Playa Ancha

About Playa Ancha

Playa Ancha is the main beach of Casares Costa, the short coastal strip of the municipality of Casares between Manilva and Estepona, on the western Costa del Sol. The white village of Casares itself stands inland in the hills; down here the beach runs in front of residential developments and golf courses, and it is officially counted together with neighbouring Playa Chica.

It is about 1,300 metres long and 50 metres wide, an urban beach with calm water and a promenade lined with tamarisk. The shore is gravel rather than sand, so beach shoes help. The coast here is also designated an area of ornithological interest.

Playa Ancha has held a Blue Flag for several seasons. Facilities include lifeguards, toilets, showers and footbaths, beach bars, sunbed, parasol and sports equipment hire, and an anchoring area for small boats. There are signposted access points, a car park with more than 100 spaces and a bus stop on the Estepona to La Línea route.

Come in June or September, when the sea is warm and the lifeguards and beach bars are working but the car park is easier. In July and August, arrive by mid-morning to park, and stay for the late-afternoon light over the water.

Playa Ancha in pictures

What you’ll find

• Beach boatsBoat rentalRent
• Beach lifeguardSupervised swimmingFree
• Beach sunbedsSunbed hireRent
• Beach umbrellasUmbrella hireRent
• Public showersWash bodyFree
• Public toiletsPersonal SanitattionFree
• Sandy beachRest on beachFree
• Sea shoreSnorkellingRentSwimmingFree

Nearby places to visit

Golf surrounds this stretch of coast. Doña Julia Golf Club (400 m) is practically behind the beach, and Casares Costa Golf (2 km) is a short drive inland. In the hills, Club de Golf Finca Cortesín (3 km), designed by Cabell B. Robinson, hosted the Volvo World Match Play and, in 2023, the first Solheim Cup played in Spain. Towards Manilva, La Duquesa Golf Country Club (3 km) is another option for a round, and Playa de la Duquesa (3 km) runs past the old fishing hamlet beside the 18th-century Castillo de la Duquesa.