The Best Beaches in Cabo de Gata and How to Reach Them
Updated October 20, 2026 · 5 min read
Cabo de Gata-Níjar has about 495 km² of protected volcanic coast, and its beaches are the reason most people come. They are not resort beaches. Most have no sunbeds, and several have no facilities at all. The practical question is how you get to them, and in summer the answer changes.
The beaches west of San José
The best-known group lies west of the village of San José: Genoveses, Barronal, Mónsul, Media Luna and Cala Carbón. Genoveses and Mónsul are the two names you will see on every list. They are reached from San José, and that approach is the part that needs planning.
The summer restriction. Motor vehicles are restricted on the road to these beaches in summer. The Junta de Andalucía’s regulation runs roughly from mid or late June to late September. The exact dates are set each year, so look them up for the week you travel. The rule applies to motor vehicles, not to walkers or cyclists. A shuttle bus from San José has run in summer, but timetable and fare change, so ask at the tourist office in San José and not on a forum.
What this means in practice: between roughly late June and late September, do not plan to drive up, park at the sand and leave when you like.
Los Muertos: worth the walk, not for everyone
Playa de los Muertos is near Carboneras, at the park’s eastern edge. It is a pebble beach under steep cliffs with clear water, and it is known as a naturist beach. There is no road to the sand. From the car park it is a steep walk down, commonly described as 10 to 15 minutes, on loose gravel. Wear closed shoes.
There are no bars, toilets or shade, and the water gets deep close to the shore. For those reasons it is not a good choice for very small children or anyone who needs an easy, flat approach. If you would like to see it without the walk, the sailing tour from Carboneras to the caves and Los Muertos at €75 and a 5-hour tour from Mojácar and Vera to Playa de los Muertos and Carboneras at €45 both include it.
Other beaches in the park
The park also includes San Pedro and El Playazo, near Rodalquilar. Check how to reach each before you set out. Towns with their own beaches include Las Negras, Agua Amarga and San José itself.
Four ways to see them
- By car, outside the restriction. Out of season, driving gives you the most freedom. Comparing rental cars for Almería is worth doing before you arrive, if you want to stop at several beaches outside the summer restriction.
- On foot or by bike in summer. There is an e-bike tour from San José to Mónsul, Genoveses and hidden coves: 4 hours, €65.
- By boat. The yacht tour from Carboneras to the “5 best beaches” costs €70 for 2 hours, with 289 reviews at 4.5 stars. The beaches reached by water are the ones the roads do not touch. See boat trips in Cabo de Gata for the options.
- A full day. A 9-hour day trip combines Cabo de Gata with Mojácar for €70.
Which is best for you
- Families with small children: not Los Muertos, which is described as having no lifeguards for most of the year. Pick a beach you can reach without a steep path, and check what facilities it has before you go.
- Snorkellers: a guided snorkelling tour or kayak trip shows more than a beach does.
- Anyone arriving without a car: book a boat or a bike tour, and avoid the summer weekends if you can.
The Cabo de Gata tours page lists 22 offers, from €10.
