Los Patos Beach

About 700 metres of black sand run along the foot of the cliffs, scattered with dark boulders. The cliffs close off every view inland, so from the shore there is only rock, sand and the Atlantic.

The way down is a steep, rocky scramble, and the beach is quiet. Clothing is optional.

The cliff holds the sand in shade until the sun climbs over it in the afternoon. After that the black sand soaks up the heat and warms fast underfoot.

• Closed access: the way down is fenced off and closed because of rocks falling from the cliffs.
• Footwear: the descent is steep and rocky; wear proper shoes with a firm grip.
• Nothing on site: there are no toilets and no drinking water at the beach or nearby, so bring what you need.
• Children: this is no beach for children — the descent is steep and the cliffs shed rock.

No road reaches the sand. Free parking lies about 660 m away in a straight line, and finding a space is hard. The El Tinglado bus stop sits about 670 m away in a straight line.

The rest is on foot: a walk of about 15 minutes from the roadside, then a steep, rocky descent down the cliff to the beach. The descent is the hard part. Take it slowly, keep your hands free, and wear shoes that grip.

Best: afternoon, once the sun has cleared the cliff, on a day of calm sea.

Avoid: mornings, when the beach lies in the cliff's shadow, and days of heavy swell or just after rain.

The cliff decides the light here, and wet or storm-battered rock is the most likely to come down.

The access to Los Patos Beach is fenced off and closed because of rocks falling from the cliffs behind the sand. Reaching the beach means crossing that fence, which goes against the closure and puts you on the very ground it was put up to keep people off. The fence is there for your safety; respect it.