Visiting The Nerja Beaches.
The Nerja beaches are famous, not only for the fabulous caves in the area, but also for their fine mix of sand and pebbles and their sheer variety. They range from quiet, secluded areas that are rarely used by tourists to busy expansive areas that offer everything you would expect of a Spanish beach. They are very popular with visitors vacationing on the Costa del Sol of Spain.
Nerja is only a 50 minute drive from Malaga, and possesses a total of 12 beaches in all, with more in the surrounding areas. Many people come to the town to enjoy the beautiful scenery, to take part in many of the great activities here, and to sunbathe on the beautiful beaches. They provide a great place to start sunbathing or to top up a great tan.
The most popular of these is the Burriana Beach, which is to the east of Nerja. This beach won the Blue Flag Award in 2006 for its high degree of cleanliness. It is a 20 minute walk away from the centre of town and unfortunately there are no buses so you will be ready for the water when you get there! There is a paid car park that can get really busy at the height of summer and at weekends, so it’s best to either walk or get there early to park the car.
It is definitely worth the effort though, because the beach has all the amenities that you will need, such as bars, restaurants and a shopping arcade for souvenirs and beach ware. If you want a more active day on the beach you can go to the water sports shop and hire a pedalo, or you can try snorkeling or learn to scuba dive. There is some great diving around this part of Spain and with twelve beaches to choose from, well . . . The shop here also organizes day cruises around the coast.
Torrecilla Beach is to the west of Nerja and it lies just below the town centre. The beach has been made artificially wider and has its own promenade, with plenty sunbeds and parasols for hire, and also showers and toilets. As with most others, you can also hire pedalos here. There are a couple of bars down on the beach for refreshments, and it generally tends to be less populated than Burriana beach because it has fewer facilities to offer. That can be an advantage if you don't like crowded beaches.
The longest beach in the area is the El Playazo beach to the west of Nerja, and it offers beautifully fine sand and small and large pebbles, with the sandy areas tending to be nearer the sea. Just off the beach there is a hotel bar for refreshments and in the summer there is a kiosk selling snacks. As you head west along the shore there are a couple of bars, and there are also showers and toilets at each end that are open in the summer months. You can even drive your car onto the beach at the western end through the Nerja marinas.
More secluded is the Salon beach, which is immediately to the West of the Balcon de Europa, down the side of the Unicaja Bank, where there is a cobbled walkway that leads down to the sea. It’s quite secluded and not many people know it’s there, so if you fancy a quiet beer and some private sunbathing then this is the one for you. It is even less used than the Burriana.
Calahonda beach to the east of the Balcon de Europa is a small sheltered beach with rocks to either side of it. It is sandy but also has a few small pebbles, so be careful how you walk! There are often small fishing boats here, where you can often find fishermen tending to their nets or landing their catch. There are small fisherman’s cottages built into the wall, and great for those souvenir photographs.
The beach restaurant is only open in the summer and the walk down is quite steep but worth it if you just want a quiet beer by the sea and a bit of sun, and you can still hire umbrellas and sun beds if you are planning to make a day of it. Many like to do that with a family picnic.
There are a few more beaches in Nerja which are less busy but with fewer facilities. There are also some more in the surrounding areas if you want to explore and pick the right one for you. Just have a look at the local tourist guides and you will see where they are all located.
Nerja beaches are just right for relaxing on your vacation and with beautiful blue sea and fantastic views around the town of mountains and forests, the town and its surrounding area is an exciting place to take your vacation, with great hotels and bars. Deciding to take your holiday on this part of the Spanish Costa del Sol for your vacation is definitely the right choice.
