Thirteen beaches, west to east, from Cantarriján to Calahonda

Start at Cala del Cañuelo in Nerja and drive east, and the Granada coast gives you thirteen beaches in under forty kilometres, each with its own character. Some are dark sand, some are gravel, one is naturist and one is built around a marina. Here they are west to east, with who each one suits and which flew a Blue Flag this year.

Starting at the western end

Cañuelo is the one beach on this stretch that sits on the Málaga side, in Nerja. It is a gravel cove about 350 metres long and 10 metres wide, with a moderate swell, showers and litter bins. The rocks at either end of the shore make it ideal for snorkelling. Come by car on the N-340 and allow time to find a space.

Cantarriján is next, and it is the first beach in Granada if you are coming from the west. Its dark sand is mixed with gravel, the beach runs about 380 metres, and naturism is a tradition across the whole shore. A friends' association formed in 2018 to encourage respectful use, and it has asked for recreational and sports boating to be banned nearby. This is the place for a quiet, planned day if you are comfortable with that tradition.

From La Herradura to Velilla

La Herradura

La Herradura is the first of the five Almuñécar beaches on this year's Blue Flag list. Its dark sand is mixed with gravel and the water is usually calm, so it makes an easy first swim on a hot afternoon.

Marina del Este and Los Berengueles

Marina del Este is a dark sand and gravel beach, 250 metres long, beside the marina. The water is calm and the setting is semi-urban, with toilets, showers, shade, sunbed hire and watersports to rent. Families come here, and so do snorkellers. The Los Berengueles inlet just to the west has cliffs and small caves, and it is a known diving spot. Both sit together on the 2026 Blue Flag list.

San Cristóbal and Puerta del Mar

These are Almuñécar's town beaches, with the promenade and its restaurants right behind them. San Cristóbal has dark sand, about 1,050 metres long and 50 metres wide, and its occupancy is high. Puerta del Mar, next door, is a mix of sand and gravel. Both hold a Blue Flag this year, and in summer you will share them with plenty of other people.

Velilla

Velilla is the longest beach on this stretch, at 1,470 metres and 52 metres wide, with gravel and dark sand and calm water. It is urban, and it has more facilities than most: toilets, showers, a tourist office, a children's play area, a surf practice area, and hire of sunbeds, shades, watercraft and scuba kit. You can reach it on foot, by car or by boat, with the CN-340 as the nearest road. It is on the 2026 Blue Flag list.

Calabajío

Calabajío lies just east of Velilla, in the Velilla-Taramay part of Almuñécar. It is not on this year's Blue Flag list.

Salobreña, Motril and Calahonda

La Guardia and La Charca

El Peñón is a rocky outcrop that juts into the sea and sits between two of Salobreña's five beaches. The English Wikipedia article says it remained an island into the seventeenth century. Playa de la Guardia lies on its western side. It is the town's one beach on this year's Blue Flag list, and OpenStreetMap places it in the Caleta-La Guardia area. Playa de la Charca, also called Solamar, is on the eastern side and is not on the list. For the town itself, read our Salobreña guide.

Playa Granada and Playa de Poniente

Motril's shore starts with two beaches side by side. Playa Granada is the western of the pair and Playa de Poniente the more easterly. Both have gravel or shingle underfoot, and both hold a Blue Flag this year, as do Carchuna and Calahonda further along.

Calahonda

Calahonda is the easternmost beach on this stretch, a dark sand beach 1,400 metres long and 40 metres wide. It is urban and busy, with sunbeds, toilets, showers, a children's area and a diving area, and it carries a Blue Flag. You can walk or drive in from the N-340. It has a strong claim to be the best-known tourist beach in the area, and it suits families who want their facilities close to hand.

Blue Flags and the warm months

Blue Flags are awarded for one season at a time, so check the current year before you plan a day out. The Spanish Eye's May list for 2026 names fourteen Granada beaches across five municipalities: five in Almuñécar, four in Motril, one in Salobreña, two in Gualchos and two in Torrenueva Costa.

The sea at Almuñécar is coolest in February, at about 15 °C, and warmest in August, at 24.6 °C. From June to October the average stays above 20 °C, which is a comfortable swim for most people. These are averages from previous years, so the day itself will vary.

Map of the thirteen beaches

The map runs west to east, from Cañuelo to Calahonda.

Where to base yourself

Almuñécar and La Herradura are the easiest bases for this stretch, with Salobreña and Motril a short drive east. For the town, read our Almuñécar guide, and for snorkelling and diving, the diving and snorkelling piece.