Playa Cantarriján - Herradura
Playa Cantarriján is definitely the most beautiful beach of the Costa Tropical. It is divided over two bay and it is located in the Natural Park Maro Cerro Gordo, which is situated at the west of Herradura (Almuñecar), just on the border with the province of Malaga. These very nice natural beaches are located between some cliffs and offer a lot of facilities.
If you are lucky you can see mountain goats on the road down to the beach, which are even seen on the beach itself in the very early morning. The waters are very clear and are excellent for practicing snorkling or canoeing & padling. If you take some bread you can feed the fish out of your hands; there are hundreds, so it looks you are swimming in an aquarium! On the rocks you will encounter snails and crabs. The most amazing thing is, when you take a swim at night. The waters contains a plankton that lights up on movement! On first site you think you see the reflection of the stars in the water, but you will see that small spots on your body are also be twinkeling.
The most isolated beach at the left, is a totally nudist beach. The beach in front of the two beach restaurants is mixed. From June till September you have to park your car at the parking along the N340 or along the road on busy days and a bus will bring you down and up for €2. Cars at the parking near the beach and restuarants will be fined if the do not have a permit.
| Basic information of the two beaches | |
| Municipality | : Herradura (Almuñecar) |
| Situation | : natural park |
| Type | : nudist & mixed |
| Length | : 175 m & 200 m |
| Width | : 40 m & 50 m |
| Occupation | : medium / high |
| Compostion | : gravel & dark sand |
| Condition sea | : normaly quiet |
Facilities & Services:
- Rental of beach umbrellas, deck chairs and sun loungers;
- Restaurants: two beach restaurants; one of the restaurants is organizing music nights (jazz and flaminco) in the weekends and during the week;
- Watersport: rental of paddle surf, canoes, paddle boats. Also excursions are organized;
- Showers: (restaurant La Barraca is offering a shower against a small fee);
- Toilets: (restaurant La Barraca);
- Parking: next to the beach restaurants from September until June. In July and August you have to park your car uphill at the parking next to the N-340. From the parking a bus will bring you down to the beach (fee € 2,00);
- The nearest supermarkets and other restaurants/bars are located in Herradura on 7 km distance.
