An overview of the beaches of Mazarron

Urban beaches, nudist beaches, dog friendly beaches and lots of wild coves in the municipality of Mazarrón 

Mazarrón is blessed with an extraordinarily rich selection of beaches, with 33 spread along 35 kilometres of coastline, ensuring that all tastes are catered for.

Most of the municipality is far from built-up and for this reason, even when some beaches are busy in the summer, there is still a feeling of space, with little of the overcrowding which often affects other Spanish costas.

Among those which are on offer in Mazarrón are wide sandy urban beaches next to restaurants and shaded seafront walks, broad sandy bays, rocky coves, long open wild beaches, dog friendly beaches, sporting beaches where windsurfing, surfing and watersports are popular and nudist beaches.

The beaches are split between urban and non-urban environments

The urban beaches close to the population centre of the Puerto de Mazarrón are almost all sandy, most of them wide, with family facilities and safety personnel during the busy summer months. There are plenty of bar and restaurant facilities, a long seafront walk, a summer entertainment programme, disabled bathing, toilets and parking facilities.

Moving out of the town centre the density diminishes and the bays are generally curved with rocky outcrops in between. In the village of Bolnuevo the main beach is more than 1 kilometre long, one of those vast stretches of sand which never fill up no matter how busy the summer!

To the west of the headland of Bolnuevo the beaches are wild and rocky. The Moreras wild beaches and a stretch of areas used by naturists occupy the coast until once again it straightens out at Cañadas de Gallego. Beaches in this section are long, open and sandy, attracting numerous visitors, generally those who prefer the more rural environment associated with fishing villages rather than heavily built-up areas. 

At Cañada de Gallego some of the most intimate and attractive beaches are to be found, a magnet for wild campers and those who prefer seclusion and peace.

There really is something for everyone and plenty of it!

Beaches listed in order from the boundary with Cartagena in the east of Mazarrón to the municipality of Lorca in the west

Most urban beaches have lifeguard and safety cover during July and August and offer plenty of restaurants and bars within walking distance, many also having footwashes and toilets: 

1. Playa del Mojón:  The Playa del Mojón is the easternmost beach in the municipality of Mazarrón and occupies a broad sweeping cove on the boundary with Cartagena, just outside the village of Isla Plana. 465 metres long from one end to the other, it can be accessed from either end, has a fair amount of offroad parking, is opposite the Los Delfines camping park and is popular with surfers. Blue Flag.

2. Playa de la Raja

The Playa de la Raja is a 350-metre semi-urban beach which links to that of El Mojón. It is narrow at only 10 metres wide and more shingly than its neighbour, with limited parking options and low density as a result. 

3. Playa Negra

Playa Negra is another semi-urban beach close to the El Alamillo development in Puerto de Mazarrón. Never overcrowded, it features coarse natural sand and a shingle shoreline, enclosed within a hidden cove. Parking is alongside.

4. Playa del Alamillo

The beach of El Alamillo is a Blue Flag semi-urban beach, 600 metres long, 14 metres wide, with medium occupancy, located at the foot of the El Alamillo urbanisation. It is popular with anglers and windsurfers and also has a jetski and small boat hire service during the summer months. There is a chiringuito beach bar during the summer. 

5. Playa Gachero

This is at the far end of El Alamillo beach heading towards the Puerto de Mazarrón and is one of three beaches in Mazarrón where dogs are permitted to run off the lead and enjoy bathing in the sea. Click for Playa Gachero.

6. Playa del Rihuete, Puerto de Mazarrón

This impressive beach is in the heart of the Puerto de Mazarrón. 600 metres long and 18 metres wide, it has fine, golden sand and is busy during the summer. This beach boasts a Q for Quality flag and a Blue Flag, with full services. The seafront walk is lined with shops, restaurants, shaded seating and children's play areas, and is busy all year roundd. Click for further information, Playa del Rihuete Mazarrón.

