Playa de los Muertos, Cabo de Gata (2021)

Besides being one of the most famous beaches in Cabo de Gata, but it has even been voted as one of Spain's best beaches. 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.

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Visit Playa de los Muertos

Impressive rock formation in Playa de los Muertos

WHERE IS PLAYA DE LOS MUERTOS?

Visiting Playa de los Muertos is one of the top things to do in Almeria. It’s located in the Cabo de Gata Nature Park on the Costa de Almeria. It is halfway between the towns of Agua Amarga and Carboneras (15 min drive to each). It is about a 30 min drive away from Mojacar.

AMENITIES AT PLAYA DE LOS MUERTOS

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).

Playa de los Muertos

CHARACTERISTICS OF PLAYA DE LOS MUERTOS

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.

Playa de los Muertos with Carboneras & its industrial port in the background

Beach with Carboneras & its industrial port in the background

The seas around the beach can get rough at times. Be cautious, especially if you visit the beach when the winds are strong. The entrance to the water can be very steep and getting in and out could be problematic.

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.

CALA DEL PEÑON CORTADO

The stretch from the huge rock formation to the end of the beach is known as Cala del Peñon Cortado. These 90 m of beach are very popular and are usually the first to fill up. Perhaps it is because this area is more sheltered from the wind or maybe because it is impressive to be next to the huge rock!

Cala del Peñón Cortado in Playa de los Muertos – Cabo de Gata, Spain

Cala del Peñon Cortado

HISTORY – WHY IS IT CALLED "BEACH OF THE DEAD"?

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.

NUDISM IN PLAYA DE LOS MUERTOS

Playa de los Muertos is a mixed beach. This means that not everyone practices nudism, but it is quite common. In general, nudism is concentrated on the left end of the beach (when facing the sea).

BEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO VISIT PLAYA DE LOS MUERTOS

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 (May - June) or early fall (September - October).

How to Get to Playa de los Muertos

Views of Playa de los Muertos from the lookout point

GET THERE BY CAR

Playa de los Muertos is located 65 km from the city of Almeria. By car, it takes about 50 to 60 minutes.

Mojacar Playa is located 24 km north of Playa de los Muertos. By car, it takes about 30 minutes. The route runs along the coast, first along the AL-5107 road to Carboneras and then along the AL-5106 road.

The nearest towns to Playa de los Muertos are Carboneras (6.5 km to the north) and Agua Amarga (3.5 km to the south). The beach is accessed via the road AL-5106 that connects both towns. There is a parking area next to this road.

GET THERE BY BOAT

As an alternative to walking to the beach, it is possible to hire a boat from the port of Carboneras.

Path down to Playa de los Muertos

PARKING AT PLAYA DE LOS MUERTOS

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 situated between the road and the beach, and continue on the path to the left.

From the parking area, it takes about 15 minutes of steep walking to get to the beach. Although it is not the most taxing walk, if you have limited mobility or are traveling with small children, you might want to reconsider.

Paths to access Playa de los Muertos

ACCESS TO PLAYA DE LOS MUERTOS

Playa de los Muertos is essentially located under a cliff and therefore is not easily accessed. There are three paths that start at the parking area, about 60 m above sea level, and descend gradually to the beach.

Main path: It starts at the information point. This is the longest trail (700 m) but also the easiest. At a normal pace it takes about 15 minutes.
Path 2: It starts at the end of the parking area between the road and the beach. It is a little shorter (about 600 m), but it is steeper.
Path 3: It starts next to the viewpoint. It is the shortest but also the steepest and in the worst condition. There are slippery rocks and it is necessary to move with caution. But if you like adventure and you have gone to the viewpoint, it is a very fast way to go down to the beach.

To go down to the beach, 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!