🌿 Welcome to another reality
Let’s make it clear from the start: The Cala San Pedro is not for everyone. It’s not a beach to go to in flip-flops, order a mojito and lie in a hammock.
It’s an adventure, an experience, a place outside the system. Literally.
An isolated beach, inhabited by a hippie community, which can only be reached on foot or by private boat. If you like to get off the beaten track, you’re going to fall in love with this place.
📍 Where is Cala San Pedro?
Cala San Pedro is located in the Cabo de Gata Natural Park. It belongs to the town of Las Negras, , the last “civilised” point where the road ends.
From there, there is only the road, the mountain, and the sea.
📍 Search on Google Maps: ‘Cala San Pedro Las Negras’.
🚶♂️ How to get there: moderate effort, maximum reward
Option 1: On foot (the most authentic)
From Las Negras, follow a path of 4 to 5 km along the coast. The journey takes between 45 minutes and 1 hour, depending on your pace.
🟢 Level: moderate
🟡 Footwear: no flip-flops, please. Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes.
🔵 Reward: spectacular views from start to finish.
Option 2: By boat (limited)
Officially, tourist launches have been banned for some years now. Unofficially, there are sometimes people who offer trips in private boats from Las Negras. Ask there.
🏖️ A one-of-a-kind beach
Cala San Pedro is a cove 250 metres long with white sand, surrounded by white cliffs and lapped by turquoise, crystalline waters. There is a fresh water fountain, you’ll find the ruins of a 15th-century military fortification… and a hippie community that lives here all year round.
Yes, it’s real. And it’s less than an hour’s walk once you park your car
🧘♀️ Special atmosphere: freedom, naturism and alternative living
This cove is one of the last spaces of alternative living in Spain. A hippie community has lived here for more than 40 years, outside the system. They built their houses with stone, reeds, wood… they have vegetable gardens, a natural spring and even solar panels.
In summer, some visitors stay for a few days or weeks, looking for total disconnection.
It is a free beach: naturists and traditional bathers live side by side. All with mutual respect, without written rules but with common sense.
💡 Tip: don’t take photos without asking permission, out of respect for those who live there.
🌞 What to do in Cala San Pedro?
1. Swim in turquoise water
The water is usually clear, calm and shallow. Ideal for a good relaxing swim or for the kids to play in.
2. Snorkel (without too many expectations)
It’s not the place with the most marine life in Cabo de Gata, but you can see something near the rocks. Bring a mask and snorkel and enjoy what you can see.
3. Visit the ruined castle
San Pedro Castle was built at the end of the 15th century to defend the coast from pirates. Today only ruins remain, but the views from there are worth it.
4. Disconnect and observe
The plan here is simple: do nothing. Lie down, breathe, observe. No coverage, no notifications. A luxury nowadays.
🥾 Technical details of the route from Las Negras
- 📍 Starting point: Las Negras car park
- 🛤️ Distance: 4–5 km (one way), about 45 minutes walking. The return is easier – it’s all downhill.
- ☀️ Shade: none. Bring a cap and sunscreen.
- ⚠️ Final stretch: steep descent but with a support rope
💧 Essential: bring at least 1.5 litres of water per person
🎒 What to bring no matter what
Cala San Pedro has no services. Prepare as if you were going camping:
- 🥤 Water (minimum 1.5 litres per person)
- 🧴 Sunscreen
- 🧢 Cap or hat
- 🥪 Food or snack
- 🩴 Water shoes or sandals (there are stones)
- 🗑️ Bag for your rubbish
- 📷 Camera or mobile phone (with respect, without invading)
Sometimes there are people selling drinks or sandwiches, but don’t count on it 100%.
👪 Who is Cala San Pedro for?
✔️ Nature lovers
✔️ Alternative, curious or free-spirited people
✔️ Adventurers, hikers, explorers
✔️ Families with children who are already used to walking
❌ Not suitable for people with reduced mobility
❌ Not recommended for tourists in a hurry
❌ Not ideal for those looking for comfort and services
📅 Best time to visit
- 🌼 Spring: perfect temperature and not too crowded
- ☀️ Summer: beautiful but very hot. Avoid walking between 12pm and 5pm
- ❄️ Winter: ideal for hiking and total tranquillity
🧭 And after the cove?
On the way back, stop in Las Negras for a drink. I recommend La Palma or El Manteca for a tasty fish dish or an ice-cold beer.
🚿 And by the way, don’t miss a refreshing shower at the fountain near the fort before heading back to civilisation.
✅ Practical summary – Cala San Pedro
| 🏝️ Key Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Cabo de Gata Natural Park, from Las Negras |
| Access | Walking trail (45 min) or private boat (limited) |
| Parking | In Las Negras, free |
| Services | Not official, occasional local vendors |
| Water source | Yes (natural, at the cove) |
| Beach type | White sand, clear waters, mixed atmosphere |
| Local community | Hippies living in the area for decades |
| Ideal season | Spring, autumn, mild winter |
| Recommended for | Adventurers, nature lovers, free spirits |
| Not recommended for | People with reduced mobility, very demanding tourists |
✉️ Nicolás’ final message
Cala San Pedro is not just another beach. It’s an experience.
A place that will put your feet on the ground, your head in the clouds, and your heart at peace.
Here, there’s no fuss, no phone signal, no noise. Just you, the sea, and pure freedom. Just people living differently, nature without a filter, and a feeling of freedom that lasts long after you leave.
If you’re in Carboneras or Las Negras, don’t hesitate to ask me. I’ll give you the best time to do the route, maps with the trail marked, or a couple of extra tips to enjoy it to the full.
📲 Want the route on GPS? Want to know where there’s the most shade? Or where to take the best photo? I’ll help you with all that.
See you soon… and please take care of this place. It’s magical, but also fragile. And if we all respect it, it will remain so for many years to come.
Some of our photos
| Other beaches we recommend (click on the beach name) | Advantages of this beach |
|---|---|
| Playa del Algarrobico | A spectacular, vast, quiet, and little-visited beach |
| Playa de las Marinicas | The beach at the foot of both apartments, the favourite of local families and children |
| Playa Cala del Enmedio | A lost paradise, reserved for those who truly seek it… a short hike required! |
| Playa del sombrerico | A beach at the end of the path… yet close to everything |
| Playa de La Galera | A haven of peace near Carboneras |
| Cala San Pedro | Lose yourself in its unique turquoise waters in Cabo de Gata Natural Park |
| Cala del Plomo | A hidden treasure in Cabo de Gata Park |
| Playa Sopalmo | Our favourite landmark spot near Mojácar |
| Cala de los Toros | An oasis… and then the sea! |
