Every Torrevieja beach, ranked: Los Locos, Cura, Náufragos, La Mata and the coves
Guide to Torrevieja’s beaches and coves: which are Blue Flag, which suit children, where to park, and which ones you can reach on foot from Punta Prima.
Read the guideTorrevieja guides
La Mata beach and dunes: Torrevieja’s longest beach
La Mata is the beach Torrevieja locals drive to when the town beaches fill: two and a half kilometres of fine sand, dunes and pine trees, with the sea open enough for waves and the promenade lined with paella terraces.
In short
- 2.4 km of sand north of Torrevieja, 15 minutes by car from Punta Prima, free parking behind the dunes.
- South end: promenade, restaurants, lifeguards, sunbeds. North end: dunes, space, naturist-tolerant stretch.
- Surf and paddleboard school in summer; the only Torrevieja beach with regular small waves.
- Combine with the green La Mata lagoon and its flamingo trails behind the village.
South or north?
Arrive from Torrevieja and the first section, by the old watchtower and the village of La Mata, has the promenade, showers, lifeguards, sunbed hire and a row of restaurants doing arroz a banda and grilled fish. Keep walking north and the promenade gives way to boardwalks through the dunes, the Molino del Agua park with its pines, and a beach that stays uncrowded even in August.
Waves, wind and water
La Mata faces east into open sea, so it gets the swell the sheltered coves do not. Most days that means gentle bodyboard waves; after a levante wind it can be lively, and the flags matter. The water deepens gradually, good for confident swimmers, less ideal for toddlers than Punta Prima.
Getting there and parking
From Punta Prima drive through Torrevieja on the N-332 or along the seafront, about 15 minutes outside rush hour. Free car parks sit behind the dunes along the Camino de la Costa; the village car park fills by 11:00 in summer. Torrevieja’s urban bus Line A runs along the coast to La Mata.
Make a day of it
Morning on the beach, lunch on the promenade, then the flat trails around the La Mata lagoon with flamingos and the visitor centre, or the walk along the rocks of Cabo Cervera back towards Torrevieja. The pink lake is the other lagoon, ten minutes away.
Staying at Casa Fragata? Torrevieja marina is 12 minutes by car from the villa, and Punta Prima beach is four minutes on foot. Check availability.
Staying nearby? Casa Fragata is a private pool villa at Punta Prima, 280 metres from the beach, between Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa. Check availability or see the villa.
Common questions
How long is La Mata beach?
About 2.4 km, the longest in the municipality, continuing north as Guardamar’s beaches.
Is La Mata beach Blue Flag?
Yes, it has held a Blue Flag for many years.
Can you walk through the dunes?
Yes, on marked boardwalks and sandy paths through the Molino del Agua park; keep to the paths to protect the dunes.
How do I get to La Mata from Torrevieja?
Fifteen minutes by car along the coast or the N-332, or urban bus Line A from the centre. From Punta Prima allow 15 to 20 minutes by car.
Is La Mata quieter than the town beaches?
The north end is the quietest big beach in Torrevieja. The south end by the promenade is busy in summer.
Keep exploring
Torrevieja’s pink lake: where to see it, when it is pinkest, and what not to expect
Honest guide to the Torrevieja pink salt lake (Laguna Rosa): why it is pink, when the colour peaks, where to park and walk, the flamingos, swimming rules and the salt-works train.
Read the guideGuardamar del Segura: 11 km of dune-backed beaches and the pine forest planted to stop the sand
Guide to Guardamar’s dunes and the Alfonso XIII pine forest, the Reina Sofía park with its peacocks, the quiet beaches of El Moncayo and Playa del Campo, the river mouth walk, parking and the drive from Torrevieja and Punta Prima.
Read the guideReady for the pool?
Check live availability and book Casa Fragata directly. No payment is taken online, and you get our full guest guide by e-mail the moment you book.