Mojácar Beaches: What Only the Locals Know
We have lived in Mojácar since 1988. This guide is not copied from TripAdvisor or other blogs. This is what we would tell a friend visiting for the first time.
📑 Table of contents
The first thing you need to know: Mojácar has two completely different beach worlds.
**Urban beaches** (Mojácar Playa centre): long sandy stretches with beach bars, a promenade and full services. All are textile beaches where nudism is not permitted.
**Virgin coves** (from the Macenas complex towards Carboneras): isolated, mostly without services (except the odd beach bar), nudist-friendly and dogs are welcome. Crystal-clear water when the poniente (westerly) wind has cleaned the sea.
Urban Beaches: The Classics
Ventanicas Beach ("Titos Beach") — The Family Favourite
🏅 **Blue Flag**
Tourists search for it as "Playa de las Ventanicas" but locals call it "Titos beach". It is the stretch running from Restaurante Lua to Chiringuito Tito's, reaching the breakwater of Hotel Indalo.
One of the best family beaches in Mojácar with fine sand, gradual entry into the water, beach bars on the promenade with sun lounger service and a relaxed atmosphere. If you are travelling with small children, this is your beach.
**Local tip — The breakwater trick:** When the levante (easterly) wind creates waves (common in summer), head to the right side of the Hotel Indalo breakwater. It blocks the waves and creates a sheltered area where children can swim safely. Parking is very close.
Another option is the Pueblo Indalo breakwater, though parking is trickier in high season. There is a beach bar with sun loungers that serves drinks, and you can rent kayaks and pedal boats for a morning with the kids.
Marina de la Torre — The Long Beach
🏅 **Blue Flag**
Facing the Marina de la Torre development and golf course. It has everything: beach bars, sun loungers, showers, disabled access and lifeguards in summer.
The other top choice for families. If you want a long beach where children can run freely, this is it.
El Cid, Aku Aku and Maui Beach Zone — The Young Crowd
🏅 **Blue Flag** (El Cantal Beach)
If you are between 20 and 45 and looking for beach bars with music, cocktails and a party vibe, this is your area. El Cid, Aku Aku and Maui Beach are the go-to spots for beach life in Mojácar.
Virgin Coves: The Other Mojácar
Heading from the town centre towards Carboneras along the coastal road, Mojácar changes completely. Here begins the wild coast: sand and rock coves surrounded by volcanic mountains, undeveloped and uncrowded.
Nudism has been practised in these coves for as long as anyone can remember and dogs are welcome. The water is especially clear when the poniente (westerly) wind blows, which cleans the sea (though it cools it slightly).
Bordenares Cove — A Mini Playa de los Muertos
Bordenares is a cove of about 300 metres with pebbles at the water's edge, similar to the famous Playa de los Muertos in Carboneras. The car park is just a few metres from the shore.
When entering the water there is a step-like drop, making it dangerous when the levante wind is blowing. There is a hill right by the sea that you can climb via a path to take stunning photographs of the entire coastline.
Pure nature at its finest.
El Sombrerico Cove — The Most Photographed
El Sombrerico gets its name from the hat-shaped islet that rises from the water just off the shore. It is probably the most iconic image of Mojácar and worth a visit even if you are not spending the whole day.
If you plan to swim, water shoes are essential as the bathing area is all rock except for a small section on the right side of the cove.
Here you will find **Chiringuito Manaca**, a place with real history. It was built in 1972 as a set for the filming of "Treasure Island" directed by John Hough and starring Orson Welles. Today it is a charming beach bar with good food and a cinematic atmosphere.
Las Granatillas (Sopalmo Beaches) — ⭐ The Crown Jewel
If we had to recommend just one cove in all of Mojácar, this would be it. Las Granatillas are the best-kept secret of the locals.
They are 3 connected coves accessed by driving down a ravine track from the hamlet of Sopalmo (about 6-7 minutes by car). The last cove has fine sand and very shallow water.
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But what makes Las Granatillas truly special is the setting. It is surrounded by volcanic mountains and, if you are lucky at sunset, you will see wild mountain goats descending the slopes to the shore.
It is nudist and has no services whatsoever. Bring everything you need. No beach bars, no showers, nothing but nature.
Beach Bars in the Coves: Where to Eat Outside Town
If you head out to explore the coves, two beach bars are worth knowing about:
Chiringuito de Cristóbal (near Torre de Macenas)
Past the Torre de Macenas along the coastal road you will find this beach bar. It is not a tourist spot: locals come here for generous portions of fresh catch of the day by the sea. The fish quality is superior to Manaca, though the setting is simpler.
Right next door is **Playa del Perulejo**, Mojácar's only dog beach, opened in 2025.
Chiringuito Manaca (El Sombrerico Cove)
The most well-known and the one that appears in every guide. It has history (the Treasure Island filming) and a more tourist-ready atmosphere. Booking is advisable in high season.
The Wind: What Nobody Tells You
On the Mojácar coast, wind completely changes the beach experience. There are two dominant winds that have opposite effects:
**Levante wind (from the east):** Creates waves and brings warmer water. On strong levante days, open urban beaches are dangerous due to the swell. Solution: head to the Hotel Indalo or Pueblo Indalo breakwaters, which act as natural barriers.
**Poniente wind (from the west):** Cleans the water and makes it crystal clear, though it cools it slightly. The best days for visiting the coves (Bordenares, Sombrerico, Granatillas) are with poniente. You will see the seabed as if in a swimming pool.
Practical Information
Blue Flag Beaches 2025 in Mojácar (5 beaches)
Mojácar is the second municipality with the most Blue Flag beaches in the entire province of Almería:
- Marina de la Torre
- El Cantal
- El Descargador (new since 2025)
- Lance Nuevo
- Ventanicas (Venta del Bancal)
Jellyfish
They tend to appear in summer and affect the entire coast equally. No beach is safer than another in this regard.
Currents
As a general rule, there are no dangerous currents at Mojácar beaches.
Nudism
All urban beaches are textile. Nudism is only practised at the southern coves: Bordenares, El Sombrerico and Las Granatillas.
Parking
In summer, parking at urban beaches gets difficult from 11am onwards. At the southern coves there is usually space.
Sun protection
Almería has over 320 days of sunshine per year. Use factor 50 even in September and October.
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