Torrevieja Beaches: Playa del Cura & Playa de Los Locos – Our Experience

Two Torrevieja Beaches We Actually Visited

Torrevieja has a much longer coastline than just two beaches, but on this trip we spent our time at the two main urban beaches in the centre: Playa del Cura and Playa de Los Locos.

They are close enough to fit into the same trip, but they do not feel exactly the same. Playa del Cura is right in the heart of Torrevieja and feels very connected to the town, while Los Locos is longer and gives you a little more room to spread out.

What we liked about both was how easy they were. You are not travelling out to an isolated beach for the day. You can swim, walk along the promenade, stop for food or a drink and then carry on exploring Torrevieja.

Playa del Cura – The Central Torrevieja Beach

If you are staying in central Torrevieja, Playa del Cura is probably the easiest beach to reach. It sits directly beside the town and the seafront promenade, so you can go from cafés and restaurants to the sand in minutes.

We liked this because there was no need to organise the whole day around the beach. You can come down for a swim, stay for a few hours and then walk back into town.

The beach itself is compact rather than huge. That makes it convenient, but it can also feel busy. Torrevieja’s official tourism information describes Playa del Cura as one of the city’s most popular beaches and lists foot showers, parking, toilets, lifeguard services and accessible facilities.

Sunbeds, Parasols and the Prices We Saw

We photographed the beach price board during our visit because this is exactly the kind of information we always want to know before arriving somewhere.

The prices displayed when we visited were €24 for a parasol with two sunbeds, €17 for a parasol with one sunbed and €12 for one sunbed.

These were the prices shown during our visit, so treat them as a useful guide rather than a permanent price list. Beach rental prices can change between seasons.

Foot Showers and Practical Facilities

There are places by the beach where you can rinse the sand and salt from your feet before heading back onto the promenade. It is a small detail, but very useful if you are walking around town afterwards rather than going straight back to your accommodation.

We photographed these facilities as well, because practical details often tell you more about a beach than another perfect photograph of the sea.

Playa de Los Locos – Longer and More Open

We also spent time at Playa de Los Locos. You cannot really miss the name when you arrive – there is a large beach sign, and we made sure to photograph it.

Los Locos felt more stretched out than Playa del Cura. The official Torrevieja tourism information gives the beach a length of about 760 metres and says that most of it is fine sand, with a rocky coastal section as well.

There are restaurants and cafés along Avenida Dr. Mariano Ruiz Cánovas, plus sunbed and parasol areas, a beach bar and children’s facilities. The beach also has foot showers, toilets, lifeguard services and accessible bathing facilities.

Why Is It Called Playa de Los Locos?

The name sounds unusual in English – literally, “Beach of the Mad”. There is actually a local story behind it. According to Torrevieja City Council, a psychiatric establishment called Sanatorio del Carmen operated opposite the beach in the early twentieth century. Over time, the old Playa del Salaret became popularly known as Playa de Los Locos.

It is one of those small bits of local history that makes the name much easier to remember once you know the story.

You Can Buy Beach Gear Nearby

You do not necessarily need to bring every beach item with you from home. We found a local shop near the beach with beach chairs and plenty of other seaside gear for sale.

If you arrive without your own beach gear, you can buy what you need locally. The shop we photographed had beach chairs, parasols, children’s beach toys and other beach essentials, so there is no need to bring everything from home. This is particularly useful if you are flying to Spain or staying in Torrevieja for several days.

Accessibility at the Beaches

One thing worth mentioning is that both Playa del Cura and Playa de Los Locos have facilities for people with reduced mobility. We saw the adapted beach access ourselves and photographed it.

Torrevieja’s official beach information also lists assisted bathing services, including amphibious chairs, during the summer service period and subject to sea conditions. If you specifically need assisted bathing, check the current operating dates and arrangements before travelling because seasonal services can change.

A Boat Trip Gives You a Different View of Torrevieja

After spending time on the sand, seeing the same coastline from the water is a completely different experience. GetYourGuide currently lists boat trips departing from Torrevieja, including a private tour with a local skipper that explores the bay, coves and the stories behind beaches such as Playa del Cura and Playa de Los Locos.

TORREVIEJA BOAT TOUR

There is also a catamaran trip from Torrevieja with time on the water and swimming stops. It is a more relaxed option if you mainly want a longer boat experience rather than a history-focused tour.

TORREVIEJA CATAMARAN TOUR

Food After the Beach

After a few hours by the sea, we usually want something substantial rather than another snack on the promenade. One place we tried in Torrevieja was the Asian Wok Buffet. We wrote a separate review with the price and what the buffet was actually like.

Having a Car in Torrevieja

You do not need a car just to move between the central beach and town, but we found a rental car useful for the wider Costa Blanca. It gave us the freedom to visit places outside the centre and combine Torrevieja with other beaches and towns without planning around buses.

We used Centauro during this trip. When comparing rental prices, we also use DiscoverCars because it lets you compare several companies before booking.

DISCOVERCARS.COM

Travel Insurance Before the Trip

We prefer to have travel insurance sorted before leaving home. Most trips are straightforward, but medical problems, cancellations or lost luggage can turn into a much bigger expense than expected.

Playa del Cura or Playa de Los Locos?

We would not choose only one if you have enough time. They are both urban Torrevieja beaches and they are close enough to see on the same trip, but each gives you a slightly different feel.

Playa del Cura makes the most sense when you want the beach right beside central Torrevieja, restaurants and the promenade. Playa de Los Locos is the better fit when you want a longer stretch of beach and a little more space.

For us, the best part was simply being able to use both. Torrevieja is the kind of place where a beach day does not have to mean disappearing from the town for the whole day.

Quick Practical Summary

Playa del Cura: central, compact and very convenient if you are staying in Torrevieja.
Playa de Los Locos: longer, spacious and still surrounded by useful town facilities.
Sunbeds: the board we photographed showed €12 for one sunbed, with combined parasol packages also available.
Facilities: foot showers, toilets, lifeguard services and accessible facilities are available seasonally.
Beach supplies: shops close to the beach sell chairs and other beach essentials.
Our approach: visit both beaches rather than treating them as an either-or choice.