Motril has many kilometers of beaches starting at the Salobrena border and running eastwards along the coast.
Playa Granada
The Motril beaches continue from the end of Salobrena and start almost deserted, and provides an excellent family beach close to Motril yet in part surrounded by lush green wild sugarcane which meets the sand and uncommercial with little development close by. The reason for the beach being so apparently idyllic and yet deserted towards it far end is that simply that most of the tourists are Spanish and (making a broad generalisation!) they prefer to be around lots of other people and close to the bars and restaurants which can be found on the next beaches. Also bordering Playa Granada is the Los Moriscos golf course where you can find some rental apartments.
Playa Poniente
This is probably the most popular beach for the locals and buses from the center of Motril transport them at the weekends and during August to spend the day next to the sea. This beach is more commercial than the Granada beach, the beach is wide with finer sand but also with patches of small pebbles and there is good, although unorganized parking directly at the side of the beach. Here there are various bars and restaurants as well as loungers and sun shades – if you arrive early enough. For quite a bit of the beach there is little development but this gives way to apartment buildings closer to Motril’s port. There is also a promenade and various trendy chiringuitos and bars and in the summer is popular with the young Spanish. One of the best times to come along this stretch of beach is at night when the bars and restaurants become lively, particularly late at night the music which can vary from Spanish flamenco style to Spanish rock, dance and latin rhythms depending on the venue is turned up a bit more and the dancing begins. Some of the locations such as Psylicon offer salsa classes.
Following the coast around you pass the beaches of Azucena and Torrenueva and a naturist beach, Playa La Joya.
Playa Torrenueva
Just five minutes from Motril before reaching the rocky headland and lighthouse which divides the coastal stretch there is the town and beach of Torrenueva. Still used throught the year for fishing the area produces lots of molluscs, the shells of which can be found on its grey sand beaches.
Carchuna Beach
Located close by Calahonda the beach at Carchuna is even less developed but is a draw for water sports enthusiasts who enjoy kite surfing in the open clear and blue waters with abundant fishing off the coast as where scuba divers can enjoy the deep waters in the area and variety of marine life. Carchuna Beach is a low,flat and sandy beach that runs along the coast from El Cabo de Sacratif to Calahonda.
Calahonda beach
Hidden from view from the beaches of Salobrena and Motril by a large rocky headland this beach is both broad and long with golden but coarse sand. There is a small fleet of local fishing boats moored along a sheltered part in a natural harbour which forms part of the far eastern end of beach. The beach is the focal point of the small town in summer and one of the main attractions of the area. There is a children’s play area as well as bars and restaurants and a lifeguard.
Castel del Ferro Beach
Located almost exactly between Malaga and Almeria airports this beach popular with locals and people living in the nearby Alpujarras is mainly sandy and stretches for several kilometers. The coastline is slightly less rocky here and the beach is wide and not particularly crowded. On the edge of the beach is the town and there are several restaurants and bars close by. This is quite an active beach but it does not become crowded.
Particularly beyond Torrenueva between Carchuna and Castel del Ferro beaches above there are various coves with clear water and beautiful rock formations providing shelter and relative privacy. These beaches are smaller and often with no facilities but provide a beautiful location to spend a day next to the sea.
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