El Cañuelo Beach

Spain, Spain

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El Cañuelo Beach (Playa El Cañuelo) is a secluded, picturesque cove 10 kilometers east of Nerja on Spain’s Costa del Sol, located on the border between Málaga and Granada within the protected Los Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo Natural Park.

This hidden paradise is surrounded by steep cliffs, deep green mountains, and pine trees, creating a wild, unspoiled setting with exceptionally clean, crystal-clear waters teeming with fish, making it one of the best spots for snorkeling on the Costa del Sol. The beach is 800 meters long but narrow at about 10 meters wide, featuring coarse dark sand and shingles rather than fine sand, and is usually quiet except during August when it gets crowded.

Access is challenging by design, as private cars cannot drive down to the beach, so visitors park at a car park 1.5 kilometers away and 160 meters uphill, then take a shuttle bus for 2 euros return (children free) or hike down a rugged path, which takes about 24 minutes to climb back up. The beach has limited facilities—just one good though somewhat expensive beach bar (chiringuito) serving delicious dishes, plus another restaurant that’s often closed, so visitors should bring sunscreen, water, and food since it’s a natural park with no other amenities.

El Cañuelo is popular for snorkeling, swimming in its sheltered areas, paddle surfing at nearby Playa de Cantarriján, and hiking the scenic 8-kilometer coastal path to Cantarriján, while the nearby Torre de Camarinal, a 16th-century defensive tower built by Philip II, offers panoramic views of the entire beach.