7. Playa del Puerto, Puerto de Mazarrón

A long sandy beach right in the centre of the Puerto de Mazarrón, this one is 500 metres long with fine, soft sand. This is a high occupancy beach in the summer and the seafront walk behind it is lined with shops and restaurants. A full range of services and facilities exists at this Blue Flag beach. Click for further information, Playa del Puerto.

8. Playa de la Isla, Puerto de Mazarrón

A curving bay with a rocky island just offshore and home to one of the most important underwater archaeological sites in Spain! For further information click Playa de la Isla.

9. Playa de la Ermita, Mazarrón, beach of La Ermita

A small, attractive beach with plenty of charm, next to the yacht club and marina. 100 metres long, low occupancy, sandy, good shopping and restaurant facilities nearby. For further information click Playa de la Ermita.

10. Playa de la Reya, Puerto de Mazarrón

Length 400 metres, a fine sandy beach with high occupancy, footwashes, toilets, equipment hire and children's play area in summer. For further information click Playa de la Reya.

11. Playa de la Pava, Puerto de Mazarrón

Urban beach, 100 metres long, 29 metres wide, sandy, high summer occupancy, footwashes, toilets and children's play areas. Next to the archaeological site of Punto de Gavilanes. For further information click Playa de la Pava.

12. Playa de Bahía

Urban beach, length 190 metres, width 21 metres, high occupancy, golden sand and good restaurant and hotel facilities nearby. Blue Flag. For further information click Playa de Bahía.

13. Playa de Nares, Puerto de Mazarrón

A gently curving, sandy beach which joins Playa del Castellar, and flies both the Blue Flag and the Q for Quality flag, with a full range of services. For further information click Playa de Nares.

14. Playa del Castellar, Puerto de Mazarrón

1.2 kilometres long, a semi-urban beach with heavy golden sand. Blue Flag beach and Q for Quality flag, full services. For further information click Playa Castellar.

15. Playa de las Moreras, Puerto de Mazarrón

A dog friendly beach alongside the Rambla de las Moreras. For further information click Playa de las Moreras.

16. Playa de Bolnuevo

This is the main beach of Bolnuevo which runs from the Oasis de las Palmeras and the wind-eroded rock formations of Bolnuevo right along to the Bolnuevo camping site. 1.6 km long, 24 metres wide, low occupancy due to its vast size, fine golden sand, plenty of parking, lifeguard and facilities in summer, a stunning beach.

Wild unspoilt beaches between Bolnuevo and Puntas de Calnegre

West of Bolnuevo, a whole new world opens up as the coastline becomes wild and rocky, with small, stony bays, nudist beaches, striking rock formations, before more huge stretches of open countryside and virgin beaches.

The track is rough and bumpy and in 2017 Mazarrón council announced that it would be closed to motor traffic between Playa de Piedra Mala and Playa Hondón del Fondo. This 4.5-kilometre stretch includes Playa Cueva de Lobos/Moreras, Playa Amarilla, Cala de Leño, Cala Desnuda and Playa del Barranco Ancho.

Some of these beaches can be accessed more easily from Cañadas de Gallego and the AP7, although there is no signposting on the path which weaves between the agricultural greenhouses and heads towards the sea. There are so many possible tracks which can be followed that beachgoers generally find a way through without too much difficulty. Percheles is signposted but this is not the case for the nudist beaches in this area. 

17. Playa del Rincón, Bolnuevo

Playa del Rincón is the first of the beaches reached when driving around the headland of Bolnuevo and following the track towards Águilas. It´s an attractive cove, 90 metres long, with fine grey sand. A large wooden staircase leads down to the bay. Parking can be difficult during peak season. This is NOT a nudist beach. 

18. Playa de Piedra Mala, Moreras/ Bolnuevo

Classified as a semi-urban beach, with just a few houses nearby, length 115 metres, grey sand, medium occupation. Difficult to access as there is little parking. Again, not a nudist beach. Click Playa de Piedra Mala.

19. Playa Cueva de Lobos, Moreras/ Bolnuevo

90 meters long, width 16 metres, medium occupancy, gravel and sand. Nudist beach. Rough access down to beach. Click Playa Cueva de Lobos.

