The best beaches near Vélez de Benaudalla, beach by beach
From the long beaches of Motril to the coves around Salobreña and La Herradura: what each beach is like, how busy it gets and who it suits.
✓ Facts checked on 8 November 2026
Good to know before you go
The beaches of the Costa Tropical are mostly dark sand, gravel or pebbles, and the seabed can drop quickly. Water shoes help, especially with children.
Lifeguards, sunbed rental and beach bars operate in the bathing season. Blue Flag awards are given every year: check the current list before relying on them.
Motril: the nearest long beaches
Playa Granada
About 1.5 km of dark sand with few buildings behind it and the Los Moriscos golf course nearby. Lifeguards, showers, toilets, wooden walkways and sunbed rental. There is parking, but it fills quickly in summer.
Playa de Poniente
The closest beach to Motril and the busiest: more than 2 km of coarse sand and pebbles, a promenade, beach bars and campsites. Lively, also in the evening.
Torrenueva
Just over 2 km with calm, shallow water, a promenade and apartment blocks facing the sea. A family atmosphere; street parking in the nearby residential areas.
Calahonda
A fishing village east of Motril with about 1.5 km of coarse sand. The water is usually calm but deepens very quickly. Popular for diving and fishing, with a diving school.
Carchuna
More than 3.5 km of coarse sand and gravel with deep, clear water. The leaning Torre del Llano, a 16th-century watchtower, stands near the beach. Greenhouses surround part of it.
Salobreña: either side of the Peñón
La Guardia
About 1 km of dark pebbles running from the Peñón, the rocky outcrop on the shore. Moderate waves. Jumping from the Peñón is dangerous. Free and paid parking, both filling early.
La Charca / Salomar
Nearly 2 km on the other side of the Peñón, with fine sand at the back and pebbles at the water’s edge. Accessible walkways, a Red Cross post and water sports. Busy in summer.
Punta del Río
A wild beach at the mouth of the Guadalfeo, with wetlands visited by water birds. No bars, showers or sunbeds; a kitesurf and paddle-surf school operates here.
El Caletón and El Cambrón
Small rocky coves reached on foot along paths by the cliffs. Calm water and a good seabed for snorkelling; no services.
Almuñécar and La Herradura
San Cristóbal
About 1 km of dark fine sand below the Peñón del Santo, close to the El Majuelo botanical park. Promenade, lifeguards and beach bars. Parking is difficult, as in most of Almuñécar.
Puerta del Mar
The town-centre beach, gravel and dark sand, very busy. There is a public underground car park.
Velilla
Nearly 1.5 km of gravel and fine sand with a promenade, play areas and the Aquatropic salt-water park nearby.
Cotobro and Calabajío
Two small beaches of pebbles and dark sand west of the centre, each with a small car park for fewer than 50 cars.
La Herradura and Marina del Este
A horseshoe bay with Posidonia seagrass meadows. Marina del Este, at the western headland, is popular with divers and snorkellers.
Naturist beaches
Cantarriján and El Muerto are naturist beaches surrounded by cliffs; El Muerto is reached on foot from Cotobro.
Which beach for you?
With children
Torrenueva and Playa Granada: space, facilities and, at Torrenueva, shallow water. At Calahonda the bottom drops quickly.
Quiet and wild
Punta del Río near Salobreña, or the long stretch of Carchuna outside July and August.
Snorkelling and diving
El Caletón and El Cambrón coves, Calahonda and Marina del Este at La Herradura.
Easy parking
Playa Granada (arrive early in summer) and the underground car park at Puerta del Mar, Almuñécar.
Frequently asked questions
What is the nearest beach to Vélez de Benaudalla?
The beaches of Motril and Salobreña, south of the village at the end of the A-44: Playa Granada, Poniente, La Charca and La Guardia.
Are the beaches sandy?
Mostly dark sand mixed with gravel or pebbles. Playa Granada and La Charca have finer sand at the back; La Guardia is pebbly. Water shoes are useful.
Which beaches are best for families?
Torrenueva and Playa Granada, which have space and facilities. Torrenueva has shallow water.
Which beaches have Blue Flag status?
Awards change every year. Check the current list on the Bandera Azul website before you go.
Sources · Facts checked on 8 November 2026