Cabopino Marina and Beaches

Cabopino is a marina with spacious beach with protected dunes, nearby restaurants, water sports, swimming and a busy nudist area in Marbella municipality, Andalucia.

By Nick Nutter | Updated 29 Aug 2022 | Málaga | Villages | Login to add to YOUR Favourites or Read Later

This article has been visited 11,702 times

Cabopino marina

Drive along the A7 coastal road between Marbella and Benalmadena and you suddenly move out of the heavily urbanised developments typical of the Costa del Sol, into a short stretch notable for its pine trees on the seaward side. Behind the trees is the last area of natural sand dunes on this part of the coast. The beach between the dunes and sea is a 1,200 metres long expanse of soft sand. Towards the western end of this part of the coast, hidden by a small hill, pine trees and dunes, is the small, Mediterranean marina of Cabopino. It is so well hidden that many visitors drive past without ever knowing what they have missed.

Cabopino Marina

Cabopino plaza

Cabopino is a little special. The development, on the hill overlooking the marina, is small and tasteful with a communal plaza and a couple of bars. On the marina side there are a number of restaurants and bars and a few shops. The marina itself is set into a natural cleft in the coast and shelters a fleet of motor and sailing yachts, none over 10 metres. There are beaches to the east and west of the marina entrance.

Beaches and Chiringuitos

Torre Ladrones

The beach to farthest west of the marina entrance, beyond a breakwater, Dunas de Artola is an area of protected sand dunes. The 150 metres of beach immediately adjoining and west of the marina entrance is called Cabopino beach. There are three popular beach bars on this beach. East of the marina entrance is the long, sandy expanse of Playa de Calahonda with a beach bar and a chiringuito. The beaches are family favourites and the large carpark behind the dunes, ruled over by an aged stickman, often becomes full by lunchtime.

Torre Ladrones

Cabopino marina - Alberts

Mentioning stickmen, the torre on the Dunas de Artola is called ‘Torre Ladrones’ - ‘Thieves Tower’. It was built sometime during the Moorish occupation, 711 – 1492 AD, probably during the 14th century. At 15 metres high it is the tallest torre on the Marbella coast. It’s function was to warn the local populace of attacks by the pirates that sailed across from the Barbary coast of Morocco.

Entertainment

Dunas de Artola

Cabopino is very quiet during the winter and extremely busy during the summer. There is no night time entertainment as such although the chiringuitos and beach bars often have live music during the afternoon and evening at weekends. One of the beach bars, Andy’s, has gained a reputation over the years for its great seafood and atmosphere.

Playa Cabopino

Cabopino is a place to relax. Enjoy the beach, build sandcastles with the kids, have a fish lunch at one of the five beach bar/chiringuitos and doze afterwards beneath a sombrero, then finish with dinner at the other emblematic eating establishment, Albert’s Bar and Grill, overlooking the marina.

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