Peñón del Cuervo Beach

The Peñón del Cuervo beach is at the eastern end of Málaga, between the El Candado marina and the La Araña cement works. It’s divided in two by a rock, and it’s the beach where people from Málaga go for barbecues.

And that last point is no coincidence: is one of just two beaches throughout the entire municipality where it is permitted.

Barbecues and moragas: what you need to know

In Málaga, picnics and barbecues are only permitted on two beaches: the Peñón del Cuervo and the Guadalmar, next to the golf course. They are not permitted in the rest of the municipality.

Here’s the nuance that hardly anyone explains:

• If you use one of the 15 built-in barbecues which are installed by the local council, You don’t need any permission. They are listed in order of arrival and They cannot be booked.
• If you’re carrying a laptop —grill, hob—, Yes, a municipal permit is required, and you have to order it one week in advance.

Three nights a year are exempt from the permit requirement on any beach in the municipality: the one at 23 June, the eve of St John’s Day; the one on Opening Address for the August Fair; and that of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Day.

The permit is processed at the «Málaga Beaches» app», on the council’s website or at the district meetings.

And if you’re heading for a barbecue in the garden: get there early. Summer weekends are fully booked first thing in the morning.

A ‘moraga’, which is not the same as a barbecue

A Moraga is a a night-time party on the beach around a bonfire, with skewers of sardines. It’s a tradition from Málaga which dates back to the 19th century and is linked to the world of fishing.

It’s not the same as a barbecue: a ‘moraga’ is the fire in the sand and the atmosphere surrounding it.

The beach and its rock

They are 450 metres long for a few 25 wide, with dark, coarse sand and patches of stones. The rock formation serves as isthmus and divides the beach into two halves.

The name It comes from that rock, which, according to local tradition, was a gathering place for crows.

It is a protected area, and for a specific reason

Hardly anyone mentions this: the Peñón del Cuervo is protected on the grounds of its biological value because this is where the Malaga everlasting flower (Limonium malacitanum), a plant endangered.

This is the main reason why you should not stray from the designated areas or tread on the vegetation at the base of the rock.

Services

• Showers, first aid, security and daily cleaning.
• Barbecue area with tables and benches, children’s games and sports area.
• Disability access for people with reduced mobility.
• Free parking next to the N-340.

What’s missing: a beach bar right on the beach. If you want to use the toilets or eat somewhere other than the picnic area, it’s about a ten-minute walk as far as La Araña, where the nearest restaurants are, or as far as El Candado.

The water temperature is around 24 °C in summer and goes down to about 16 °C in winter.

How to get there

It’s about 8 kilometres from the city centre, on Pintor Sorolla Avenue, A 10- or 15-minute drive.

• By car: along the seafront promenade heading east, past El Palo, or along the A-7, junction 252 (La Araña). The turn-off is signposted next to the old cement works.
• By city bus: the Line 11 the EMT bus, which runs between Alameda, El Palo and La Araña.
• On metropolitan buses: M-160, M-163 and M-260. Get off at the La Araña bus stop and it’s about 800 metres, or on the El Candado petrol station, one kilometre along the footpath.
• On foot or by bike: by the The Great Malaga Trail (GR-249), whose Stage 1 links Málaga with Rincón de la Victoria and it goes right past here.

The car park fills up quickly at weekends in the summer and on special occasions. If you’re going for San Juan, you might as well take the bus.

What’s nearby

The surroundings are perfect for rounding off the day:

• The Spider, the neighbouring seaside district, with its fish restaurants and its own beach.
• El Candado Marina, to the west.
• Continuing eastwards, the the cliffs of El Cantal already in Rincón de la Victoria.
• To the west, the seaside neighbourhoods of Pedregalejo and El Palo, which is the place to go for a skewer if you don’t feel like cooking.

To compare with other options, you have Mercy, He was taking y the seafront promenade. And if you fancy getting out of the capital, the towns in Málaga with beaches y the Axarquía.

When to go

• For barbecues: Early in the day and on weekdays if you can. Summer weekends are fully booked.
• For your peace of mind: spring and autumn. It’s full of walkers and cyclists on the GR-249, but the beach is deserted.
• At dusk That’s when it looks its best, with the rock formation in the foreground. More places at the best sunsets in Málaga.

It’s a free plan: the beach, car park and built-in barbecue are free of charge. More ideas at free things to do in Málaga, and for the purchase of the moraga, traditional dishes from Málaga.

Beyond the beach

We are a local tour operator based in Málaga with over 50 years’ experience organising trips around Andalusia. If you’d like to explore the city or the coast without having to drive:

You’ve got the rest of the city in What to see in Málaga in three days and the full destination at The Malaga Guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is barbecuing allowed at the Peñón del Cuervo?

Yes. It is one of only two beaches in the municipality of Málaga where picnics and barbecues are permitted, along with the beach at Guadalmar. If you use one of the 15 permanent barbecues provided by the council, you don’t need a permit, although they’re allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be booked in advance. If you bring your own portable barbecue, you do need a council permit, which must be applied for a week in advance.

Do you need to ask permission for the night of San Juan?

No. Bonfires and barbecues on the evening of 23 June do not require a permit on any beach in the municipality, nor do those held on the evening of the opening speech for the August Fair or on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. For the rest of the year, the general rules apply, depending on whether you are using a fixed barbecue or portable equipment.

How do you get to the Peñón del Cuervo?

It is about 8 kilometres from the centre of Málaga, between the port of El Candado and the La Araña cement works, a 10- to 15-minute drive along the seafront promenade heading east or via the A-7, exit 252. By city bus, take EMT line 11; by metropolitan bus, take the M-160, M-163 or M-260, which stop at La Araña, 800 metres away. Stage 1 of the Gran Senda de Málaga also passes through here.

Why is the Peñón del Cuervo a protected site?

Because it is a site of biological importance: the Málaga everlasting, Limonium malacitanum, an endangered plant, grows there. That is why you should not stray from the designated areas or tread on the vegetation at the base of the rock, and you should also collect all your rubbish before leaving.

Is there a beach bar on the beach?

There is no beach bar on the beach itself, although there are showers, lifeguards, children’s play areas, free parking and disabled access. For facilities or to eat outside the picnic area, you’ll need to walk for about ten minutes to La Araña, where the nearest restaurants are, or to the El Candado area.

What is a moraga?

An evening party on the beach around a bonfire, with skewers of sardines roasted over the fire. It is a tradition in Málaga dating back to the 19th century and is linked to the fishing industry. It is not the same as a barbecue: the ‘moraga’ is the fire in the sand and the gathering that takes place around it.