Lorca beaches: an introduction

A beautiful Blue Flag beach at Calnegre and a variety of unspoilt coves along the coast of Lorca

The huge municipality of Lorca, which at 1,675 square kilometres is the second largest in Spain, features a wide variety of geographical features and different landscapes, but it is sometimes forgotten that among these is a 9-kilometre stretch of coastline characterized by craggy black cliffs interspersed with attractive coves and beaches.

In the middle of this coastline the mountains of the Loma de Bas nature reserve run right down to the Mediterranean, and as a result the small beaches in this area are completely unspoilt but at the same time difficult to reach except for those approaching by boat, committed hikers and mountain bikers, and anyone in possession of an off-road vehicle and keen to put it through its paces.

However, at either end of the Lorca coast are far more accessible areas, ranging from the popular stony seafront at Puntas de Calnegre and the neighbouring coves which are accessed by an un-surfaced but wide and easily manageable track in the north-east, to the far less visited “wild” beaches in the south-west close to the boundary with the municipality of Águilas.

In order from north-east to south-west, these beaches are the following:

Puntas de Calnegre: A long stretch of sandy stony beach which is particularly popular on account of the bar-restaurants along the seafront in the tiny village. Walk in from the street and sit on the back terrace with the sand between your toes after enjoying a dip in the Mediterranean! Click for further information.

Playa Calnegre: The recipient of Lorca’s first ever Blue Flag in recognition of the quality and cleanliness of the sand and the water as well as the range of services and facilities, this is the most popular of three coves which are reached along the track which starts just outside Puntas de Calnegre. Clear water, a beach restaurant, lifeguard cover and a beautiful backdrop: it’s hard to understand how it took so long for the Blue Flag to arrive! Click for further information.

Baño de las Mujeres: The second of the three coves of Calnegre is far smaller, and boasts no restaurant, but the scenery is equally impressive and the bathing is just as good. Click for further information.

Cala de San Pedro: A small cove which is not easily accessed on the headland between Baño de las Mujeres and Cala Siscal.

Cala Siscal: The third of the three Calnegre coves is the least well serviced, making it less convenient for some but even more attractive for those who like their beaches informal and a little on the wild side. Click for further information.

Cala Honda, Playa Baja Mar, Cala del Ciscar, Playa del Pelo, Cala Junquera and Cala de la Gruta: These are the least visited beaches on the coastline of Lorca, not because they are in any way unattractive – quite the opposite, with the backdrop of the Loma de Bas providing spectacular cliffs and mountain scenery – but because they are hard to reach and benefit from no services or facilities. Click for further information.

Cala Leña: A 55-metre crescent-shaped beach with no facilities or services, ideal for those hoping not to have too much company while enjoying the Mediterranean and the joys of nature. Click for further information.

Playa de Los Hierros: Not many visitors make it to this 380-metre beach in the lower extremities of the foothills of the Loma de Bas, although there is a track leading through reeds and undergrowth. In the sandstone cliffs behind the beach are a couple of caves which have been hollowed out by a combination of the forces of nature and man’s ingenuity, as is the case at Cala Blanca. Click for further information.

Cala Blanca: Arguably the most attractive of the southerly Lorca beaches, this wide cove features not only the clear water of the Mediterranean but also the intriguing caves in the rock face behind it, partly the work of Man and partly the effect of erosion. Again, barely any facilities or services but nonetheless parking is close by and easy to reach. Click for further information.

Playa Larga: The south-westernmost beach of Lorca extends over a length of some 600 metres and is protected by a low cliff-face behind it, but is never much more than 5 metres wide: there is no danger of facing a long walk to the water’s edge! Getting down to the beach is tricky for those with mobility problems, but this taste of what the wilder parts of the Spanish Mediterranean coast might still look like had it not been for the advent of mass tourism is easily reached by car and is well worth the effort. Click for further information.

Click for full information about visiting the municipality of Lorca.