La Caleta de Maro Beach

Leave the car in Maro and walk down the road to Maro Beach. After about 5 minutes, on the right, a concrete track heads off between greenhouses; at the fork, a wooden post points to “Playa La Caleta”. The track ends at a long staircase of about 160 steps down to the sand. In all it is 15-20 minutes down; the way back, uphill and usually in the sun, takes longer. In summer the town council's shuttle bus uses the same road, but it goes to Maro Beach: you reach La Caleta on foot.

Facilities: none

There is no lifeguard, beach bar, showers, toilets or bins. Bring water, food, a parasol, water shoes and a bag to take your rubbish back up. For food, the nearest places are up in Maro, such as the Hogar y Centro Social de Maro (closed on Mondays), with good-value home cooking, paella and sharing plates, or the Chiringuito Playa Maro on the next beach, although to get there you have to climb back up to the road.

What it is like

The shore is dark sand and gravel, and getting into the water there are large stones. When there is an easterly (levante) storm, the sea takes some of the sand and the cove is left almost all stones. The water is clear and the rocks at either end are full of fish: it is one of the best coves in Nerja for snorkelling. Some days seaweed piles up on the shore and there are mosquitoes, so bring repellent. Nudism has been practised here for decades: it is common but not compulsory, and nudists and swimmers in costumes share the beach. It is not accessible for people with reduced mobility.

The kayaks: La Caleta is about 500 metres from the Maro waterfall, and the kayak and paddleboard trips to the waterfall stop here for a swim. In July and August groups arrive all day long, especially on the left-hand (east) side of the cove. If you want peace and quiet, go early in the morning, on a weekday or outside the summer. Close by are Barranco de Maro cove and Piedra de Tarzán; all the coves in the area are in our guide to Maro beaches.