Andalucia is world-famous - and justifiably so - for its 800km of coastline: countless spectacular beaches with white sands and crystalline turquoise waters. Whether you want a nudist hangout, a family-friendly bucket-and-spade affair, high-adrenalin watersports, or a chiringuito with top-class fresh seafood, you have hundreds to choose from.
The beaches on the coast in the municipality of the inland town of Moguer are actually closer to Mazagon and the famous Doñana Natural Park. This 100-metre wide beach gets its name from the Parador Hotel located here. Playa del Parador is located just a few kilometers from Mazagón along the A494 road but feels like a different world.
Mazagón is a town in the municipality of Palos de la Frontera. This long beach spans 5.5 kilometres next to the town of Mazagon and borders Doñana natural park. The most urban part of the beach to the west of the town and closest to the marina has all facilities including: showers, beaches, lifeguards, parking, parasols and sunbeds for hire, beach cafés and parking.
Huelva's capital city is home to just one beach, El Espigon. It is a relatively young beach, in that it was 'born' after works on the Juan Carlos I dock in the seventies. The 3 kilometre beach is located on a sand spit that can be accessed only by driving across las Marismas del Odiel wetland area.
Ayamonte is the westernmost town on the Costa de la Luz with the last beaches before the Portuguese border. The area boasts two main beaches. Isla Canela is the nearerst beach resort, just five minutes' drive away from the centre of Ayamonte. It boasts a particularly wide 5.5km stretch of sandy beach, with chiringuitos (summer beach bars).
As well as being home to part of Doñana National Park, the municipality of Almonte is home to the village of El Rocio which sees an annual pilgrimage of over a million pilgrims at Pentecost. The beaches here are very popular with naturists.
Punta Umbria is the largest seaside town along the Huelva Costa de la Luz. It's busy with beachgoers from Sevilla and Huelva city in the summer, when there is a vibrant nightlife with loads of late-night bars and clubs to choose from when the sun goes down.
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. 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.
The municipality of Lepe boasts over 20km of sandy beaches stretching from the newer resort of La Islantilla to La Antilla, Nueva Umbría and the marshes of Rio Piedras. The beaches get very busy during the summer season.
Isla Cristina is one of the most popular resorts on the Costa de la Luz in Huelva and gets very busy in the summer. There are many beaches to choose from, although the main beach, Playa Central can seem overcrowded in July and August.
Use our guide to explore the beaches along the Costa de la Luz from the furthest east next to the Portuguese border, to the furthest west at the Campo de Gibraltar. Beaches along the Costa de la Luz are generally long, sandy and backed by dunes and pine woods. During July and August the beaches nearest the resorts are packed with mainly Spanish visitors from Huelva city and Sevilla.
This is the longest of the Mijas Costa beaches at over 4,500 meters long and 25 meters wide. Since it is right at the foot of the large Sitio de Calahonda urbanization, it is a very popular beach, with ramp access, many beach bars and lots of activity, but it also has some quieter corners for those who prefer a bit of piece and quiet.
The Spanish Tourist Board estimates that around 1.5 million tourists visit Spain every summer with the express aim of practicing naturism. To this number can be added the estimated half a million Spaniards who habitually or occasionally enjoying sunbathing in the buff.
The Blue Flag Campaign started in 1987 and is now is a voluntary eco-label awarded to over 4000 beaches and marinas in 48 countries across Europe, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada, Jordan, UAE and the Caribbean. Recently the Blue Flag Programme has expanded to offer awards for individual boaters and whale-watching boats.
Andalucia has over 1000 Km of coastline, most of which is sandy beach - long sweeps of soft, golden sand, or hidden rocky cove. It's not surprising, then, that "ir a la playa" is the single most popular recreational activity for tourists and residents alike.
A beach bar or chiriniguito is was typically a wooden shack on the beach with an relaxed alternative atmosphere serving simple inexpensive food and drinks. Nowadays you have such a range, from the simple traditional beach bars to the high end chiringuitos, with fusion cuisine and designer decor.
With over 17km of fine, golden sand stretching along the Costa Almería, the virtually untouched beaches of Mojácar are the perfect place to unwind and enjoy the Mediterranean sea.
The Beaches of Nerja are one of the towns´s biggest assets, the crystal clear waters and rocky outcrops the pepper the coastline make it a haven for snorkelling and scuba diving. The steep cliffsides offer breath taking views; of course none as spectacular as that of the Balcon de Europa.
Playa Artola is the beach situated to the west of Cabopino Marina. This is on a promenant part of the coast called Punta Ladrones. One assumes ladrones (robbers) prefered to come ashore on promentaries rather than inlets. A very early partly restored square plan watch tower bears testiment to this and is also called Torre Ladrones watch tower.
The famous Nikki Beach club in the gardens of the Don Carlos Hotel is located here, so there is no shortage of celebrities and glamourous folk on Las Chapas beach. It is very popular and busy in summer. The main access to the western end of the beach is via the urbanisation roads that lead down tot he beach from the Elveria shopping centre or Alanda club or Don Carlos Hotel.
