PLAYA DE MONSUL
Cabo de Gata
Along with Playa de los Muertos and Playa de los Genoveses, Playa de Monsul is one of the most famous beaches in Cabo de Gata. Of the three beaches, it’s the most beautiful in our opinion. Monsul is divided in two sections by the Peineta de Monsul (Monsul’s comb), a huge volcanic rock formation that extends out into the crystalline waters. The beach is also bordered by a massive sand dune which is one of the most iconic images of Cabo de Gata. Atop the dune, you can enjoy fantastic views of the bay, the coast and the surrounding volcanic landscapes.
Playa de Monsul is a completely undeveloped and virgin beach in the Cabo de Gata Natural Park. You must take everything with you that you may need such as water, beach umbrella, etc.
Getting in and out of the water is very easy and the beach is great for families with children. It is also a good spot to snorkel, especially around the peineta.
Several movies, TV series and commercials have been filmed at Monsul. The most famous is probably a scene from Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade.
Playa de Monsul is located 5 km away from the center of San Jose following the dirt road (about 15 min drive or 1 h walk).
From the Playa de Monsul parking, it’s a 5-min walk to the beach. During high season (mid June til mid September) parking costs 5€/day. It is free the rest of the year.
During high season, access to the beach by car is limited. As soon as the parking is full (which has space for about 120 vehicles), the road is closed. After that, the only way to get to the beach is by foot, bike or public bus.
During high season, it is possible to get to Playa de Monsul from San Jose by bus. There is one bus every 30 minutes from 9am til 9pm and one ticket costs 1.5€. The bus has 3 stops in San Jose: Calle Entrada (next to the parking), Calle de Correos (in front of the supermarket) and Calle Ronda (at the beginning of the dirt road to the beaches). It stops at the following beaches: Playa de los Genoveses, Playa de Barronal, Playa de Mónsul and Cala Carbón.