Nude Beaches Spain! You want them and we have them. Costa Tropical is a paradise for the nude naturist, with plenty of options to soak up the sun and enjoy the beach. Costa Tropical is a nice little secret along the coast of Granada and there are a few options for clothing optional beaches. It is touristy enough to have the amenities you will enjoy, yet private enough to feel like you are living with the locals. While this slice of coastline isn’t vast, you certainly have a great choice of naturalists beaches to choose from.
Costa Tropical Spain Nude Beach
We will start at the west end of Costa Tropical and work our way to the east. We also offer a map of Almuñécar area beaches.
Beach Cantarriján, La Herradura
Beach Cantarriján is a small naturist nude beach, which can get pretty crowded during high season. It is located in the Cerro Gordo Nature Area, about 8 km to the west of La Herradura. You may access off of the N-340 coastal road and there are signs posted for the Cantarriján exit. You may also access via the A-7 highway and take the La Herradura exit, then follow the N-340 west (towards Nerja) for about 8 km.
There is parking at the top of the hill and an easy hike down, but a bit more effort coming back up. Please be sure to have water with you to stay hydrated. During the summer months (mid June – August), a minibus is offered for €1 each way, to/from the naturist beach.
Nude beach Spain!
The crystal blue sea is stunning from these beaches and may also be used by non-nudists. There are 2 small beaches around the small bay, facing south-west, which is ideal to catch those spectacular sunsets. The beaches are protected by the huge cliffs you just came down, so you will be well protected and pretty private. The first beach has sunshades, sunbeds, showers, two restaurants, and tends to be a naturist-textile mix, while the second is wilder, stonier and a paradise nude.
Cantarriján Beach Access:
Coming from Nerja on the N-340 coast road, the turnoff to Cantarriján naturist beach is well sign-posted, just past the ‘Provincia de Granada’ sign and before the Cerro Gordo tunnel. Alternatively, follow the A-7 motorway until the Almuñecar Oeste-La Herradura exit and then backtrack 8km along the N-340 towards Nerja. Cars are not allowed in this protected area so you should park along the A-7 road and catch the authorised shuttle bus down to the beach. You may also access from the sea via boat or a canoe/kayak rental from La Herradura.
Length = 385 m, surface area = 13.400 m2, capacity = 2970 users
Playa el Muerto, Almuñecar
Though the “beach of the dead” is officially naturist, in the summer and at weekends you’ll probably find more textiles than naturists. This nudist beach is very popular year-round and is accessed on foot from Cotobro Beach. This is also along the hiking trail between Almuñécar and La Herradura, so there may be passers-by who are not naturalists. The beach ends with big rocks, so it is not possible to walk along the beach to the Marina. This is a south-east facing beach with semi-coarse sand.
Beach Access:
To get there, drive along Almuñecar paseo maritimo (sea front) for about 2km west of the town center, until you reach Cotobro beach. Park nearby and walk around a set of steps going around the rocks. You will then cross a couple of very small beaches and then reach the naturist beach.
Length = 300m, surface area = 5, 850 m2, capacity = 1.200 users
Playa de la Joya, Motril
Access to this quiet and secluded nudist beach is down a 500-metre stairway, not far from the village of Torrenueva in the municipality of Motril. Other than trash cans and cleaning services there aren’t any other facilities. This remote and rustic beach is sandy and the water ideal for swimming and sun bathing. It is very popular with groups of young people looking for a place to enjoy, couples who prefer a day of relaxation or fans of naturism. La Joya welcomes anyone who has a thirst for adventure and determined to reach its dark sands.
Beach Access:
You may access this nude beach from the N-340, just past Torrenueva. On the way up to the Carchuna tunnel, a turnoff to the right is where you need to park to access the beach path. The last section must be done on foot, down a staircase of almost 200 steps, located on the cliff that protects the beach. At last and small jump and you are ready to enjoy the sand mixed with some gravel. The effort to get there is worth it.
Length = 220m, surface area = 5, 000 m2, capacity = 800 users
Negratín Reservoir
Okay, so not all beaches are on the Mediterranean. This one is a little inland and is on the freshwater Negratin reservoir. Lake Negratin is one of Andalucia’s largest freshwater lakes, formed by the Negratin Dam on the Guadiana Menor River. The area around Cuevas de Campo in the province of Granada offers opportunities for nude sunbathing and swimming at both. The Negratín reservoir boasts its own small naturist beach with plenty of white sand, half a dozen sunshades, a summer-time kiosk and a ramp into the turquoise waters. Cuevas del Campo is one of the six picturesque villages that make up the area of Baza in the Altiplano region. It covers 97 km2 and has a population of approximately 2,500. Close to the nearby village of Pozo Alcón (now in Jaén province), there are rivers and pools and waterfalls, and depending when you go, these can also be enjoyed au naturel.
Beach Access:
By car, take the A92 motorway (Almeria-Sevilla) and then the C-323 (A-315) to Cuevas del Campo. Follow the signs to Cuevas de Campo and Embalse de Negratín.
Playa de Ruso, La Rabita
Near the eastern side of Costa Tropical and Albuñol, you will find the next naturist beach. It is about one and a half kilometres before the small seaside resort and beach of La Rabita. It is a very pleasant and secluded nudist beach, called Playa el Ruso. Like many out-of-town nude beaches, this one has no services or amenities. However, it does offer heaps of tranquility, as well as peace and quiet, garnished with the deep blue clear waters.
Beach Access:
There are two ways to reach this beach, either by the sea from the nearby village of La Rábita or walk from the exit of the N-340. On foot the access is more rugged, as you go down to the beach you have to cross a long trail sloped with sand and dust. The most complicated part of the descent is the stretch where the road seems to disappear, as it turns into cane fields and aloe vera. Just cross this area, and at times you may need to walk crouched through a tunnel, then you will arrive at the beach. Once you are at the beach, everything changes color. The green of the cane fields are now swapped out for the turquoise blue waters.
Length = 275m, capacity = low
Naturist Spa Circuit



Well if the weather is great outside to enjoy the Costa Tropical nude beaches, just take it inside at the Almuñecar Playa Senator. Located at the Playa Senator Hotel on San Cristobal Beach, you can enjoy a little time at the spa circuit without the hassle of a bathing suit. This is offered the 2nd Thursday each month from 17:00 – 21:00, for the spa circuit. This can be your own slice of naturist paradise indoors, offering a several pools, saunas, jacuzzis, steam rooms, lemon pool, stone walk and more.
If you aren’t quite sure if clothing optional is your thing, read how a local couple (okay it was us), gave it a try with their Naturist in Spain Experiment.
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