Faro de Torrox to El Morche - Via the Dunas de la Carraca
A Coastal Walk with a Wild Twist
This is one of those walks that feels like a mini holiday, even if you only have a morning. The route from Faro de Torrox to El Morche is around 7.2 km there and back, mostly flat, with a smooth promenade surface that makes it easy, relaxed walking. No steep hills, no tricky terrain, just sea air, sunshine, and that steady rhythm of moving forward with the Mediterranean beside you.
If you want to turn it into a full-day leg-stretcher, you can extend it from Nerja too. Park near Punta Lara and walk along the coast from there instead. That makes the whole outing around 19 km there and back, still mostly easy-going, just with more sea air and more steps. If you’re doing the longer version, check our Nerja Amigos page for the Nerja to Peñoncillo walk to help you join the route smoothly.
And yes, it’s a great walk for doggies too. There’s plenty to sniff, lots of friendly energy along the coast, and loads of terrace stops where dogs are usually happiest sitting beside you in the sunshine. Many cafés and restaurants are happy to bring a bowl of water, and you’ll even spot places that keep a little dog water bowl outside for passing paws.
Faro de Torrox
Begin at Faro de Torrox. It’s a practical meeting point, easy to find, and a great place to park nearby if you’re arriving by car. There’s something about starting a walk at a lighthouse that instantly makes it feel like an outing. Take a few minutes to mooch around first, look out across the water, and let the day slow down before you even take your first proper steps.
The Promenade
From the lighthouse, you simply follow the promenade and let it guide you. This is easy walking, the kind where conversation flows, dogs trot happily beside you, and you never feel rushed. One of the joys of this stretch is that it’s dotted with little places to pause. You’ll pass cafés, bars and restaurants, and there are benches and open spots where you can stop for a moment, watch the waves, and then continue when you feel like it.
It’s also a brilliant walk for days when you want movement but not intensity. You can do it briskly and feel like you’ve had proper exercise, or you can do it slowly and make it a gentle coastal meander, stopping whenever something catches your eye.
Market Stop (Mondays)
If you’re doing this walk on a Monday, it’s worth building in a wander around the Torrox Costa market which is on the left handside just by the promanade. It’s one of those markets where you can happily drift with no plan, just enjoying the colours and the atmosphere. For timings and the exact address, check our Nerja Amigos Local Markets page.
A small tip: mooch on the way out, buy on the way back. You don’t really want to carry bags all the way to El Morche and back. The only exception is if you fancy grabbing something light and snackable, like fruit, nuts, or something you can nibble by the sea.
Dunas de la Carraca
As you get closer to El Morche, keep an eye out for Dunas de la Carraca. This is the part of the walk that changes the mood. The dunes create a softer, more natural edge to the coastline, and you can feel the shift straight away. The landscape opens up, the plants change, and for a few minutes the Costa del Sol feels a little wilder, a little quieter, and wonderfully breathable.
This is your pause point. Sit for a moment. Let your dog have a calm sniff and a breather. Eat that fruit you bought at the market. Take a photo if you feel like it, or don’t. Just let the sea and the sand do their calming thing.
Finish in El Morche
Continue into El Morche for a proper stop. This is where you earn your coffee, your ice cream, or your long terrace pause in the sun. It’s the perfect turning point, because once you’ve had your drink and a little rest, the walk back feels even easier.
Sea-View Stops on the way back
On the way back along Torrox Costa, you can make the return journey feel like a little progressive “taste of the coast”, choosing a terrace that looks inviting and stopping whenever the mood hits. This is also a lovely time to pause at places with big sea views, and Chiringuito Mambo is a classic for that. It’s the kind of spot where you sit down “just for a moment” and suddenly you’re still there much later, watching the light on the water and feeling very glad you decided to walk today.
And if it’s Monday, the return is when you pop back to the market and pick up whatever you couldn’t stop thinking about, without having carried it all day.
How to get there from Nerja
You can drive the beautiful coastal road N-340 west to Torrox Costa and park near Faro de Torrox.
Or go car-free. There are frequent buses from Nerja to Torrox Costa. Check the ALSA bus routes and times, and make sure you’re heading to Torrox Costa by the lighthouse area, not Torrox Pueblo inland.
