The beaches in Los Caños de Meca are varied and beautiful where you can forget about the usual annoyances and lack of space ! One can reasonably say they are clean and peaceful.
Faro zone, Varadero and la Curva: An endless beach stretches from the Lighthouse to Conil and Chiclana (beach of los bancos) and farther. It is oriented west so you can enjoy the sun setting directly over the sea. The beach can be a little risky for children and adults unaccustomed to the sea, because of the strong tide and currents. Remain cautious in the area surrounding the lighthouse. The cape of Trafalgar, the seabed and the cliffs provoke swhirls and turbulence that can be fatal to anyone swimming too far out.
Every year there are stories of disappeared divers, particularly in the Aceitera zone, around 700m from the shore. This zone is greatly appreciated by fishermen and divers for its rich fauna and archeological remains. This beach is considered one of the most peaceful in Los Caños. It has none of the usual facilities: there are no life guards, showers or rubbish bins. To access the beach, you have to leave your car on the Faro road and walk accross a broad stretch of sand. From there you can walk up to the promontory where the lighthouse is situated, and enjoy a lovely view. Be careful when approaching the small cliff near the lighthouse as there is no fence to protect you.
In Winter, rain water helps to form lagoons in the lighthouse area. They contain brackfish and host an interesting variety of amphibi, reptiles and fish. These animals disappear during the dry season and return for Winter and Spring. You may also see varied species of coastal birds, which are abundant on the Los Caños litoral. On the other side of the Los Bancos beach, lies the beach known as the Curva or Marisucia. Between the two beaches a strip of small creeks and reefs goes all the way around the Trafalgar bay.
The Curva beach's sand is less fine but the seabed is sandy. Orientation is south east and when the levant wind blows, all sorts of waste is washed ashore, from seaweed to fishing tools and other rejected objects. A snackbar is open in summer. The access to this beach is easier as it is closer to the Faro road.
Pirata The Pirata is a lovely beach in the heart of Los Caños with fine sand and sandy seabeds. It is the best equipped with lifeguards, toilets, bars and restaurants. It ends in a pretty peak shaped by the action of the rocky reefs. At low tide, there are small islands. Pushing on, a series of creeks bring you to the nudist beach. The best known of all is the Castillejos, it is the last you can access by car.
This beach has recently lost an alarming amount of sand and has narrowed down considerably. Moreover, seaweed has accumulated in certain areas.
Nudist beach and cliffs. The nudist beach is located at the foot of the first cliffs in the park. The beach is mostly sandy and mainly visited by nudists and small groups of illegal campers. It ends with cliffs to the east. From here onwards, walking is less easy ! It is better to go when the tide is low and to ware shoes … or you may end up stumbling and cutting yourself. The walk is worth the effort however: the cliffs get imposingly high while the rocks sometimes present pitturesque capricious shapes.
You will also be impressed by huge fallen blocks of stone that sometimes make up curious geological formations such as caves.
