Cala Tío Ximo: Benidorm's snorkelling cove
Facts checked 15 October 2026 against the sources at the foot of this page.
Short answer
Cala Tío Ximo (also written Cala del Ti Ximo) is a small cove of sand and rock, about 60 metres long. It sits beyond Rincón de Loix at the foot of the Serra Gelada cliffs, at the north-east end of Benidorm. You walk in: the access road is closed to cars at a barrier, and the last stretch is a part-paved track downhill. There are no sunbeds, no toilets and no showers. One lifeguard covers it in summer (2026). The water is clear and the rocky seabed is the best snorkelling in town, so bring sea shoes and a mask. It is shared by naturists and people in swimwear.
Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | 60 m |
| Seabed / beach | Fine sand mixed with rocks and gravel |
| Setting | Foot of Serra Gelada Natural Park, beyond Rincón de Loix |
| Flags 2026 | No Blue Flag. Council post (May 2026) says the regional Qualitur quality flag will also fly at the coves |
| Lifeguards 2026 | 1 lifeguard a shift in summer (Jul–Sep 09:00–20:00) · 1 flag mast |
| Sunbeds | None |
| Toilets / showers | None listed |
| Food and drink | Not confirmed |
| Access | On foot only, from the vehicle barrier at C/ Alcalde Manuel Catalán Chana and C/ Sierra Dorada. Not suitable for wheelchairs |
| Buses | Nearest lines 1, 4, 5, 31 (Ametlla de Mar / Rincón de Loix stops), then walk |
| Naturism | Shared use: naturists and people in swimwear |
| Dogs | Not allowed |
| Best for | Snorkelling, quiet swims, couples, naturists |
What it's like
Tío Ximo feels nothing like the town beaches. You come down from the last houses of Rincón de Loix into a little bay under the cliffs of Serra Gelada. The cove is about 60 metres wide. There is some sand, but much of it is pebbles and rock, and the seabed drops onto rocky ground that is full of fish. That is why snorkellers come.
The cove lies within the Serra Gelada Natural Park, so the setting is protected. There is nothing commercial on the beach. Bring what you need: water, food, shade and sea shoes. You will want the shoes. The entry is rocky, and Visit Benidorm's safety advice warns about sea urchins on rocky ground.
Tío Ximo is shared between naturists and people in swimwear. Its neighbour, Cala Almadrava (about 100 m), is a naturist cove, also shared. Nobody will tell you what to wear at either. The rule locals ask for is simple: respect each other.
How to get there
The road down to the coves is closed to traffic at a barrier at the junction of Calle Alcalde Manuel Catalán Chana and Calle Sierra Dorada, at the top of Rincón de Loix. Park before the barrier, if you can find a space, and walk down. Parking up here is tight, especially in August. ValenciaBonita describes the walk to both coves as under 2 km there and back. For Tío Ximo you follow an asphalt track on foot. Almadrava is reached by a path that starts beside the viewpoint with the big BENIDORM letters and the Spanish flag.
By bus, go to the Rincón de Loix / Ametlla de Mar stops (lines 1, 4, 5 and 31 serve Ametlla de Mar; most Levante lines pass through Rincón de Loix) and walk uphill to the barrier. Remember you will be walking back uphill after a swim, so take water.
There is no accessible route. Wheelchair users and anyone who struggles with slopes should use the accessible beach points on Levante and Poniente.
Snorkelling
The rocky seabed off Tío Ximo and Almadrava is why most people make the walk. Water clarity is usually best on calm mornings, before boats and swimmers stir up the bottom. Swim along the rocks on either side of the cove rather than straight out. Stay inside any buoyed areas: boats and kayaks pass the headland on their way along Serra Gelada. If you want a guide or a kayak, there are organised kayak-and-snorkel trips along the Serra Gelada cliffs. For a longer outing, boat trips run from the harbour to Benidorm Island, which is a marine reserve. See boat trips.
Sea temperature
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 °C | 14 °C | 15 °C | 16 °C | 19 °C | 23 °C | 26 °C | 27 °C | 26 °C | 23 °C | 19 °C | 17 °C |
Long-term averages for Benidorm bay from SeaTemperature.info. Open-Meteo 2023–2025 data puts August at 28.1 °C. In spring a thin wetsuit makes snorkelling much more comfortable.
Watch out for
- No facilities. There are no toilets, shade, food (unless the kiosk is open) or showers. Pack for it.
- The walk back is uphill. On a 30 °C August afternoon that is hard going. Go early.
- Rocks and sea urchins. Sea shoes are not optional here.
- Lifeguard only in summer. In 2026 the coves had a lifeguard on summer shifts. Outside the season, swim with someone else.
- Parking. The area at the barrier is limited, and there is no parking beyond it.
- The usual rules. No glass, no dogs, no fires. Swimming under a red flag can be fined €751–1,500.
Questions people ask
How do I get to Cala Tío Ximo?
Head to the top of Rincón de Loix, at the north-east end of Levante. The road is closed to cars at a barrier at Calle Alcalde Manuel Catalán Chana / Calle Sierra Dorada. Walk down the asphalt track from there. The walk covering both coves is under 2 km there and back.
Is Cala Tío Ximo a nudist beach?
It is shared. Naturists and people in swimwear both use Tío Ximo, and neither has priority. Next door, Cala Almadrava is described as a naturist cove, also shared. On Levante, Poniente and Mal Pas, nude bathing is not the norm, though topless sunbathing is common everywhere.
Is there a lifeguard at Tío Ximo?
In summer, yes. Benidorm's 2026 summer plan has one lifeguard at Cala Tío Ximo and one at Almadrava each shift, 09:00–20:00 in July, August and September. Outside the summer season we found no confirmation of lifeguard cover at the coves.
Can I snorkel at Tío Ximo?
Yes, it is the best snorkelling spot in Benidorm without a boat. The rocky seabed on either side of the cove holds plenty of fish. Bring your own mask and sea shoes, swim along the rocks, and stay clear of boat traffic off the point.
Are there sunbeds or toilets at Tío Ximo?
No. Visit Benidorm lists only a lifeguard post and a flag mast. There are no sunbeds, parasols, toilets or showers. The nearest bars and toilets are back up in Rincón de Loix.
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Sources
- Visit Benidorm – Tío Ximo Cove — 60 m, fine sand and rocks, lifeguard post, flag, snorkelling — checked 2026-10-15
- Visit Benidorm – La Almadrava Cove — 100 m, naturist cove — checked 2026-10-15
- ValenciaBonita, updated 23 Jun 2026 — vehicle barrier, walking route, under 2 km, shared naturist use, sea shoes — checked 2026-10-15
- Ajuntament de Benidorm, 1 Jun 2026 — one lifeguard each at Tío Ximo and Almadrava in summer 2026 — checked 2026-10-15
- Ordinance amendment, 22 Oct 2013 — alcohol ban with the Tío Ximo kiosk exception — checked 2026-10-15
- Benidorm beach ordinance 2009 — glass, fires, animals, red flag fines — checked 2026-10-15
- Visit Benidorm – Beach safety — sea urchins, footwear on rocks — checked 2026-10-15
- Llorente Bus / Avanza routes — lines serving Ametlla de Mar / Rincón de Loix — checked 2026-10-15
- OpenStreetMap / Nominatim — coordinates of Cala del Ti Ximo — checked 2026-10-15
- SeaTemperature.info and Open-Meteo Marine — sea temperature — checked 2026-10-15