Mazarrón beaches: Playa Gachero, dog friendly beach

One of three dog friendly beaches in the Mazarrón municipality

Playa Gachero is a semi-urban Mediterranean beach at the eastern end of the 35-kilometre Mazarrón coastline, close to the boundary with Cartagena.

This is one of three beaches within the Mazarrón municipality which have been designated as dog friendly, and is the closest to the urban centre of the municipality. It is the smallest of the three dog beaches and those wishing to give their dogs a good run in the open or sunbathe themselves, are advised to seek one of the other two options, which are also lower density due to their location out of the urban town. These are Playa de las Cobaticas and Playa Sierra de Las Moreras next to Playa Castellar.

Playa del Gachero is located at town end of the El Alamillo beach, and starts as a sandy strip then changes to a pebbly beach which occupies the space around the rocky outcrop between two sandier beaches.

It is not particularly attractive for those wishing to sunbathe, and its pebbled nature makes it less alluring for human bathers who prefer the sandier shores of El Alamillo, but it has fewer waves than its neighbour and the clear, clean water is highly attractive to our hot and furry dog friends who can bathe in the sea here.

There is parking next to the remains of the Roman villa on rough ground next to the beach of El Alamillo, and a footwash with fresh water on the Alamillo beach during summer months.

The entrance to the beach is clearly marked with signage and the area in which dogs can be let off the lead indicated by wooden posts.

There is a bus-stop nearby which is on the urban Mazarrón-Murcia route. For the latest timetable and further information about the Mazarrón municipality go to the dedicated Mazarrón municipality section.(see Tourist info for bus timetables)

Rules for dogs on the beach:

Dogs may be let off the lead once on the beach, but must be controlled by their owners and care must be taken not to disturb or annoy other beach users.

Potentially dangerous animals must be muzzled, and kept under control.

Owners must pick up excrement and deposit it in the bins provided.

All of the dog’s paperwork must be in order and up-to-date and animals must be micro-chipped and fully vaccinated.

Failure to abide by these common-sense rules can result in fines of between 750 and 3,000 euros in line with municipal by-laws regarding the ownership of dogs within the municipality.

Dogs are NOT permitted on other beaches and must be kept on a lead at all times, both in the streets and countryside areas of the municipality.

It is a bone of contention with dog owners that by law they are not permitted to allow their dogs off the lead, even in countryside areas, but although a blind eye is frequently turned, severe financial penalties can be imposed should an officer decide to abide by the letter of the law.

Click for an overview of all 33 beaches in the municipality of Mazarrón, or for more information relating to Mazarrón.