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 can easily be accommodated.

Most of the municipality has a low development density, so even when the beaches are busy in the summer, there is still a feeling of space, with little of the overcrowding issues experienced on 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.

Click for Dog friendly beaches in Mazarrón, or rules about fishing on beaches in Mazarrón.

The beaches are split between urban and non-urban environments

The urban beaches close to the population centre of the Puerto de Mazarrón are all soft and 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, the bays becoming curvaceous and sandy with rocky outcrops in between, and the beaches are lower in density. By the time the coastline reaches Bolnuevo the main beach is more than 1 kilometre long, one of those vast stretches of sand which never fill, no matter how busy the summer!

Once past the headland of Bolnuevo, the beaches become 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, even in the height of the busy summer months.

There really is something for everyone and plenty of it!

Beaches in order, running from the boundary with Cartagena in the east 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:  Playa del Mojón is the easternmost beach in the municipality of Mazarrón and occupies a broad sweeping cove on the border with the Cartagena municipality. 465 metres long from one end to the other, it can be accessed from either end, has ample 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 long semi-urban beach which links to the El Mojón beach. It is narrow at only 10 metres wide and noticeably more shingly than its neighbour, with limited parking options and low density as a result. 

3. Playa Negra

Playa Negra is a semi-urban beach close to the Puerto de Mazarrón and is a low density beach with coarse natural sand and a shingle shoreline, enclosed within a hidden cove. It is within easy walking distance of the El Alamillo urbanisation, with parking 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 fishermen 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 the first of three dog-friendly beaches, 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:

Urban beach in the heart of the Puerto de Mazarrón. 600 metres long and 18 metres wide, it has fine, golden sand and high occupancy during summer months.This beach has a Q for quality flag and a blue flag, with full services. A paseo runs behind the beach, lined with shops, restaurants, shaded seating and children's play areas. Click for further information, Playa del Rihuete Mazarrón.

7. Playa del Puerto: Puerto de Mazarrón.

A long sandy beach right in the urban centre of the Puerto de Mazarrón, this beach is 500 metres long and 14 metres wide, with fine, soft sand. This is a high occupancy beach in the summer, with a paseo behind it, lined with shops and restaurants and has full services and facilities. Blue Flag. 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, 14 metres wide, low occupancy, sandy, good shop and restaurant facilities nearby. For further information click Playa de la Ermita.

10. Playa de la Reya (Playa de la Rella), Puerto de Mazarrón.

Length 400 metres, width 30 metres, fine sandy beach with high occupancy, footwash, 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 by 29 metres wide, sandy, high summer occupancy, footwash, 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 beach with 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

1170 metres long, and 26 metres wide, a semi-urban beach with heavy, golden sand. Blue flag beach and Q for Quality beach wih 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, Bolnuevo beach,

This is the main Bolnuevo beach 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 wild 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 in the same group as the nudist beaches in this stretch. 

17. Playa del Rincón, Bolnuevo, Mazarrón

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 meters in length, and 15 metres wide with fine grey sand. There is a large wooden staircase leading 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, width 17 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

Cueva de Lobos beach, 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, by 18 wide, sand and gravel. Easier access, in wide curving cove. Click for further information: Playa de la Grúa.

22. Cala de Leño. Nudist beach

Length 100 metres, width 12 metres, low occupancy, stoney. Nudist beach. Accessed via unmade coastal track.At the end of this beach there is a good parking area and trees have been planted for shade. This is very popular with all year round residents and German nudists.Click Cala de Leño

23. Cala Desnuda, Moreras/ Bolnuevo

Desnuda beach, Bolnuevo.  length 30 metres , width 9 metres, low occupancy, fine grey sand. Only accessed on foot via unmade coastal track.Click Cala Desnuda

Following these beaches , the land dips around a rocky headland and then dives down to a Barranco, ( water run-off) with some evidence of urban dwelling. There are three beaches close together, all with very low occupancy. 

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 ( Playa del Jondo o del Fondo)

Moreras/Bolnuevo- Mazarrón.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

 Cañada de Gallego beaches

Rounding the headline, the beaches open out as we near Cañada de Gallego, entering the agricultural tomato growing area. From this point, the beaches are almost indistinguishable, one from another.

This next stretch are extremely popular with wild campers, who take advantage of the flat terrain to park along the beachside on the edge of the agricultural areas. These beaches can be accessed from the village of Cañada de Gallego, ( click Cañada de Gallego); virtually any turn to the left leading through the greenhouses toward the sea.

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

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.

If accessing these beaches from Cañada de Gallego, any turn left will bring you to the coast, but the most popular beaches of Percheles and then onto Calnegre which falls into the Lorca municipality are signposted when entering 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, Ifre, Cañada de Gallego

Length 1km, width 30 metres. low occupancy, gravel and sand. A wide, open beach which is the third of the dog friendly beaches in the municipality.

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, Ifre, Cañada de Gallego

300 metres long, by 10 metres wide, stoney beach with low occupancy.Click Playa de las Chapas

29. Playa del Ballenato, Ifre, Cañada del Gallego

200 metres long, by 17 metres wide, sand and gravel, low occupancy beach. Click Playa Ballenato

30. Playa de Percheles, Ifre, Cañada de Gallego.

200 metres long, by 16 metres wide, grey sandy beach, considered by many to be the most attractive cove in the municipality.  Blue Flag. Click Playa de Percheles

 31. Playa de las Minas, Ifre, Cañadas de Gallego.

100 metres long by 14 metres wide, forms the end part of the Percheles beach. Grey sand, low occupancy. Click Playa de las Minas

32. Playa del Palomarico (Ifre-Cañada 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 coastroad leading to Calnegre, one long, glorious beach which switches municipalities half way along.

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.

 

Puntas de Calnegre beach

Puntas de Calnegre belongs to the municipality of Lorca and is a charming and popular fishing village with restaurants right down on the sand. 

Popular with expats as a Menu del Día option during the week and out of peak season, the restaurants are right down on the sand and it's well worth the drive!