Maro Waterfall Nerja: How to Visit by Kayak or SUP

When people ask me what the single most memorable thing to do near Nerja is, this is always what I tell them.

Not the caves, not the Balcón de Europa, not even Burriana Beach on a perfect summer morning.

It’s the Maro Waterfall, and if you have seen it called the Nerja waterfall, that is the same place. A freshwater cascade that falls 15 metres from the cliffs and lands directly in the Mediterranean Sea, and the only way to reach it is by paddling there.

The waterfall itself is beautiful, but it’s the adventure that I love.

There are even two smaller waterfalls, coves and a cliff-diving spot before you even reach the main event.

What Is the Maro Waterfall?

The Maro Waterfall (known locally as the Cascada de Maro) is a 15-metre freshwater waterfall that spills off the cliffs of the Sierra de Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama mountains and drops directly into the sea.

The whole stretch of coast here sits inside the Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo natural park, which is why it has stayed as undeveloped as it has.

The water doesn’t come from a river; it runs underground from streams connected to the Nerja Caves, filtering through the Sanguino and Cambrillo ravines before emerging at the cliff face.

That’s part of why the flow changes so much throughout the year.

In spring, after heavy rains, it can be really strong and impossible to get close to.

In late summer, it might slow to a trickle or temporarily disappear altogether.

Where Is the Maro Waterfall?

The waterfall is hidden along the cliffs roughly halfway between Playa de Maro and Playa Burriana, about 3km from Burriana along the coast, or 20-30 minutes paddling from Maro Beach.

It hides behind a massive rock face, so you won’t spot it until you’re almost on top of it. The cliffs here are completely vertical, which is why there’s no land access at all.

As you paddle towards it, you’ll pass two smaller waterfalls that trickle down the cliff face, which are lovely spots to pause, splash your face, and paddle through.

How to Get to the Maro Waterfall

The cliffs are completely vertical, so you can only reach them from the sea.

There’s no walking trail, no viewpoint, no road.

You have three options.

1. Kayak from Playa Burriana (Most Popular)

This is the most common starting point.

Rent a kayak at Burriana Beach and paddle roughly 3km along the coast to reach the waterfall. You’ll pass sea caves, hidden coves, and those two smaller falls along the way.

The paddle takes around 45 minutes each way, so allow a full morning or afternoon. The water is usually calm in summer, and the route is beginner-friendly.

You can go self-guided or join a guided kayak tour that departs from Burriana.

2. Kayak or SUP from Playa de Maro (Shorter Route)

If you’re staying in or near Maro, this is the better option.

The waterfall is only 20-30 minutes by kayak from Playa de Maro.

Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available at Maro Beach during peak season, though the operation there is small and there’s no guarantee of a boat if you turn up at midday in August.

The trade-off is the beach itself. Maro has a small free car park that fills before nine, and the walk down to the sand is a narrow road past greenhouses rather than a promenade. What you get for it is a twenty-minute paddle instead of an hour, and calmer water in the mornings because the cove is more sheltered than Burriana.

Do You Need Tickets? How Much Does It Cost?

There are no tickets and no entry fee for the Maro Waterfall.

It’s a natural site inside a protected park, and the sea is free. Nobody is going to charge you to paddle up to a cliff.

What you’ll pay for is getting there:

• Kayak or SUP rental, self-guided. Prices vary by operator and season, but renting a double kayak for a few hours is the most affordable option. Check with the rental companies on Burriana or Maro Beach when you arrive, as rates change.
• Guided kayak tour: costs more, but you get a guide who knows exactly where to go, which caves you can actually enter, and when conditions are safe. Tours typically last 3-4 hours in total and often include a stop for snorkelling. You can book a guided kayak tour in advance.

What to Bring

A few things make the trip much better:

• Waterproof bag or dry bag: your phone, snacks, and anything you don’t want soaked
• Snorkel and mask: the water clarity around the cliffs is exceptional, and there’s plenty of marine life
• Water shoes: useful if you want to climb on rocks near the waterfall or at Maro Beach
• Sunscreen: there’s very little shade on the water, especially mid-morning onwards
• Camera in a waterproof case: you’ll want photos when you get there

Can You Walk to the Maro Waterfall?

No, and this is worth saying clearly because a lot of people arrive in Nerja assuming there’s a coastal path or viewpoint.

There isn’t. The cliffs between Nerja and Maro are completely vertical and inaccessible from land, and the whole stretch sits inside the Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo protected area, so there’s no path to build and no prospect of one.

What confuses people is that photographs of the falls are usually taken from the water or from a drone, and neither angle tells you there’s nothing to stand on. The clifftop road above runs well back from the edge, and where you can get to the edge you’re looking down at a drop, not across at the cascade.

The only way to see it is from the sea. That means a kayak, a paddleboard, a boat trip, or a long swim, and of those the kayak is the one almost everybody takes.

Can You Swim Under the Waterfall?

Yes, and it’s one of the best things about the whole experience.

In summer, when the flow is gentle, you can paddle right up to the base of the falls and duck under the cascade. The water coming off the cliff is fresh and noticeably colder than the sea you have just paddled through, so brace for it.

Get out of the kayak before you go under. Trying to steer beneath the falls with a paddle in your hands is how people tip, and the rocks at the base are close enough to matter.

After heavy rain the flow is much stronger and the sensible move is to look rather than swim under it.

Where to Park

Since you’re starting from a beach, you need to park near your launch point. The map below shows both parking areas and the waterfall location.

Playa de Maro

There’s a small free car park just above the beach. From there, you walk down a narrow road past greenhouses and farmland to reach the shore. Spaces fill up quickly in summer, so arrive before 9 am if you can.

If the main area is full, there’s usually room along the access roads leading down to the beach.

Playa Burriana

Burriana has more parking options nearby, including free street parking along the approach road and a couple of paid areas.

Most guided tours and kayak rental companies are based here, so if you’re joining a tour, this is where you’ll start.

Read my Where to Park in Nerja guide for more details on free and paid options across town.

How Many Waterfalls Are There in Nerja?

Nerja has two main waterfalls you can visit, and right now only one of them’s reachable.

The first is the Maro Waterfall, on the coast, which is what this guide covers. The second is El Vado de los Patos, the mountain waterfall at the end of the Río Chillar hike, and that route’s been closed to visitors since August 2023.

There are smaller cascades along the same stretch of coast that most people never count. You pass two of them on the paddle out from Burriana, both low enough to stand under, and they’re a large part of why the journey is better than the destination.

Is the Río Chillar Walk Still Closed?

Yes. The trail has been closed since August 2023 and no reopening date has been announced.

The Junta de Andalucía has started the administrative work towards reopening it under controlled access, with a daily visitor cap and a managed concession, but nothing has been confirmed and the closure still stands. Check with the ayuntamiento or the tourist office in Nerja before you build a day around it.

Ready yet?

Maro waterfall is a must, especially in summer, and it’s not just a tourist thing either. You’ll see as many locals out here as visitors.

If you do one thing on this coast, make it this. Go from Maro if you want the short version and from Burriana if you want the coastline that comes with it, and go before ten either way.

The caveat is the flow. By late August in a dry year the falls can be down to a trickle, and the paddle’s still worth doing but the photograph you came for may not be there.

Skip it if you are not comfortable in open water, or if a couple of hours in a kayak with no shade sounds like an ordeal rather than a morning. It’s a genuinely physical trip from Burriana, and there’s no way to bail out halfway along a cliff.

For more ideas, check out my guides to things to do in Nerja and the best beaches.