Torremolinos from the Water: Coves and Hidden Corners

Torremolinos is known for its seafront promenade, the beach bars of La Carihuela and the buzz of its beaches. But there is a Torremolinos that almost no one sees: the one with coves and hidden corners tucked away beneath the cliffs, the ones you simply can’t reach by land. From the water, that same coast that looks like an endless line of parasols from land turns into a succession of nooks, crystal-clear water and views of the town that only those who sail get to enjoy.

We’ve been setting off from Puerto Marina de Benalmádena aboard a classic wooden sailboat for years, and one of the routes that most surprises those who come along is precisely the one heading west, towards the Torremolinos coastline. It isn’t a landing or a tourist visit to the town: it’s another way of looking at this coast, with the engine idling or the sail up when the wind plays along. Here we tell you what you’ll see, what each corner holds and what the experience is really like, no frills.

The Torremolinos coastline seen from the boat

The first image that grabs you is La Carihuela from the water. The old fishermen’s quarter, with its low houses huddled beside the beach, takes on a different dignity when you look at it from the sea: you suddenly understand why there was always a working sea here before a tourist one. A little further east, the beaches of El Bajondillo and La Carihuela appear one after another, and above them the profile of the town climbing the hillside up to the old quarter.

The landmark that anchors this whole coast is the old watchtower that gave the town its name, one of those reference points that go unnoticed from land and become your compass from the sea. Sailing close to the Punta de Torremolinos, where the land rises into small cliffs, the coast stops being one long beach and starts hiding inlets you’d never even guess at from the promenade. It’s right there, in that transition, where the interesting part begins.

Before reaching Torremolinos, on the way out of Benalmádena, you pass areas like Torremuelle and Carvajal, with their houses perched on the cliffs and their little pebble coves. It’s a stretch of coast you only see in patches from the road and take in all at once from the boat, like a continuous map. Seeing it this way, on the move and from the water, completely changes the idea you had of an area you thought you only knew for its town beaches.

Coves and corners with no access by land

What makes this coast special isn’t the big beaches, which you already know, but the little corners beneath the cliffs. They’re inlets sheltered from the swell, with clear, sandy bottoms, that no one goes down to because there’s no path. From the boat, you get as close as the depth sounder and common sense allow, drop anchor on a clean bottom and suddenly you have a piece of sea all to yourself that otherwise wouldn’t exist on your map.

Here it’s worth being honest: we’re not talking about postcard Caribbean coves, but the real Costa del Sol, with its cool water and its windy days when the plan changes. There are days when the west wind kicks up a chop and these corners aren’t comfortable; then we look for the shelter of the bay or change course. That flexibility, deciding on the go where the sea is calmest, is the advantage of going on a boat with a skipper who knows every stretch. If you want a wider overview of this whole coastline, we’ve compared the routes and coves of the Málaga coast from the water in another article.

What the experience on board is like

The trip along this coast is a private sail along the coastline towards Torremolinos lasting 2h 30m from Puerto Marina de Benalmádena. Only your group comes aboard, with no strangers sharing the deck, and you set the pace: more sailing, more swim stops or more time on the bow sundeck, as you fancy.

On board, the idea is simple: switch off. When the sea plays along, we stop for a swim in a sheltered corner and the bow becomes a sundeck; when the south-westerly wind comes in, we hoist the sail and the boat silences its engine. A toast on board is included, and the skipper speaks several languages, so the trip works just as well with a local family as with guests from abroad. If your time is tight or you prefer a shorter first taste, there’s always the option of a one-hour trip along the coast and the bay, shorter but with the same essence. What you won’t find is entertainment or a show: this is real sea, calm, for those looking for exactly that. Before boarding, it’s worth knowing what there is to do around the departure harbour to round off the day.

The best time of day for this coast

This coast, facing south and west, is enjoyed differently depending on the time. In the mid-morning, the sea is usually flatter and the water invites you to swim with the sun high; it’s the most comfortable window if you’re travelling with people prone to seasickness or with children. In the late afternoon, on the other hand, the light falls sideways over the cliffs and the whole coastline lights up, ideal for photos and for those seeking privacy. If that atmosphere appeals to you more, you might be interested straight away in a sunset trip around the bay. And if you’re unsure about the time, we break it down in our guide to the best time of day to go out on a boat.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the boat leave from?

The trip leaves from Puerto Marina de Benalmádena, not from Torremolinos. From there, we sail towards the Torremolinos coastline, cruise along it by sea and return to the same harbour. There’s no landing in Torremolinos: the plan is to see and enjoy the coast from the water.

How long does the trip last?

The private route along this coast lasts 2h 30m, plenty of time to cruise the coastline at a relaxed pace, make a swim stop if the sea plays along and head back without rushing.

Can you swim?

Yes, whenever conditions allow. When we find a sheltered corner with a good bottom, we drop anchor and make a swim stop. Bear in mind that this is open sea and Costa del Sol water, cooler than a swimming pool; the skipper decides the safest and most comfortable spot of the day.

Is it a good option if I’ve never been on a boat?

Yes, in fact it’s a great first outing. As it’s a private trip, you set the pace and the skipper adapts the sailing to how you feel on board. If you’ve never been out to sea, the bay and this stretch of coast are among the gentlest places to start, with the sea generally calm and always close to the harbour.

If you fancy swapping the beach for a different perspective of this coast, the best way to discover the coves of Torremolinos is precisely from the sea. Here are the details and availability of the private trip along the coastline:

And if you want to keep exploring before deciding, take a look at the guide to Puerto Marina de Benalmádena, the harbour we set sail from.