Mónsul Beach, Mediterranean beach in Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, Spain.
The 300-meter-long beach features dark volcanic sand bordered by large rock formations extending into clear Mediterranean waters.
The establishment of Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park in 1989 protected Mónsul Beach from development projects, maintaining its natural condition.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade filmed scenes at Mónsul Beach, including the sequence where Sean Connery causes a plane crash.
Visitors can reach the beach via a 4-kilometer forest track from San José, with parking available 200 meters from the shore.
The beach displays distinctive geological elements from volcanic activity, including black sand and large lava formations shaped by sea erosion.
Location: Níjar
GPS coordinates: 36.73007,-2.15430
Latest update: May 10, 2025 23:39
Spain's coastlines present a wide variety of beaches, from the white sand shores of the Balearic Islands to the rocky coves of Cantabria along the Atlantic. This collection includes beaches such as Playa de Rodas in the Cíes Islands, the urban beach of La Concha in San Sebastián, and the secluded coves of Formentera including Ses Illetes and Cala Saona. In Andalusia, beaches like Playa de Bolonia near Tarifa feature Roman ruins nearby, while the volcanic landscapes of Cabo de Gata showcase Los Genoveses and Playa de Monsul. The Asturian coast displays natural formations such as Gulpiyuri, a beach enclosed within cliffs, and Playa del Silencio. The Canary Islands offer diverse beach types, from the golden sands of Las Teresitas in Tenerife to the expansive shores of Sotavento in Fuerteventura. This selection documents the geographic and geological range of Spanish beaches and provides practical information about location, access, and local features of each site.
Spain has more than 8,000 kilometers of coastlines home to hundreds of beaches with diverse characteristics. The Mediterranean, Atlantic, Balearic Islands, and Canary Islands feature contrasting marine scenery: coves sheltered between cliffs, extensive sandy areas, urban beaches, and protected natural zones. Each coastal region has developed its own identity influenced by local geology and climate. The Balearic Islands include bays like Cala Macarella in Menorca or Ses Illetes in Formentera, where white sand contrasts with clear Mediterranean waters. The Canary Islands display volcanic landscapes, with the Maspalomas dunes on Gran Canaria stretching over 6 kilometers, or Lanzarote’s red cliffs framing Playa del Papagayo. Along the Andalusian coast, the Cabo de Gata Natural Park houses Mónsul Beach with its black volcanic formations, while Bolonia near Tarifa features a 4-kilometer-long beach with Roman remains. The northern coast presents a different scene: La Concha urban beach in San Sebastián forms a 1.5-kilometer arc, the limestone cliffs of Asturias protect Playa del Silencio, and the Cíes Islands in Galicia are part of a marine national park.
Playa de los Genoveses
3.3 km
Cabo de Gata Lighthouse
3.6 km
Playa de Cabo de Gata
3.6 km
Cala Arena
2.8 km
Torre de Vela Blanca
1.5 km
Ensenada de la Media Luna
353 m
Cala del Príncipe
3.5 km
La Calilla
4.9 km
Playa del Barronal Nudista
1.7 km
Aljibe de la almadraba de Monteleva
5.6 km
Cala Chicré
72 m
Playa de La Calilla
4.9 km
Cala Grande
2 km
Cala de las Sirenas
3.2 km
Playa Ancón
3.7 km
Cala Carbón
226 m
Aljibe de la Casa de Mónsul
695 m
Playa del Mónsul
755 m
Cala Rajá
2.1 km
Aljibe de La Fabriquilla
4.8 km
Puerto Genovés
4 km
Molino del Collado de San José
4.5 km
Cabo de Gata DGPS-Transmitter
3.4 km
Aljibe del Cortijo de Becerra
5.1 km
Cala de los Amarillos
3.2 km
Cala del Corralete
3.6 km
Aljibe del cortijo del Romeral
3.2 km
La Fabriquilla
4.9 kmReviews
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