Cuatro Calas walk (Águilas)

The Cuatro Calas walk (Sendero de Cuatro Calas, waymarked SL-MU 18) is a short coastal loop through the Cuatro Calas Protected Landscape, 4 km south-west of Águilas town near the Murcia–Andalucía border. It starts at Calarreona and links the coves of La Higuerica, La Carolina and Cala Cerrada with the volcanic point of Punta Parda. The Region of Murcia’s official sheet gives 3.9 km, about 54 m of climbing and the easiest rating on every count. It suits families and anyone who wants a walk with swims along the way; skip it if you want a long or demanding hike.

Quick facts

• Names: Sendero de Cuatro Calas (SL-MU 18), also called the Ruta de las Cuatro Calas; the area is the Paisaje Protegido de Cuatro Calas (Cuatro Calas Protected Landscape).
• Where: the coast south-west of Águilas (Murcia), between Calarreona and the regional border with Almería.
• Start coordinates: 37.3829, -1.6227 (car park by Calarreona, from OpenStreetMap; it matches the start given on the official sheet).
• Distance: 3.91 km, a loop with two short out-and-back detours (official sheet).
• Height gain: 54 m; highest point 23 m, lowest 1 m. The sheet’s descent figure (541 m) does not fit these numbers and looks like a typing error.
• Difficulty (MIDE): 1-1-1-1, the lowest grade for terrain, route-finding, path surface and effort.
• Waymarking: local trail (SL) signs; easy to follow, says the sheet. Much of it shares the GR 92 coastal path.
• Entry: free.

Access and parking

By car: Calarreona is on the coast just south-west of Águilas. On OpenStreetMap a surface car park sits by the trail start, 0.3 km from Calarreona beach. More car parks are mapped further along the route: one near La Higuerica, and two marked free behind Playa de la Carolina, 1.2–1.3 km from Calarreona. We could not confirm prices or summer rules for the car park at the start.

Without a car: OpenStreetMap shows no bus stop near the start, so plan on a car, a bike, a taxi or walking out from Águilas.

Guided walk: the regional tourist board lists a guided Cuatro Calas walk with an official Region of Murcia guide: a loop from Calarreona and back, at least 2 hours, for groups of 2 to 29, at times that depend on the guide (Murcia tourism). Contact the guide through that page.

What to expect

The official trail sheet describes a loop on tracks and paths with very short slopes. The first detour is right at the start: walk about 200 m back towards the road to look over the Cañada Brusca salt marsh, proposed as a botanical micro-reserve. The path then follows the GR 92. A second detour, by the old Calarreona barracks (Cuartel de Calarreona), climbs to viewpoints over all the beaches, points and the islet of this stretch of coast.

At Playa de la Carolina the loop leaves the GR 92 for Cala Cerrada and Punta Parda, a volcanic headland with eroded rock formations and old pits once used for soaking esparto grass (cocedores). The return runs on tracks and paths further inland. The tourist board names La Higuerica, La Carolina and Los Cocedores as the main beaches of the protected area; OpenStreetMap also maps the Cala de las Tortugas just east of Calarreona.

The whole route lies inside the protected landscape, which is also a Natura 2000 Site of Community Importance (ES620004 on OpenStreetMap). Punta Parda is proposed as a Site of Geological Interest.

Practical details

• Water: the official sheet says to carry plenty of water in summer. The tourist board also recommends comfortable shoes and sun protection.
• Swimming: the route passes several beaches, so bring swimwear. We found no official information on lifeguards for these coves.
• Food: OpenStreetMap shows the Maxcaly beach restaurant at Calarreona and a bar and a restaurant behind Playa de la Carolina. We did not check their opening seasons.
• Stay nearby: OpenStreetMap maps the Albergue Juvenil Calarreona youth hostel near the start and a paid motorhome area (Camper Area Aníbal) by the main road.
• Track: the sheet links a GPX/KML download and the route on Wikiloc. Data on the sheet was last updated on 13 April 2019.

Accessibility and safety

Best time to visit

The official sheet gives no closed season; its only seasonal warning is to carry plenty of water in summer. In summer, walking early in the day and stopping for a swim at one of the coves is the simple plan.

Nearby alternatives

• Águilas town guide: carnival, the San Juan castle and the Cuatro Calas coves.
• Águilas, 4.4 km away: the town, its beaches and harbour.
• Isla del Fraile (Águilas), 7.3 km away: the small island off the east side of Águilas.
• Gredas de Bolnuevo, 34 km away: wind-eroded sandstone shapes by the beach at Mazarrón.
• Mojácar, 34 km away: the white hill village across the border in Almería.

Distances are in a straight line from the trail start.

FAQ

How long is the Cuatro Calas walk?

The official SL-MU 18 loop is 3.91 km with two short detours and only about 54 m of climbing. The guided version is listed at a minimum of 2 hours.

Where does the Cuatro Calas route start?

At Calarreona, just south-west of Águilas. The car park by the start is at 37.3829, -1.6227.

Is there parking at Cuatro Calas?

Yes. OpenStreetMap shows a car park at the start by Calarreona and more car parks along the route, two of them marked free behind Playa de la Carolina.

Can you swim at the Cuatro Calas?

Yes, the route links several beaches, including La Higuerica and La Carolina. We found no official information on lifeguards.

Is the Cuatro Calas walk suitable for children?

Yes. It has the lowest difficulty grading on every count, but bring water and sun protection, and expect short climbs down to and up from the coves.

Sources and freshness