Playa de las Arenas

About Playa de las Arenas

Playa de las Arenas lies on the quiet southern stretch of the Manilva coast, at the far western end of the Costa del Sol, close to Punta de la Chullera and the boundary with Cádiz province. It is a semi-urban beach about 1 km long and 20 metres wide, of golden gravel and coarse sand, below a white residential development.

It is also called Playa del Gobernador, and is sometimes grouped with neighbouring Playa de Tubalita, below a steep headland. A lay-by with a beach bar on the A-7 above looks along the coast to the Rock of Gibraltar on clear days. Cala Sardina, a small cove, lies at one end.

The sand is darker and coarser than on the town beaches further east, and is cleaned less often, so expect driftwood. Facilities are basic: seasonal sunbed and umbrella hire, but no lifeguards, showers or step-free access. There is unsupervised parking for 50 to 100 cars and a bus along the main road. Puerto de la Duquesa is about 3 km away.

May, June and September are the best months, when the sea is warm and the A-7 is less busy. Come in the morning, when parking is easier and the water is usually calmer.

Playa de las Arenas in pictures

What you’ll find

• Beach sunbedsSunbed hireRent
• Beach umbrellasUmbrella hireRent
• Sandy beachRest on beachFree
• Sea shoreSnorkellingRentSwimmingFree

Nearby places to visit

The neighbouring beaches are all within easy walking distance. Playa de los Toros (700 m) is a wider, more open beach with natural dunes. Playa de Tubalita (1 km) is further along. Playa del Negro (2 km) is known for its dune plants. Playa de Cala Sardina (2 km) is a small cove between two rocky breakwaters. In the other direction, Playa de la Chullera (2 km) is a quieter stretch of sand and shingle running towards Punta Chullera past a protected dune reserve. Since they share access roads off the A-7, you can easily walk between two or three of them in a morning.