Mazarrón beaches: Playa de la Grúa, nudist beach

One of a series of nudist beaches on the rocky coastline between Bolnuevo and Cañada de Gallego

One of 33 beaches which are to be found along the 35-kilometre coastline of Mazarrón between the municipalities of Cartagena and Lorca, Playa de la Grua is the third official nudist beach reached by the 12-kilometre track which winds along the coast from Bolnuevo through the Sierra de Moreras to Puntas de Calnegre.

It's name means "crane beach" - as in lifting device, not wading bird - a name which only becomes logical when walking around the edge of this little bay and encountering blocks of cut stone on the "Punta de Grúa". These, it transpires, date back to the eighteenth century to a small port built in order to transport stone cut from the Sierra de las Moreras behind the beaches, which was destined for Cartagena where it was used to build the military arsenal amongst other things. Stone was also cut from the vast sierra here to build the principal civil buildings in Mazarrón, such as the Casas Consistoriales, at a  time when the mines of Mazarrón were active and generating great wealth for those who owned the land and town.

Popular legend attributes the construction of this little port to the Romans, (according to a fisherman taking advantage of the comfortable seat the blocks provided during a visit), although the blocks left behind and which can still be seen today are most definitely eighteenth century.

The beach is little more than a thin strip of pebbled shoreline, measuring 85 metres by 12, and has very little in the way of sand, most of its surface area covered in pebbles and posidonia seagrass. There are large meadows of posidonia off this beach, preventing erosion and providing an important habitat for marine life, and as the beaches are not cleaned mechanically in this stretch of coastline, deposits can build up, as can clearly be seen in the dappled waters of this little bay.

There is also a coastal track joining Playa Amarilla for those on foot, which is very popular with mountain bikers. Care should be exercised when walking it, as they can appear suddenly riding at a  stonking speed!

This beach is designated as a nudist/naturist beach.

There are no services.

The run of wild beaches in Mazarrón

Mazarrón is blessed with an extraordinary range of beaches, with everything from wide sandy urban beaches with a full list of catered services to rocky coves, dog beaches, nudist beaches and long wild swathes of sand.

Between Bolnuevo and Percheles the coast is wild and stunning, and the run of beaches from be accessed only via a rough dirt track on foot or by bicycle, with a succession of secluded bays. From 1st July 2017 most of the track has been closed to motor vehicles and the only access is via cycle or on foot.

If you love natural, beautiful places, this is for you, but there’s not a beachcomber for miles around and you won’t find anyone selling ice lollies!

None of these beaches are equipped with special disabled access, although once the coastline reaches Percheles and Cañada de Gallego it is possible to walk out of the car and straight onto the sand/shingle. Here the coastline is accessed from a rough, bumpy road which runs along for around 12 kilometres.

If you’re the type of person who loves to get away from the crowds and appreciates wild beauty, then you’ll love this stretch and never want to go anywhere else.

The stunning scenery is peppered with abandoned ruins, and there is a huge choice of rocky bays, sandy coves, and secluded corners to bathe privately, even in the busy summer period.

The area is favoured by naturist bathing, so it’s not uncommon to see the odd gleaming bronzed buttock or two, and a couple of the nudist beaches are also very popular with the gay community. But the area is so large that it is always possible to steer away if you choose: you can stop anywhere and be as private, or as public, as you want.

There are absolutely no facilities, so bring everything and remember to take litter home.

It’s also very popular with local cyclists, especially the mountain-bikers, and walkers have many options, particularly on a summer evening with stunning views and sea breezes.

Access

From Bolnuevo, drive along the seafront, past the wind-eroded rocks to the end of the road next to Playa del Rincón, where limited parking is available. From here, the beaches can only be accessed on foot or by bicycle.

From Puntas de Calnegre and Cañada de Gallego, just keep the sea on your right! There are many dust tracks from the road and the tomato plantations to the coast.

Click for an overview of all 33 beaches in the municipality of Mazarrón, or for more information relating to Mazarrón.