Playa de la Costilla

About Playa de la Costilla

Playa de la Costilla is the main town beach of Rota, on the Costa Noroeste at the north-western entrance to the Bay of Cádiz. About 1.3 km long and 50 metres wide, it runs along the edge of the town centre, backed by a seafront promenade, and is probably the busiest beach in the municipality.

Its appeal is good sand with full facilities right on the doorstep of the old town. It has carried the Blue Flag and received Spain's Q for tourist quality in 2014, and lifeguards, toilets, showers, sunbed and umbrella hire, water-sports rental, a children's area and a sports area are all provided. Access points are signposted and step-free, and there is a large free car park.

The town centre, with the Castillo de Luna and plenty of bars serving urta a la roteña, the local fish dish, is a short walk from the sand, and urban buses run along the A-491.

June and September are the best months, with warm water and fewer people than in July and August. Arrive in the morning for an easy parking space, or come in the early evening, when the sun goes down over the Atlantic and the promenade fills with people out for a stroll.

Playa de la Costilla 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 shoreSwimmingFree

Nearby places to visit

Almost next door, Playa Virgen del Mar–Puntalillo (300 m) continues the town shoreline. On the other side of the port, Playa del Rompidillo (1 km) and Playa del Chorrillo (3 km) form a long urban beach running towards the naval base, popular with windsurfers and sailors for its strong winds. To the north-west, Playa de Punta Candor (3 km) is a wide, wild beach of golden sand backed by protected dunes and natural vegetation. Golfers will find the Rota Golf Club (2 km) close to town, so a morning round and an afternoon on the beach fit easily into one day.