Playa El Corral

About Playa El Corral

Playa El Corral, also known as Cala El Corral, is a cove on the coast road south of Carboneras, about 1 km north of the well-known Playa de los Muertos. It lies within the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, between the cove of Las Salinicas and the town's cement works, whose silhouette is visible from the sand.

High cliffs of volcanic origin frame the cove, which is about 250 metres long and up to 50 metres wide, with a mix of dark sand and gravel. Its draw for families is the small natural pools that form among the rocks, and the clear water makes it good for snorkelling, with fish visible close to the shore.

Services are minimal: a lifeguard team in high season, signposted hazards and litter bins, but no beach bar, showers or toilets, so bring water and shade. The beach sits a few metres below the AL-5106. There is no formal car park, only roadside parking, which is hard to find in July and August.

Late May, June and September give warm water with fewer cars on the road. In high summer arrive before about 9.30 am to park, and enjoy the clearest, calmest water of the day.

Playa El Corral in pictures

What you’ll find

• Beach lifeguardSupervised swimmingFree
• Pebble beachRest on beachFree
• Sandy beachRest on beachFree
• Sea shoreSnorkellingRentSwimmingFree

Nearby places to visit

Next door, Playa de las Salinicas (400 m) is a small, quiet beach of fine dark sand named after an old salt pond. Heading south-west into the natural park, Playazo de Rodalquilar (15 km) is a sandy bay below an 18th-century coastal battery. North along the coast in Mojácar, Playa de la Mena (16 km) sits on the southern stretch of the town's long beach, where the promenade begins, and Minigolf Albatros (19 km), is a family crazy-golf course facing the sea. Golfers can play Club Marina Golf Mojácar (23 km), an 18-hole course with sea views on almost every hole.