Playa del Cañuelo

Playa del Cañuelo is a shingle beach some 400 metres in length. Situated on the border between Malaga and Granada, it is within Acantilados de Maro Cerro Gordo nature reserve. It’s location within this protected region of coastline ensures there’s no rampant development. Instead, visitors to the beach will find a couple of well-regarded restaurants catering for all your food and drink needs, as well as an improving lot of basic amenities such as sun loungers and umbrellas for hire.

Sat within a small bay or cove with arms of natural rock stretching out on either side as if to protect Playa del Cañuelo, cars must be left at the car park at the top of the cliffs and a shuttle bus taken down to the beach. The queues for the shuttle can start to build in the early morning during the height of the summer season.

The attraction of Playa del Cañuelo for many returning visitors is the transparency of its Mediterranean waters, together with the sheer quantity of marine life that can be found here. It’s possible to snorkel just a few metres from shore without being disappointed, while fish will happily nibble on pieces of bread held in the hands of young children.