Cartagena beaches: Cala Túnez (Cabo de Palos)

An attractive sandy cove in the shadow of the Cabo de Palos lighthouse

Cala Túnez, also known as Cala Cuna, is the easternmost of the small coves which lie on the northern shore of Cabo de Palos, and lies below the lighthouse looking out over the Mediterranean coast of La Manga del Mar Menor and Isla Grosa.

It’s a small, very pretty sandy beach which is well protected from any rough sea conditions, and is easily reached on foot from the area where visitors park their cars when visiting the lighthouse. Access is via a sandy path or a stone walkway with steps, which makes it unsuitable for wheelchairs and difficult for pushchairs.

At just 25 metres in length and 9 in width it doesn’t take many people for the beach to become crowded, but when the beach fills up bathers tend to migrate to the long sandy stretches of Playa Levante and Playa Amoladeras which are an easy walk down a paved coastal path, so this is not generally a problem.

Unsurprisingly, this small cove is not serviced, so has only waste bins, but those who require a serviced beach with lifeguards and first aid can find all they need on nearby Playa Levante.

The view, however, makes up for any shortfall in beach bars, and there are few beaches which can claim such an attractive setting right below the lighthouse.

Beaches in Cabo de Palos:

Cabo de Palos lies at the eastern end of the municipality of Cartagena on the headland of the same name which juts out into the Mediterranean, and as a result the beaches and coves face south, east and north, depending on their location. 

It is also at the southern end for La Manga del Mar Menor, which acts as the land barrier between the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean, and just outside the town is "kilometre 0" of La Manga.

The beaches of Cabo de Palos range from tiny coves to long stretches of golden sand, many of them dominated by the imposing lighthouse or cliffs. There is also a marina, which is bustling with life all year round as it doubles as a fishing port. 

The coastline of Cabo de Palos lies on the edge of the Islas Hormigas marine park, one of the most important areas of protected coastline in Europe, teeming with marine life and hugely popular with divers, and the regional park of Calblanque.

Click for further local information about Cabo de Palos or Cartagena, or for an overview of the beaches of Cartagena.