Mazarrón beaches: Playa Cobaticas, dog friendly beach

A long wild beach on the Mazarrón coastline where dogs are welcome

Among the south-westernmost of the 33 beaches which are to be found along the 35-kilometre coastline of Mazarrón, Playa Cobaticas is one of those in the Ifre-Cañada de Gallego section of the coast.

This area is home to a series of long, open beaches backed by rough ground and tomato greenhousing, and Playa Cobaticas is a kilometre long. The surface is a mixture of pebbles and fine, soft, greyish sand, interspersed with deposits of posidonia seagrass washed up onto the shore. The track behind the beach is flat and wide here and can easily be driven on, making it a popular area among wild campers and those who enjoy privacy. 

There is plenty of space to park and there are no services, but this beach has been designated "dog-friendly" and is worth the drive for those who own energetic animals: dogs may be let off the lead for a really good run with plenty of chances to bathe in the sea.

Unfortunately Playa Cobaticas is very much "out of the way", meaning that most pets will endure a long drive. Owners are advised to bring a plastic cover and a thick blanket for the back of the car!

Finding the beach is fairly straightforward: drive down through Cañadas de Gallego to the coast, and then follow the coast road!

This is one of three dog friendly beaches in Mazarrón: the other two are Playa Gachero and Playa de las Moreras, in the urban area of Puerto de Mazarrón and by the Bolnuevo roundabout.

Rules for using dog beaches:

Dogs may be let off the lead on the beach but must be controlled by their owners and care must be taken not to disturb or annoy other beach users.

Potentially dangerous animals must be muzzled and kept under control.

Owners must pick up excrement and deposit it in the bins provided.

All of the dog’s paperwork must be in order and up-to-date and animals must be micro-chipped and fully vaccinated.

Failure to abide by these rules can result in fines of between 750 and 3,000 euros.

Dogs are NOT permitted on other beaches and must be kept on a lead at all times, both in the streets and countryside areas of the municipality.

The run of wild beaches in Mazarrón

Mazarrón is blessed with an extraordinary range of beaches, with everything from wide swathes of sand to rocky coves, dog-friendly areas and nudist beaches.

Between Bolnuevo and Percheles the coast is wild and stunning, and the run of beaches from be accessed only via a rough dirt track on foot or by bicycle, with a succession of secluded bays. From 1st July 2017 most of the track has been closed to motor vehicles and the only access is via cycle or on foot.

None of these beaches is equipped with special disabled access, although once the coastline reaches Percheles and Cañada de Gallego it is possible to walk out of the car and straight onto the sand/shingle. Here the coastline is accessed from a rough, bumpy road which runs along for around 12 kilometres.

If you’re the type of person who loves to get away from the crowds and appreciates wild beauty, then you’ll love this stretch of coastline.

The stunning scenery is peppered with abandoned ruins, and there is a huge choice of rocky bays, sandy coves, and secluded corners to bathe privately, even in the busy summer period. The area is popular with naturists and it’s not uncommon to see the odd gleaming bronzed buttock or two, and a couple of the nudist beaches are also very popular with the gay community. But the area is so large that it is always possible to steer away if you choose: you can stop anywhere and be as private, or as public, as you want.

There are absolutely no facilities, so bring everything and remember to take litter home.

It’s also very popular with local cyclists, especially mountain-bikers, and walkers. 

Access

From Bolnuevo, drive along the seafront, past the wind-eroded rocks to the end of the road next to Playa del Rincón, where limited parking is available. From here, the beaches can only be accessed on foot or by bicycle.

From Puntas de Calnegre and Cañada de Gallego, just keep the sea on your right! There are many dust tracks from the road and the tomato plantations to the coast.

For more local information go to the home page of Mazarrón Today, or click here for an overview of all 33 beaches in the municipality of Mazarrón.