Águilas beaches: Playa Matalentisco, a Blue Flag beach with a dog-friendly area

Thick green vegetation occupies the dunes behind this 270 metre long Águilas beach

The Playa Matalentisco is a 270-metre-long,15 metre wide stretch of sand towards the western end of the Águilas coastline, reached via an unmade track which starts at kilometre 2.8 on the main RM-333 road. This is the main road between Águilas and San Juan de los Terreros in Almería. The 100-metre track is not as rough as some, though, and access is in fact relatively easy both by car and on foot, making it popular with those staying at the campsite on the other side of the main road.

This is the eighth beach of 36 in the Águilas municipality along 28 kilometres of coastline, running down from the Almería border and is a semi-wild beach.

Parking is normally easy at the back of the beach itself, although of course in summer this area can become crowded. 

The beach is named after the thick “lentisco” shrubs which grow on the dunes behind it, and these provide an unusually green backdrop among the beaches of Águilas. Once down at the sand, though, visitors have a wide expanse of sand and fine pebbles at their disposal, as well as good bathing conditions, with the waves being broken by a band of rocks around 20 metres from the shore.

This is a very pleasant place for a few hours on the beach, and is perfect for those who enjoy the more natural style of beach. For this reason facilities are naturally limited for most of the year. In summer, however, a first aid point is set up, the waste bins are emptied daily and a chemical toilet is supplied.

This is not the easiest of beaches for those with limited mobility but some facilities have been installed to cater for them, and as a result Matalentisco was awarded Blue Flag status for the first time in 2017 and maintained it ever since.

This is one of the most popular of the semi-wild beaches at the western end of the Águilas coastline, and is well populated during the summer.

As of July 2017 the small cove of Cala de Mijo, which is on the other side of the headland at the western end of Matalentisco, has been designated a dog-friendly area, allowing owners to enjoy the Mediterranean with their pets.

Owners are obliged to clear up dog excrement, muzzle large or dangerous dogs and keep their pets under control.

For information concerning other Águilas beaches consult the summary of all the beaches in Águilas.

More information about Águilas including beaches, what to see, what's on and tourist information can be found on ÁGUILAS TODAY