Playa de Carvajal

About Playa de Carvajal

Playa de Carvajal is a short beach at the western end of Benalmádena's coast, where the municipality meets Fuengirola; part of the sand lies on the Fuengirola side of the boundary. It is about 670 m long and between 10 and 50 m wide, widest at its western end, with sand mixed with gravel and boulders.

Unlike Fuengirola's promenade beaches, Carvajal sits below a cliff with some vegetation, and it is quieter and more natural than the town-centre beaches. The water is usually calm, and the beach holds the Blue Flag. The western end is the most crowded part.

Lifeguards are on duty in season, and there are toilets, showers, footbaths, sunbed and umbrella hire, water-sports rental and food and drink. Access is signposted from Avenida del Sol, there is wheelchair access, and an unguarded car park holds 50 to 100 cars. Carvajal also has its own stop on the Cercanías line between Málaga and Fuengirola.

Visit in May, June or late September, when the sea is warm and parking is straightforward. In July and August the car park fills quickly, so arrive in the morning or come by train; mornings are also the best time to find space at the busy western end.

Playa de Carvajal 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

The sand continues across the boundary into Fuengirola, and further west Playa de las Gaviotas (3 km) has golden sand, beach bars and water sports. Inland, Disc Golf Park Mijas (2 km) is a casual alternative to a conventional round, while Golf Torrequebrada (4 km) is Benalmádena's established course on the hills above the coast. For a cultural break, the Benalmádena Museum (3 km) holds an archaeological collection that includes pre-Columbian pieces. The Cercanías trains along the coast make the Fuengirola beaches easy to reach without a car.