Playa de Carchuna

About Playa de Carchuna

Playa de Carchuna is a long, straight beach on the Costa Tropical, about 10 km east of Motril, between the Cabo Sacratif lighthouse and the village of Calahonda. Around 3 km long and roughly 40 m wide, it is made of dark sand mixed with gravel, and the seabed drops fairly quickly into deep, clean water.

Intensive greenhouse farming covers the coastal plain behind it, with plastic-covered plots reaching almost to the shore, so there are few buildings along the sand. Because the beach is so long it still feels calm on busy summer days, and it holds the Blue Flag.

Lifeguards are on duty in season, and there are toilets, showers, footbaths, a children's area and a sports area. Access is from the N-340, with a junction off the A-7 signed for Carchuna and Calahonda, and a car park of more than 100 spaces sits beside the beach. Camping Don Cactus is close by.

June and September are the best months: the sea is warm (around 24 °C at the height of summer) and there is plenty of room. In July and August, come early in the morning, before the dark sand and gravel heat up underfoot, and bring water shoes for the gravel.

Playa de Carchuna in pictures

What you’ll find

• Beach lifeguardSupervised swimmingFree
• Pebble beachRest on beachFree
• Public showersWash bodyFree
• Public toiletsPersonal SanitattionFree
• Sandy beachRest on beachFree
• Sea shoreSnorkellingRentSwimmingFree

Nearby places to visit

Heading west towards Motril, Playa de Torrenueva Costa (5 km) is a busier beach of just over 2 km with apartment blocks, a promenade and a family atmosphere, while Playa Motril (9 km) lies closer to the town. In Motril itself, the Preindustrial Sugar Cane Museum (10 km) tells the story of the sugar cane industry that once dominated this coast. Golfers can play at Playa Granada, west of the port, on the course of Los Moriscos Club de Golf (11 km). The N-340 links them all, so a beach morning and a museum visit fit easily into one day.