Just east of Nerja, where the coastline turns wild, Maro Beach sits at the foot of the cliffs of the Maro-Cerro Gordo Natural Area. It is one of the few places on the Málaga coast where the water really does turn turquoise, and the reason is simple: rocky seabeds, almost no sediment and a protected landscape that was never built on.
Getting there
Take the exit for Maro from the A-7, four kilometres east of Nerja. There is a dirt car park above the beach and the final stretch is a steep walk down — not suitable for pushchairs or for anyone with limited mobility. In summer the car park fills early, so come first thing.
Facilities
- ✓ Beach bar in season
- ✓ Lifeguard in high season
- ✓ Showers
- ✓ Kayak and paddleboard hire
- ✓ Free dirt parking above the beach
- ✗ No accessible route down
The best snorkelling in the province
The rocks at either end of the cove hold a genuinely good amount of life: sea bream, salema, octopus, cuttlefish and, in the deeper water, the Posidonia meadows that make this stretch of coast ecologically important. Bring a mask and fins — this is one of the few places in Málaga where snorkelling is a real attraction rather than an afterthought.
Kayaking to the waterfall
Maro is the main launch point for the kayak route along the Maro cliffs, which reaches the Maro waterfall, a freshwater cascade dropping straight into the sea, and a string of coves reachable only from the water. If you do one activity on this coast, make it this one.
Before you go
The sand is mixed with shingle, so water shoes are worth having. There is very little natural shade — bring a parasol. And remember you are inside a protected natural area: no camping, no fires, and take everything home with you.
