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Not only is Playa de los Muertos one of the best beaches in Cabo de Gata, but it has even been voted as one of the best in all of Spain. The 1.2 km stretch of beach is completely undeveloped and features a huge free standing rock formation at the edge of its crystal clear turquoise water. To arrive at the beach it is necessary to walk downhill from the parking area for 15 minutes. Although nudism is not practiced by everyone on the beach, it is quite common.
Playa de los Muertos is located in the Cabo de Gata Nature Park, halfway between the towns of Agua Amarga and Carboneras (15 min to each). Mojacar is a 30 min drive away.
Other than a parking area, the beach does not have any amenities: no bathrooms, lifeguards or food/drink for sale. That means you need to take everything with you that you may want. With that being said, in the high season there is usually a couple of guys selling ice cream, drinks and snacks on the beach – but you can’t count on that 100%. In any case, help to protect the environment and always remember to leave no trace behind (ie, don’t leave your trash).
Most of the beach is composed of small pebbles that become smaller in size the closer you get to the water. While the pebbles might not be as appealing as sand, they do help keep the water looking crystal clear. And there is a lot of marine life in the water around the beach, so make sure you bring your snorkel.
The seas around the beach can get rough at times. In fact, the name Playa de los Muertos - Beach of the Dead – originated because historically when ships would wreck nearby, the currents would bring the bodies to its shore. Keep that in mind when visiting the beach and the winds are strong. The entrance to the water can be very steep and getting in and out could be problematic.
The busiest times to visit are July and August. Some of its charm can be lost when it gets so full. If you want more of the beach to yourself, the best time to go would be in late spring or early fall.
While Playa de los Muertos is a gorgeous beach, in our opinion it is far from being the most beautiful in Cabo de Gata, especially considering that to one side of it you see the industrial port area of Carboneras.
Playa de los Muertos is essentially located under a cliff and therefore is not easily accessed. The downhill path begins at 60m above sea level and gradually descends to the beach. It is about 700m long and at a normal pace should take about 15 minutes. Although it is not the most taxing walk, if you have limited mobility or are traveling with small children, you might want to reconsider.
It is not recommended to wear flip flop sandals. A good pair of comfortable shoes will help you stay on your feet and keep your toes safe. Think about how much stuff you actually want to be carrying down and then back up again at the end of the day. Most importantly, make sure you bring enough water!
Next to the road there are several parking areas. Some parts are managed by the government and cost 5€/day while others are free.
A few minutes walk from the parking, there is a good lookout point to the beach down below. To get there, exit the parking lot and continue on the path to the left.
As an alternative to walking to the beach, it is possible to hire a boat from the port of Carboneras.
