Estepona Beaches

PLAYA de la GALERA

Playa de la Galera (Galera beach) is located between the Playa Bahía Dorada headland and the Torre de la Sal headland that separates it from Playa de la Sal Casares. It is a small, rough, dark sandy pebble beach with rocky areas that is only 2K long. Nevertheless, it offers visitors a relatively quiet area to enjoy sunbathing, swimming or diving.

The beach is known for Islote de las Palomas (Doves Islet) or Piedra Paloma (Doves rock), a small rocky islet with steep sides just below the low tide mark. It is particularly interesting for snorkelers and birdwatchers.

The main beach Playa de la Galera is accessible by car or on foot. There is limited parking here on the beach side of the coastal road. Next to the gas station, there is an overbridge that helps pedestrians get across to the coast after parking their cars on the mountain side of the coastal road. .

PLAYA BAHIA DORADA

This beach is similar to the others in the area. Delimited by the two headlands, it is approximately 700 meters long and 40 meters wide. The established urbanization Bahia Dorada from the 1970s is located in front of the beach. A boardwalk was recently built to protect against land erosion during winter storms. There is no car access to the beach.

PLAYA ARROYO VAQUERO

This beach is located to the east of the Bahia Dorada headland, and where the Arroyo Vaquero river reaches the sea. The car access is a roundabout into the Estepona Spa and Resort Hotel which fronts this beach. there is car access to the beach with limited parking. As you enter the urbanization from the hotel entrance, turn either left or right and wind your way through the houses down to the beach. Arroyo Vaquero beach here is approximately 1 km long and 50 m wide and is quiet.

PLAYA COSTA NATURA

The beach is a continuation of Playa Arroyo Vaquero, but the 400-meter section in front of the Costa Natura resort is officially classified as “naturist beach”. Access down to the beach is via footpaths from either side of the side of the Costa Natura/Edge complex.

PLAYA GUADALABON

This is the name given to various stretches of beach in the Guadalabon River area. Some areas, such as the one in front of Gran Hotel Elba (with boardwalk), or in front of H10 Estepona Palace Hotel, are wider, but much of the rest of this 2 km long promenade is not too interesting. In general, this is a moderately quiet sand and pebble beach. Although not directly accessible by car, there is parking nearby and it is a relatively short walk to the beach. The beach is popular with divers and fishermen and is a quiet area for sunbathing, swimming or kayaking. There are some showers, but no toilet facilities. There are no chirinquitos (beach bars) along Playa Gudalabón.

PLAYA DEL CRISTO

Situated just outside the town of Estepona, to the west of the marina, El Cristo beach is in a delightful, sheltered cove, ideal for children, with two chiringuitos. Its ideal location to the west means longer evening sun. This beach has become increasingly popular in recent years and tends to get quite crowded on summer weekends.

It has a great atmosphere with music at two of the beach bars. The bay and the outer protective wall ensure that the sea is warmer than the surrounding water. It is also a favorite place for winter sea swimmers. It slopes very gently and is very safe for children.

There is a lifeguard station and showers in summer. There are two good beach bars, the trendy Havana Beach and the more traditional Chiringuito Lolailo.

Vehicle access and parking is via the narrow, steep road ‘Calle Virgin del Naranjo’ from the roundabout 200 meters west of the entrance to Estepona Marina.

Summer parking at the back of the beach is chaotic, so it’s best to park in the vast wasteland at the bottom of Calle Virgin del Naranjo, where there’s always plenty of space and the local authorities seem to charge for motorhomes.

You can also access this area from Estepona Marina. There is a spectacular viewpoint overlooking the bay of Playa del Cristo with Gibraltar and Africa in the background. It’s called Mirador Playa del Cristo and is located on the N-340, the old coastal road, west of the marina entrance.

PLAYA LA RADA

Right in the center of Estepona is the city’s most popular beach; La Rada. It’s long and supported by a modern promenade along its entire length (2.6 km). Chiringuitos (beach bars) line the entire promenade and serve traditional seaside dishes, such as paella and fresh sardines, as well as a selection of international cuisine.

The marina and lighthouse and the Mirador del Carmen tower are located at the west end of La Rada beach. The entire length of the beach runs parallel to the “old coastal road” which was closed to vehicles in 2022 and remodeled. There are two large underground parking lots, one in the center and one on the east side.

The beach ends at the eastern end with a headland known as Punta de la Plata. The seafront promenade continues east along the Malaga coastal path.

PLAYA PUNTA DEL PLATA

A 4 km stretch of narrow, low-quality beach that extends from the Punta del Plata headland that ends La Rada beach in the west to El Padron beach in the east.

Playa Punta Pinillos

This is another name for the beach just east of Punta del Plata. A narrow quiet sand and pebble beach.

PLAYA DEL PADRON

The popular beach located just east of Rio Padron, near the Kempinski Resort Hotel. The beach has official parking lots and off-road parking.

There is a modern beach bar, perhaps a beach club called Beso Beach that opened in 2021. The area is especially popular in summer.

Playa del Castor

Named after the river that flows to the sea where the beach is located. This 2 km stretch of narrow, calm beach is hidden behind a number of older properties and urbanizations. Try the chiringuito at Punta del Castor just east of Rio Castor at km 160.5. A road leads down to the beach past the parcels.

Playa El Velerin

Named after the river that flows to the sea nearby. Here is Chiringuito Torre del Velerin near the old watchtower of the same name. Since the residential development was built in 2022, parking is limited.

PLAYA ARROYO DE LOS CAÑaS

As is typical along this coastline, the beach, Playa Arroyo de los Caños and the more famous Playa Bella are narrow with grayish pebble sand and rocks. However, it is still well-liked by locals and tourists. Given its terrain to the sea, it is popular with fishermen.

PLAYA BELLA

Quieter, narrow, rocky beaches: Playa Bella is adjacent to the exclusive beach of Health House Las Dunas and TikiTano restaurant and lounge, with preserved old watchtower and ruins in a large beach area with lawn and boardwalk.

PLAYA GUADALMANSA

West of Rio Guadalmansa is Playa Guadalmansa, there is a nearby summer only kite and water sports school.

PLAYA EL SALADILLO

This beach is nominally 3 km long, but is divided into many stretches with a few beach bars. Access is via the roads through the urbanizations. Torre de Saladillo is an old watchtower “hidden” here.

PLAYA Casasola

This beach is nominally 2 km long and is divided into many stretches.

Playa Atalaya

Atalaya Park Golf Hotel and Resort is located on the headland west of this beach. East of the headland is Rio Guadalmina, which is the municipal border of Estepona with Marbella.