Nerja Maro Snorkelling and Sea Scooter Boat Trip

Burriana beach, the start of your Nerja boat trip

Burriana is the longest and liveliest beach in Nerja, a curve of golden-grey sand east of the town centre, backed by a promenade of seafood restaurants and shady palms. It flies the Blue Flag for water quality, and its calm, clear water makes it the natural base for water activities in Nerja. The team meets you on the beach, checks your size for the wetsuit and fins and gives a short briefing before the boat sets off.

Arrive about 15 minutes early, as parking near the beach fills up in summer. If you are wondering how to get to Burriana beach, it is about 15 minutes on foot from the Balcony of Europe viewpoint in the old town, or a short taxi ride from most hotels in Nerja. Lockers for valuables can be rented on site, so you only need to bring a towel and swimwear.

The Maro–Cerro Gordo cliffs natural site

The cliffs of Maro–Cerro Gordo form a protected natural site that runs for about 12 kilometres between Nerja and La Herradura, on the border of the Málaga and Granada provinces. Here the Sierra de Almijara mountains plunge straight into the Mediterranean, creating ochre cliffs, hidden coves and old stone watchtowers built in the 16th century to guard the coast against pirates. The protection also covers a strip of sea, which is why the water stays so clear.

From the speedboat you see the coastline as walkers on the cliff paths never can: caves carved by the waves, small beaches reachable only by sea and the green terraces of the village of Maro above. Many travellers ask if the Maro cliffs are worth visiting; seen from the water on a sunny morning, the answer is clear. This speedboat trip is one of the quickest ways to enjoy them.

Snorkelling in the coves of Maro

The boat stops in a sheltered cove below the cliffs where the water is shallow, calm and remarkably transparent. Below the surface you float over rocky reefs and meadows of Posidonia seagrass, the plant that keeps the Mediterranean clean and shelters young fish. Look out for shoals of sea bream, colourful wrasse, starfish, sea urchins and, with a little luck, an octopus hiding among the rocks.

Your guide gives a short lesson on using the mask and snorkel and stays with the group the whole time, while the support boat waits nearby. The wetsuit keeps you warm and adds buoyancy, so even first-time snorkellers feel comfortable. For many visitors this is the best snorkelling in Nerja, and the guide's photos mean you take the moment back with you without worrying about your own camera.

The sea scooter experience

The highlight of the trip is the sea scooter, a small battery-powered underwater propeller that you hold in front of you. Press the trigger and it pulls you gently through the water, so you can glide along the cliffs and over the reef with almost no effort. You share one scooter between two people and use it for about 20 minutes in total, taking turns while the other person snorkels alongside.

No experience is needed: the guide shows you how to steer, how to dive a little below the surface and how to come back up safely. It is a playful, memorable way to explore the marine life of Maro and one of the most original things to do in Nerja. The best time for this activity is from late spring to early autumn, when the sea is warm and visibility is at its best.