The municipality of Cartaya boasts just over 4km of sandy estuary beaches, protected from the winds by a sandy spit of land opposite, just across the Rio Piedras.
El Rompido
The beach at this small, friendly fishing village called El Rompido is protected from the open sea by the spit that extends across the Río Piedras estuary. Boasting around 1km of golden sand, this semi-urban beach has the advantage of being close to the protected salt marshes of Rio Piedras and El Rompido golf club. There are showers, toilets, lifeguards and parking available, with the leisure facilities and restaurants of the small village not too far away. To make the most of the beach, check the tide times and visit when the tide is in. If you want to get away from the crowds, you can hire a boat to take you across to the spit. Here you can walk along the long, sandy beach of Nueva Umbria or explore the sand dunes that run along the centre of the spit. If you do this, don't forget to take all of your own supplies, including fresh water.
La Flecha
La Flecha is the section of beach on the spit of Río Piedras, the river that runs alongside the village of El Rompido. This is often aclaimed as one of the best beaches in Andalucia. You can access the beach the hard way by walking west along Playa Nueva Umbría or the easy way by catching a 'Flechamar Dos' small ferry boat from the Marina in El Rompido to the spit and then walking across a 200m boardwalk (Walkway #3) over the dunes to the sea side. These small ferries take 10 mins to cross and run from mid June to mid September with one leaving the marina every 30 minutes from 10:15 to 20:15 and returning every half an hour from 10:30 until 19:30.
There is another boat ('Flechamar Uno') which takes visitors to a quieter section of the spit (Walkway #2 with an lengthy 800m walk across the dunes). there is a naturist area on the right hand side of this walkway. The ferry runs from hourly from April to October leaving El Rompido from 11.15 to 18.15 hrs feturning 11.30 to 18.30.
If you are travelling with young children or an elderly family member, we would recommend catching the 'Flechamar Dos' for a shorter walk. Remember to take a picnic and lots of water as facilities are limited on La Flecha beach. There is one small food outlet where you can buy crisps and drinks. If you hire a sunbed and a parasol for 10 euros you get two bottles of water free. For enquiries regarding the boats, please tel 959 399 942. The ferry company also organise sunset tours along Río Piedras.
Playa de San Miguel
Access in car via a track just after Los Pinos urbanisation. Lots of parking availble. 2km stretch of golden sands, this tranquil beach is protected from the wind making it perfect for some watersports. There are showers and toilets, a lifeguard station and a handful of restaurants and beach bars.
Playa del Nuevo Portil
Nuevo Portil beach is 1.5km long with calm waters making it perfect for swimming. Surrounded by pine woods and dunes, there is a panoramic viewpoint that offers incredible views of the breathtaking sunsets. The Nuevo Portil golf club is close by and there are showers, cafes and a lifeguard post at the beach.
Not far from Nuevo Portil is Laguna de El Portil where you will find the Laguna de El Portil nature reserve.
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