Cala del Cañuelo — Attraction in Nerja

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...

We have spent many happy days on this beach as a family in the past 20 years. Second day on the beach today, shocking to say the least!! There are streeks and streeks of brown effluent washing ashore again today, worse than yesterday. Loo paper, plastic bags, shoes, it looks like a mix of vomit, dihorhea, oily scum and its just floating there in lines. We have never ever seen it this bad. THIS IS NOT SEAWEED!! .. there is an amount of seaweed present but this is definitely effluent and its just hanging around the shallows atm ALL the way along the beach and more waiting to wash up behind that. No one seems to be swimming 😶 It's disgusting, it's hazardous and it should in this day and age be stopped, the offenders heavily fined and archaic waste...

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...