Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee.
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Last updated on May 2, 2021
Playa de Maro is one of the best beaches in Andalusia. In this small bay, surrounded by grassy hills, water is crystal clear, and the rocky outcrops in either end of the beach are rich in marine life.
Playa de Maro is located near Nerja, approximately 50 kilometers east of Malaga. Follow the “Nerja” signs on the coastal highway (E15/A7, Autovia del Mediterráneo) and take the “Nerja-Maro” exit (nr.295). Playa de Maro is well signposted.
If you visit the area in summer, get there early if you want to find a parking space along the road, close to the beach. If not, you may have to park 1000 meters from the beach and walk 15 to 20 minutes to reach the spot.
There are two areas to explore at Playa de Maro. They are at either end of the beach, around 300 yards apart. Enter the water directly from the beach (where the first rocks are). If you want to explore both sides, it is better to get out of the water and walk on the beach to the other end.
In the area, the seabed is rocky, sprinkled with small patches of Posidonia (↕6-12ft/2-4m). Life is at its most abundant along the rocky outcrops on either side of the bay. It is easy to come across the highly colorful Mediterranean rainbow wrasse, ornate wrasse, or the painted comber.
The central part of the spot, in front of the beach, consists of a white sandy area, which is poor in marine life (↕6-30ft/2-8m).
This small beach is overcrowded during weekends and summer months. Too many swimmers in the water can alter visibility in the shallow areas. Move further from the shore to enjoy clearer waters, but be very careful: kayaks and swimmers can still disturb your experience at any time.
On the beach, you will find a restaurant and bar, where you can buy some drinks, ice creams and snacks.
This reference identification guide includes all the 860 marine fish species that may be encountered while snorkeling in coastal Western Europe and the Mediterranean.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
