The Nerja caves (Cueva de Nerja) are one of the few things we tell every guest to do at least once, even if you came for the beaches. They sit near the village of Maro, just east of Nerja, about 14 minutes by car from our house, and they feel like a completely different world from the sand and the sea. Here is how we would plan a visit.
Most days on the Costa del Sol follow a happy rhythm of coffee, beach, lunch and a drink in the evening. The Cueva de Nerja breaks that pattern in the best way. The caves are enormous, and walking through them is a genuinely different experience from anything else you will do on holiday here.
We like it because it gives a day some variety. If you have had a few lazy beach days in a row, a morning at the caves followed by lunch nearby feels like a real outing without needing a long drive.
From Casa Joya in Ladera del Mar, the caves are roughly a 14-minute drive. They are on the Maro side of Nerja, so you head east through town rather than towards Torrox. If you are already staying in the centre of Nerja, the trip is short and simple.
Because the caves are so close to Maro, we nearly always pair the two. It makes the drive feel worthwhile and gives you a natural plan for the rest of the day.
Our main tip is simple: check and buy your tickets on the official Cueva de Nerja website before you go. Prices, time slots and opening arrangements can change through the year, so we never quote them. Looking it up the day before saves you from arriving at a busy moment without a plan.
This is where a visit to the Nerja caves turns into one of our favourite days out. Maro is right next door and has some of the prettiest scenery on this part of the coast.
Playa de Maro is about 15 minutes by car from the house and is our pick for nature and snorkelling. The setting is beautiful and the water is good for kayaking, paddle boarding and snorkelling. Parking can be difficult, so if you plan to do the beach as well as the caves, go early and do the beach first. We cover it in more detail in our guide to the best beaches in Nerja.
If you only add one thing to your cave visit, make it a kayak trip. Seeing the cliffs and little coves from the water gives you a completely different view of the coastline, and the Maro waterfall is only around a 10-minute paddle away. Book a kayak or a guided tour, and remember that mornings are often the best time to be on the water. Our post on kayaking in Nerja and Maro has more on how we like to do it.
Here is how we would put it together, especially in summer when the middle of the day is hot:
In summer we always plan walks and outings around the cooler parts of the day, and this one is no exception. The point is to enjoy it, not to rush from one stop to the next.
For more ideas once you are back in town, our post on the Balcón de Europa covers the evening part of the plan.
One of the things we love about our house is how easy it makes days like this. You can be at the caves or the beaches of Maro in a quarter of an hour, then come back to the terrace for a cool drink and the sea view. If that sounds like your kind of trip, check availability at Casa Joya.
We recommend checking and buying tickets on the official Cueva de Nerja website before you go. Time slots and opening arrangements change through the year, so booking ahead avoids disappointment, especially in summer.
The caves are near Maro, just east of Nerja. From our house in Ladera del Mar it is about a 14-minute drive, so you will want a car or a taxi.
Maro is right next door, so we like pairing the caves with a morning swim, snorkelling or a kayak trip at Playa de Maro. Go early, as parking at the beach can be difficult.