Playa de la Hierbabuena

Spain, Spain

---

Playa de la Hierbabuena is a pristine, semi-urban beach in Barbate on Spain’s Costa de la Luz in Andalusia, located within the Natural Park of La Breña y Marismas del Barbate.

Also known as “playa del Chorro,” it gets this nickname from fresh water streams that flow down the nearby cliffs. The beach stretches 950 meters long with about 70 meters of average width, featuring fine golden sand, clean crystal-clear waters, and moderate waves that make it great for swimming and surfing.

It has a natural, unspoiled setting with sand dunes covered in broom and pine trees, creating habitat for chameleons, reptiles, and seabirds including one of the few Northern Bald Ibis colonies in Europe. Access is via wooden walkways and there are several parking areas and trash collection services, but minimal beach facilities, so visitors should bring their own supplies.

From the beach you can start the 7.5-kilometer marked Clifftop Trail to Los Caños de Meca, see the famous “Cueva del Cristo” rock formation in the cliffs, and enjoy spectacular views of Cape Trafalgar and the Atlantic, especially at sunset.