Guided Sea Kayak Tour to Nerja Cliffs and Maro Waterfall

Burriana beach in Nerja

Burriana is the largest and liveliest beach in Nerja, a long stretch of golden sand east of the town centre with calm water, seafront restaurants and a promenade. Nerja itself is a white town on cliffs above the sea, famous for its Balcón de Europa viewpoint and its narrow lanes full of flowers. It sits at the eastern end of the Costa del Sol, about an hour by car from Málaga.

Your Nerja kayak tour starts by Burriana beach, where you meet the guide, receive your equipment and take a short paddling lesson on the sand. If you are wondering how to get to Burriana beach, it is about a 15-minute walk from the Balcón de Europa, or a short taxi ride, and there is a car park above the beach.

The cliffs of the Maro-Cerro Gordo natural area

East of Nerja, the coast becomes wild and steep. The Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo is a protected natural area of high cliffs, small coves and underwater meadows, stretching between Nerja and La Herradura. Since there are almost no roads along the shore, the best way to explore it is from the sea, and kayaks are allowed with special permits, which are included in this tour.

As you paddle along the base of the cliffs, look up at layers of rock folded over millions of years, with fig trees and palms clinging to the ledges. The water below is crystal clear, with sea grass, rocks and fish visible from the kayak. Is a kayak tour in Nerja worth it? For nature lovers, this coastline is one of the most beautiful in southern Spain.

The Maro waterfall

The star of the route is the Maro waterfall, one of the few places in Europe where fresh water falls directly into the sea. The water comes from springs and old irrigation channels above the cliffs, which once watered sugar cane fields, and it drops down a green, moss-covered rock wall onto the pebbles and the waves below.

Seen from a kayak, the waterfall is a magical sight, framed by plants and the blue sea. Your guide brings the group close so you can feel the spray and take photos, and the guide's photo and video report captures the moment for you. The best time to visit the Maro waterfall is in spring and early summer, when the flow is usually strongest after the winter rains.

Maro village, watchtowers and hidden beaches

Above the cliffs sits the small village of Maro, with white houses, a 17th-century church and views over the sea. Nearby rises a tall four-level aqueduct built in the 19th century to carry water to a sugar mill. Along the coast you also see old stone watchtowers, built centuries ago to warn of pirate raids from the sea.

Between the cliffs lie small beaches, such as Maro beach and the coves of the natural area, some reachable only by boat or kayak. On the way you stop for a swim in clear water before paddling back to Burriana. The best time for kayaking in Nerja is from May to October, when the sea is warm and usually calmest in the morning.