20. Playa Amarilla, Moreras/ Bolnuevo

Length 110 metres, width 12 metres, medium occupancy, fine sand and gravel. Nudist beach. Accessed via unmade coastal track running along headland. Click for further information: Playa Amarilla.

21. Playa de la Grúa, Moreras/Bolnuevo

Nudist beach, 85 metres long, sand and gravel. Easier access, in a wide curving cove. Click for further information: Playa de la Grúa.

22. Cala de Leño, Nudist beach

Length 100 metres, low occupancy, stoney. Nudist beach. Accessed via a rough coastal track. At the end of the beach there is a good parking area and trees have been planted for shade. This is very popular with year-round residents and German nudists. Click Cala de Leño.

23. Cala Desnuda, Moreras/ Bolnuevo

Length 30 metres, low occupancy, fine grey sand. Accessed only on foot via a coastal track or by boat. Click Cala Desnuda.

West of these beaches, the track dips around a rocky headland and then dives down to a gulley with a few buildings in it. There are three beaches close together, all very little used.

24. Playa del Barranco Ancho, Moreras/Bolnuevo

80 metres by 12 metres, low occupancy beach with sand and gravel.Click Playa del Barranco Ancho.

25. Playa Hondón del Fondo

100 metres long by 11 metres wide, this is a low occupancy wild beach with fine soft sand and pebbles. Click Playa Hondón del Fondo.

Beaches in Cañada de Gallego

Rounding the headland, the beaches open out nearer Cañada de Gallego, entering the tomato growing area. From this point, the beaches are almost indistinguishable from each other.

This stretch is extremely popular with wild campers, who take advantage of the flat terrain to park along the beachside on the edge of the tomato fields. The beaches can be accessed from the village of Cañada de Gallego, virtually any turn to the left leading through the greenhouses towards the sea.

The Camino de Cobaticos leads to an area extremely popular with German camper vans, who congregate in quite large numbers during the autumn.

It is possible to continue along the coastal track, but easier on the suspension to turn onto the network of roads which follow the coastline through the agricultural plantations and along the coast.

From Cañada de Gallego the beaches are easy to find but only the most popular ones (Percheles and Calnegre, which lies within Lorca) are signposted in the village.

26. Playa Cabezo de Pelea

A long wild beach, nearly 2 kilometres long, with fine grey sand and pebbles. Click Playa Cabezo de Pelea.

27. Playa Cobaticas, Cañada de Gallego

Length 1km, width 30 metres. low occupancy, gravel and sand. A wide, open, dog-friendly beach. Click here for more information. 

At the end of this vast stretch of wild beaches, the coast once again becomes rocky.

These beaches are best accessed via the village of Cañadas de Gallego, and are signposted for Percheles.

28. Playa de las Chapas,Cañada de Gallego

300 metres long, a stony beach with low occupancy. Click Playa de las Chapas.

29. Playa del Ballenato, Cañada del Gallego

200 metres long, sand and gravel, low occupancy. Click Playa Ballenato.

30. Playa de Percheles, Cañada de Gallego

200 metres long, a grey sandy beach, considered by many to be the most attractive in the municipality.  Blue Flag. Click Playa de Percheles.

 31. Playa de las Minas, Cañadas de Gallego

100 metres long, forms the end part of the Percheles beach. Grey sand, low occupancy. Click Playa de las Minas.

32. Playa del Palomarico, Cañadas de Gallego

90 metres long by 20 metres wide, this is a low occupancy rocky cove with fine sand and a stone fringe. Click Playa del Palomarico.

Driving past Percheles around the headland, the road drops down again through tomato cultivation greenhouses to the coast as it heads towards Calnegre, one long, glorious beach which straddles the boundary between Mazarrón and Lorca.

33. Playa Parazuelos (Ifre-Cañada de Gallego)

900 metres long by 26 metres wide, Playa Parazuelos has soft, fine sand and pebbles and is very much a wild beach, although close to the village of Puntas de Calnegre.

For more local information go to the home page of Mazarrón Today.