°C.
No recent sightings recorded at El Cañuelo Beach.
No swimmer has reported jellyfish here in recent days. In these conditions swimming is usually calm, though it is always wise to stay alert.
If a jellyfish stings you
- Get out of the water and go to the nearest lifeguard post.
- Rinse the area with sea water (never fresh water) and remove any remains without rubbing.
- If there is no lifeguard, call 112 or Nerja Civil Protection.
Weather
Expected crowds
Tides
In the Mediterranean the tide is very small: today the difference between high and low tide is only about 40 cm, so it barely affects swimming.
Slightly larger variation than usual for the Mediterranean. Check the low-tide times for more beach space.
Water sports & activities
This beach has no water-sports service, but you can enjoy them very close by. We show you the nearest beaches where you can book them.
Kayak
Nearest: Playa de Maro (4.3 km), Playa de Burriana (7 km), Playa El Playazo (9.4 km)
View
Paddleboarding (SUP)
Nearest: Playa de Maro (4.3 km), Playa de Burriana (7 km), Playa El Playazo (9.4 km)
View
Snorkelling
Nearest: Playa de Burriana (7 km)
View
Jet skis
Nearest: Playa de Burriana (7 km)
View
Parasailing
Nearest: Playa de Burriana (7 km)
View
Boat trips
Nearest: Playa de Burriana (7 km)
ViewBest time to visit
The swimming season runs from June to October. The best months to enjoy the beach with good weather and fewer people are May, June, September and October.
Where to park
The Cañuelo beach car park is free and sits beside the N-340 at km 302: at the roundabout, follow the «Playa del Cañuelo» sign. It is a dirt area next to the motorway viaduct, where the minibus to the beach and the walking track both start. It is not big for how busy it gets in summer: in July, August and at weekends, arrive before 10 am. When it is full, many people park on the hard shoulder of the N-340, a winding road with no pavement; better not to.
How to get to El Cañuelo Beach
From the car park to the beach: private cars cannot go down. In season, take the minibus (about 5 minutes, €2.60 return in 2026); the rest of the year, walk down the track: about 20 minutes down and just over half an hour back up.
By bus: there is no town bus out here, so a car or taxi is the practical option.
When the minibus runs
It runs every day from mid-June to mid-September and, before and after that, on some weekends in the morning only. In the official 2024 calendar (below), the daily service ran from 15 June to 15 September, 10 am to 9 pm, and on weekends in early June and late September from 10 am to 8 pm. Outside those dates you have to walk down.
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Review profile
Summary of the 978 most recent Google and Tripadvisor reviews (May 2014 – August 2026). These are visitors' opinions, analysed by EsNerja.
According to 978 recent reviews on Google (701) and Tripadvisor (277): most mentioned: crystal-clear water, great for snorkelling · quiet, clean natural setting · frequent minibus, 2.60 euros return · two beach bars plus sunbed and paddleboard hire.
Google vs Tripadvisor
Google 4.6 · Tripadvisor 4.3
Both platforms agree.
By review language
Spanish 4.5 (558) · English 4.1 (80)
Language hints at who is reviewing (locals and Spanish visitors, or foreign visitors).
Last 12 months
4.6 (73) vs 4.6 (123) the year before
The rating is steady.
Months with the best average rating
June, September, October
Based on review dates; not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions
No. The track down to the cove is closed to private cars because it is a protected natural area. Leave the car at the free car park at km 302 of the N-340 and take the minibus (in season) or walk down.
In summer 2026, €2.60 per person, return (it was €2.50 in 2025). Pay in cash when you get on; the same ticket covers the ride back up, so keep it. The trip takes about 5 minutes.
It runs every day from mid-June to mid-September, roughly every 15 minutes from 10 am; in 2024 the hours were 10 am to 9 pm. On some weekends in early June and late September it runs from 10 am to 8 pm. The rest of the year there is no minibus and you walk down.
About 20 minutes down and just over half an hour back up. It is just over 1 km along a wide dirt track with a drop of about 160 metres. Wear closed shoes and avoid the climb in the hottest hours.
At the free car park beside the N-340 at km 302 (follow the «Playa del Cañuelo» sign at the roundabout). In July, August and at weekends it fills up early: arrive before 10 am.
There are two beach bars on the sand: Chiringuito Las Piedras (4.5 out of 5 on Google from over 1,100 reviews; about €20-40 per person), known for its fish and rice dishes, and Restaurante El Paraíso del Cañuelo (3.5 out of 5; €10-20), with sardine skewers, paella and sharing plates. In August, book ahead at Las Piedras.
No. There are no showers, no public toilets and no bins. The beach bars have toilets for their customers. Take your rubbish back up to the containers at the car park.
Yes, in season there are sunloungers with parasols for hire on the beach: about €10 each in 2026, according to visitors. There is very little natural shade.
Yes, it is one of the best in Nerja. The water is very clear and the rocks at either end of the cove have lots of fish close to the shore. Bring a mask, snorkel and water shoes. If you would rather go with a guide, see the snorkelling trip in Nerja.
The town council includes all the beaches of Nerja and Maro in its lifeguard service, which in 2026 ran from 1 June to 27 September, until 9 pm. Even so, some visitors have not seen a post at the cove, so swim carefully: it gets deep quickly in the middle.
The water is calm, there are fish close to the shore and the minibus saves the climb. But it is pebbly, shade is scarce and there are no showers or public toilets: bring water shoes, a parasol, water and food. With small children, Maro Beach is easier.
No. Dogs are not allowed on the beach, except assistance dogs.
In July and August, yes: the car park fills up and in the late afternoon there are queues for the minibus back up. Early in the morning, on weekdays or in September it is much quieter.
No, swimwear is the norm. The nudist beach in the area is Cantarriján, 1.5 km to the east.
What's nearby
Torre del Pino Cove
No pets · Nudist beach · No camping · No facilities
Cantarriján Nudist Beach
Shuttle bus · Showers · No pets · Parking
Las Alberquillas Beach
No pets · Nudist beach · No camping · No facilities
Molino de Papel Beach
No pets · Nudist beach · No camping · No facilities
Keep exploring
El Cañuelo Beach
Maro BeachesWhat visitors say
366 mentions in reviews