Calo des Moro Beach Review

People tend to wander along the Sunset Strip as far as the famous bars, camp out there or on the rocks for sunset and never progress any further but if you walk all the way along to Calo des Moro you’ll find it worth the effort, it’s the only spot along the strip that is sandy as opposed to rocky and the only place where you can comfortably take yourself in for a sunset swim.

Day time or evening Calo des Moro is a good option for a town adjacent beach, prettier than many along the south face of the bay and slightly less built up than some, you can feel like you’re further away from town than you actually are. If you need shops, supermarkets or restaurants they’re all right there behind you. The Golden Buddha lounge and cocktail bar faces the beach as does funky little Bamboo with its shisha pipes and rush matt chairs.

The beach is a sandy little cove hewn out of the rocky coastline of the San Antonio bay; its deep enough for several rows of sun loungers and parasols (€7) to be lined up and a large wooden deck has been built onto the rocks above to extend the lounging area. A lifeguard is on duty roughly 10am-6pm daily although the exact hours change throughout the summer season and there’s never anyone on past 7pm, so do remember that if you’re going to take a sunset swim!

The usual array of water sports are available from the guys camped out in the rocks, they have pedal boats, kayaks, banana boats, wakeboards and also organise boats tours some of which can be done at sunset. There are showers and toilets available, wooden ramp access to the beach and limited parking available along the street and just back from the beach.

The best part about this beach is the snorkelling area; sharp rocky shelves line the coast in both directions away from this beach but here there is a clear sandy entrance to the sea and two well marked swimming areas between the boating channels. One of those swimming areas is massive, Olympic swimming pool sized, and runs along the rocks to the north of the beach, locals come here to do serious lap swimming but you’ll always find snorkellers exploring along here as well.

There’s the main beach of Calo des Moro but also a tiny little extra beach just to the left of it; if you walk past the decking and past the concrete slip way. Not actually big enough to be called a beach this is just a small patch of sand amidst the rocks but due to its location next to the large swimming area it warrants its own dedicated life guard.

If you want a proper secret beach keep walking along the rocks to the north until you reach the end of the swimming area, here you’ll fine a little jewel of a beach tucked into the cliff with a rickety wooden stairway leading down to it and arms of rock sheltering it on both sides. Only a few people will bother to find this little area so if you fancy some privacy this is your best bet. There are no services or facilities but the water is stunning clear emerald green, the seabed is sandy and you’ll feel smugly superior to the tourists. Do be warned though secret beaches do tend to attract nudists.

The main beach of Calo des Moro has a youthful relaxed vibe and the decking tends to be a gathering point for a fairly alternative sunset crowd. People gather here away from the masses on the main Sunset Strip, they bring dinner or drinks and congregate on the deck to picnic and watch the sun go down. Head here to see in the sunset with a crowd that feels more local than touristy.