La Caleta beach, Orihuela (Cabo Roig)
Safe bathing at the foot of the 16th-century watchtower
The Cabo Roig residential area occupies a headland jutting out into the Mediterranean, and while the tip of the headland is rocky (as is to be expected), there are beaches on both the southern and northern sides. To the north lies Cala Capitán, while to the south is the 387-metre strip known as La Caleta.
Access to this area is by the Avenida el Cabo, which joins the N-332 at a large roundabout where the beaches of Cabo Roig are clearly signposted. The beach itself is to be found down any of the small residential streets on the right (Calle el Torreón, Calle El Poniente and Calle La Caleta), where parking is limited but not a problem out of peak season.
Close to the eastern end of the headland is the landmark of the old watchtower, which was built to warn of Berber pirate attacks in the sixteenth century, and which now looks out over La Caleta and the coastline stretching south to La Manga, Cabo de Palos and the mountains to the east of Cartagena in the distance. Next to the watchtower is a popular restaurant and below it lies the picturesque marina, and all along the beach a footpath allows visitors to walk around the headland between La Caleta and Cala Capitán, which lies on the northern side.
Along the length of the beach itself (officially 387 metres) there are most of the facilities which are supplied at all of Orihuela Costa’s beaches: foot showers, a beach bar, pedal-boat hire, sunbeds and sunshades for hire, a beach volleyball court, toilets, wooden walkways, daily seawater quality analysis and jellyfish warnings if appropriate, as well as a lifeguard point. Jet-skis can be hired from the marina end of the beach.
There is no children’s play area, though, and despite the fact that three access ramps and a disabled toilet are provided there is no amphibious bathing chair.
As well as the natural protection afforded by the headland of Cabo Roig, at the other end of the beach there is also a sea wall, which normally makes for very calm sea conditions along most of the shore
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As for eating establishments, in Calle El Torreón there is a small parade of commercial premises including a couple of bars, and the restaurant at the tower offers another alternative to the snack on the beach bar itself. Those seeking alternative eating venues are probably best advised to head back up towards the N-322 and the Aguamarina shops and restaurants, as well as the smaller Cabo Roig commercial area.
Click for map, La Caleta beach, Orihuela
Click for beach overview of beaches within the Orihuela municipality
