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Maro

Discover Maro, a sleepy whitewashed village perched above dramatic sea cliffs just minutes from Nerja — charming streets, coastal walks and the gateway to some of the best beaches on the coast.

Directions

Maro is a village of about 760 people belonging to Nerja, just 3–4 km east of the centre, above the sea. It is the easternmost coastal village in Málaga province: beyond it lies Granada. The Nerja Caves are here (five young men from Maro discovered them in 1959), and from here you go down to the coves of the Maro-Cerro Gordo Cliffs Natural Area.

It was the Roman Detunda, a trading post on the road between Sexi (Almuñécar) and Malaca (Málaga), and its name comes from the Latin Marum, a white-flowered plant. Today it is a small, quiet village of white houses, with a viewpoint square in front of the church and tropical fruit orchards all around.

What to see in Maro

The square and the Church of Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas. The heart of the village: a square with views of the sea and the farmland, opposite the small church of the patron saint.
The Nerja Caves, at the entrance to the village: the big visit in the area, with its museum, gardens and a restaurant with views.
The ruins of the sugar mill: Felipe de Armengol built it in 1585, and in 1879 it became the San Joaquín steam-powered factory.
The Acueducto del Águila ("Eagle Bridge"), four tiers of arches that carried water to the mill, on the way out of Nerja towards Maro.
The Maro watchtower, one of the coastal lookout towers against pirates, above the cliffs.
Maro's beaches and coves: Maro beach, with the Maro waterfall dropping into the sea, the Barranco de Maro cove and, further along the cliffs, El Cañuelo beach. See them all, from La Caleta to Cantarriján, in our guide to Maro beaches.
The cliffs from the sea: by kayak to the waterfall, on a sunset boat trip or on foot along the Maro-Cerro Gordo hiking trails.

How to get from Nerja to Maro

By car it is 5–10 minutes on the N-340 or the A-7 motorway (Nerja Caves and Maro exit). By bus, ALSA runs services from Nerja to Maro throughout the day from the bus station on Avenida de Pescia: about 10 minutes, with tickets from €1. You can check times and book on Omio. On foot or by bike: since June 2026 a continuous cycle lane of almost 3.5 km has linked Nerja and Maro.

In summer (mid-June to mid-September) car access to Maro beach is restricted: you leave the car in the car park at the Nerja Caves junction and take the shuttle, which runs every 20 minutes and costs €3 return. More details on the Nerja town bus page.

Festivals in Maro

The fair and festival of the patron saint, the Virgen de las Maravillas, is in September. In mid-January the village lights bonfires for San Antón, and every 31 October it holds Maroween, its ever more popular Halloween party (in 2026 it has been postponed to Sunday 1 November because of the official mourning): spooky parades, trick-or-treat, roast chestnuts and sweet potatoes, costume and façade contests and music in the church square from 5 pm. The hour-by-hour 2026 programme is on our Maroween 2026 page. In November comes the Choto Day.

Services & facilities

Wheelchair accessTown centreEasy accessParkingChildren's playgroundRestaurants

Video

1 video

Maro — video 1

History

Detunda, the Roman origin. In Roman times this was Detunda, one of the settlements on the eastern Málaga coast, on the road linking Sexi (Almuñécar) with Malaca (Málaga).

Where to park

In the village you can park on the street and in the Maro car park (around 40 spaces). During festivals and in summer it fills up early.

For Maro beach in summer: from mid-June to mid-September you can't drive down; park by the Nerja Caves junction and take the shuttle, which runs every 20 minutes (€3 return). Parking on the yellow line along the road down is fined daily.

How to get to Maro

By car: Maro is 3-4 km east of Nerja's centre, 5-10 minutes along the N-340 or the A-7 motorway (exit "Cueva de Nerja-Maro"). From Málaga it is about 55 km, around 45 minutes.

By bus: buses run from Nerja to Maro throughout the day from the bus station on Avenida de Pescia, a journey of about 10 minutes. Timetables on our Nerja town bus page.

On foot or by bike: a promenade with a cycle lane links Nerja and Maro; it is about a 45-minute walk from the Balcón de Europa.

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Frequently asked questions

Maro is a village belonging to Nerja (Málaga), 3–4 km east of Nerja town centre. It is the easternmost coastal village in the province, next to the border with Granada.
By car in 5–10 minutes, by ALSA bus from the bus station on Avenida de Pescia (about 10 minutes, from €1), or on foot or by bike along the path between the two villages.
The square and the church of Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas, the Nerja Caves, the sugar mill ruins, the Acueducto del Águila, the Maro watchtower and the coves of the Maro-Cerro Gordo Cliffs, with the Maro waterfall.
Yes. Although they are named after Nerja, the caves are in Maro, at the entrance to the village, and were discovered by five young men from Maro in 1959.
From mid-June to mid-September car access is restricted: you park by the Nerja Caves junction and take the shuttle (every 20 minutes, €3 return).
The fair of the Virgen de las Maravillas is in September, the San Antón bonfire night in mid-January, Maroween, the Halloween party, every 31 October (in 2026 it has been postponed to Sunday 1 November, from 17:00) and the Choto Day in November.
The nearest beach is La Caleta de Maro Beach, 600 m (about a 8-minute walk) away; the Balcón de Europa is 3.3 km away; and nearby you can visit Iglesia Ntra. Sra. de las Maravillas (Maro) (150 m).

What's nearby

Keep exploring

Maro beachThe clear-water cove below the village
Maro waterfallThe waterfall that drops into the sea
Maro car parkFree parking at the entrance to the village
More things to doViewpoints, landmarks, natural spots...

Maro

Places to Visit

Visiting Maro: practical information

Getting there

  • About 4 km east of Nerja town centre on the N-340: at the Nerja Cave roundabout, take the exit for Maro.
  • From Málaga, about 55 km on the A-7 (around 50 minutes).
  • On foot from Nerja along the roadside pavement or the Burriana to Maro walk.

Where to park

Bus and shuttle

  • ALSA bus Nerja–Maro from Nerja bus station (Av. Pescia), several departures a day. Timetables at alsa.com.
  • Nerja's town bus does not reach Maro: the nearest stop (Capistrano) is about 1.7 km away.
  • Maro beach shuttle in summer (in 2026, 12 June to 15 September): daily from 10:00 to 20:30, €3 return. In season you cannot drive down to the beach.

Nearby beaches

What to see nearby

Festivals

  • San Antón, the patron saint, in January.
  • Maro Fair (Las Maravillas), in early September (4 to 8 September in 2026).
  • Maroween, the village's Halloween party.

Services and tips

  • The village has bars, restaurants and hotels such as Hotel Casa Maro and Hotel Playamaro.
  • Supermarket, pharmacy or cash machine: the nearest are in Nerja, 2-3 km away.
  • For the coves, bring comfortable shoes, water and shade: the paths down are steep.