Cala del Cañuelo

Cala del Cañuelo is a quiet, pebbled beach hidden in the cliffs near Nerja, inside the Maro-Cerro Gordo Natural Park. It has a calm, secluded feel, not too busy even in summer, and the water is strikingly clear. The beach itself is about half a mile long, edged with large rocks and backed by steep hills, giving it a more enclosed, peaceful atmosphere (it’s not a sandy beach). This is a place to explore, swim, snorkel, and enjoy the water. To get there, you’ll need to park at Aparcamiento Playa del Cañuelo, just off the N-340 road. From the car park, minivans take you down a steep, winding road to the beach for €2.30 per person (cash only). The ride is short, just under 10 minutes, and the views on the way down are worth paying attention to. The vans also have space for gear in the back, so you can bring chairs, umbrellas, paddle boards, or bags without issue. I recall that van shuttles will have space for about 12-14 people (so bear that in mind). It’s a beach that rewards being prepared. Water shoes are essential - not just for walking on the pebbles, but for climbing over rocks or navigating the shoreline, which can get slippery. A snorkel and mask are highly recommended. Visibility underwater is excellent, and there’s a surprising amount of sea life even close to shore: small fish, red fish attached to the rocks, jellyfish, crabs, and more. If you have a paddle board, bring it - the water is usually flat and calm, with barely any waves, making it perfect for paddling. There’s one Chiringuito restaurant right on the beach where you can get food, drinks, and ice cream (note there are sun beds too, I believe property of the restaurant, so you’d need to call and enquire). It has a nice view over the water and a relaxed vibe, but it gets busy, especially around lunchtime. If you’re planning to have a proper meal there, it’s best to book ahead. If not, just be ready to wait if you’re hoping to grab a quick coffee or snack - service can slow down during peak hours. The bar accepts cards. It’s a good idea to pack everything you’ll need for the day, plenty of water, snacks or lunch if you don’t want to rely on the restaurant, sun protection, towels, a chair or mat (the pebbles aren’t the most comfortable to lie on), and any gear you plan to use in the water. Cala del Cañuelo isn’t the easiest beach to reach, but that’s part of why it stays quiet. Once you’re there, it’s the kind of place you settle into, explore at your own pace, and leave only when the sun starts to dip.

Lovely beach, very quiet. Long walk down from the car park but a bus is available for 2 euro from 10am till 9pm. We hired sun loungers for €6 each and spent most of the day here. The sea was shallow enough for our 3 year to paddle and very clear for snorkeling. We walked down which was hard work with a toddler and I wouldn't advise the walk in sandals, We saw goats along the footpath tho which made it worth it.

When we have visited it was not great. Sea was very wavy and dirty with algae. It was impossible to get in the sea to take a bath. Cannot recommend.

What a beautiful beach, warm crystal clear water. No access by car, you park on the top of the cliff, there are 2 shuttle buses take you down to the beach, at low price(cash). The road is narrow with lots of turns seems like you are in safari trip 😁, we loved the hole experience. Highly recommend.

Best place to snorkel in Nerja. We go here often to snorkel, its a nice hike back and forth with stunning views. It takes about 30min to walk down to the beach and close to an hour back up (with a toddler walking) so probably less with only adults. You can take the bus that goes frequently for 6€ pr person. But if you do you will miss the sunset and the quiet this beach has to offer. Be awere this is not a sand beach though, it’s pebbels. Bring bathing shoes. I recomend going here on a weekday.

Amazing small beach with mixture of small rocks and sand. The shore is sandy and very seclude, so great to stay with the kids. We were in September and it was very quiet and not crowded. You need to take a shuttle bus (only during the high season and the price is 2 eur per person for a return ticket) or walk pretty long distance to reach this beach.

Amazing beach with clear and clean water. We loved it. It’s a pebble beach and there are 2 chiringuitos. Secluded and far from everything (there’s nothing around and you can only get there with own transport), so you’re truly in the middle of nature. The beach was pretty full (end August) but it was still very calm and had a relaxing atmosphere. There were a few shuttle busses on the way down and 4 around 8:30-9:30PM when we were waiting in line to take it. It’s €2.25 per person round trip. Beware of jellyfishes at times. We also saw wild piggies :) Overall I don’t understand the complains. It was a great experience except when we waited 45 minutes for the shuttle bus, so if you don’t want to wait then make sure to leave earlier before 8PM.

I’ve been to many beaches all over the world, but this one has to be the best one ever. Such a beautiful beach with nice water. 👍👍