On the beach
Right now
Live conditions from Open-Meteo, refreshed hourly.
7-day outlook
7-day marine forecast from Open-Meteo.
Sea temperature
Next 7 days, °C
Wave height
Next 7 days, metres
View as table
| Day | Sea temp (°C) | Wave height (m) |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 | 23.0 | 0.4 |
| Thu 3 | 23.3 | 0.4 |
| Fri 4 | 23.8 | 0.3 |
| Sat 5 | 23.8 | 0.3 |
| Sun 6 | 23.6 | 0.4 |
| Mon 7 | 24.1 | 0.3 |
| Tue 8 | 24.5 | 0.1 |
Water quality history
Official EEA classification, one rating per bathing season, 2015–2025 — real data reported by national authorities.
- 2015: Excellent2015
- 2016: Excellent2016
- 2017: Excellent2017
- 2018: Excellent2018
- 2019: Excellent2019
- 2020: Excellent2020
- 2021: Excellent2021
- 2022: Excellent2022
- 2023: Excellent2023
- 2024: Excellent2024
- 2025: Excellent2025
Excellent in the most recent season, and 11 of 11 classified years rated Excellent or Good.
- Excellent
- Good
- Sufficient
- Poor
- Not classified
View as table
| Year | Classification |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Excellent |
| 2016 | Excellent |
| 2017 | Excellent |
| 2018 | Excellent |
| 2019 | Excellent |
| 2020 | Excellent |
| 2021 | Excellent |
| 2022 | Excellent |
| 2023 | Excellent |
| 2024 | Excellent |
| 2025 | Excellent |
Typical sea temperature by month
Modeled estimatePlausible seasonal climatology derived from latitude, for illustration — not a measured average.
Monthly sea temperature
Typical range across the year, °C
View as table
| Month | Typical sea temp (°C) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 17 |
| Feb | 16 |
| Mar | 17 |
| Apr | 19 |
| May | 21 |
| Jun | 24 |
| Jul | 26 |
| Aug | 27 |
| Sep | 26 |
| Oct | 24 |
| Nov | 21 |
| Dec | 19 |
Location & nearby beaches
Nearby beaches
- Playa Venus-Bajadilla2.4 kmMálaga
- Playa los Monteros2.9 kmMálaga
- Playa el Faro3.1 kmMálaga
- Playa la Fontanilla-Faro4.3 kmMálaga
Distances calculated as straight-line (haversine) from official coordinates.
Getting there & around
- Easy by car — there's parking close to the beach.
- Bus stop: El Cable, about ~240 m away.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest city: Marbella, about ~2.6 km away.
- 3 places to eat within 1 km Closest is Bounty Beach, about ~700 m away.
- 1 place to stay mapped nearby Closest is Hotel Río Real Golf, about ~1.3 km away.
What kind of beach is this?
This beach belongs to a small coastal village. It's usually calmer than a resort or town beach, though a popular village spot can still fill up on the best summer days.
Estimated from OpenStreetMap surroundings data (ODbL).
Is the water clean at Playa el Cable-Rio Real?
Playa el Cable-Rio Real sits on a stretch of coast classed as a coastal bathing site, carrying an official EU Bathing Water rating of Excellent for the 2025 season. Under the EU Bathing Water Directive, national authorities test for intestinal enterococci and E. coli through the season and report the results the following spring — the 2025 rating was published in spring 2026, and 2026's won't follow until spring 2027. In addition to that yearly rating, some national authorities — for Croatia, the national environmental authority — publish individual water sample results during the season itself, ahead of the annual report. It sits in Málaga. You can park about ~80 m away.
Looking to avoid the busiest weeks? The water is typically warmest around August, with the most reliable swimming window running July–September; outside that stretch you'll find a cooler sea but a quieter beach. That rating has been consistent: every one of the 11 classified seasons on record has come back Excellent or Good. On site you'll find Showers, Toilets, and Parking. Marbella — the closest town — sits about ~2.6 km from here.
“Excellent” is one point on a four-step scale — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — assigned once per year from that season's water samples, not a live reading. It describes how the site performs on average across the season, not the exact water quality this afternoon; for day-to-day sea conditions, see the “Right now” and 7-day outlook panels above. There are 3 places to eat within a kilometre — Bounty Beach is the closest, about ~700 m away.
Frequently asked questions
Is Playa el Cable-Rio Real a safe beach for swimming?
Yes. Its official 2025 EU Bathing Water rating is Excellent, the top classification, and 11 of the 11 classified seasons on record have rated Excellent or Good. It's also held steady at Excellent for 11 straight years.
How warm is the sea at Playa el Cable-Rio Real right now?
Right now, the sea at Playa el Cable-Rio Real is measuring around 22°C; see the “Right now” panel above for the latest conditions. That's the reading right off Málaga.
What's the ideal time of year to swim at Playa el Cable-Rio Real?
The most reliable stretch for warm water runs through July–September, based on the modeled climatology. That applies to the water around Málaga.
What does the water quality rating actually measure?
The annual classification — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — is built from a full season of official testing for intestinal enterococci and E. coli, reported to the European Environment Agency each spring. Some national authorities (Croatia's IZOR among them) also publish individual samples during the season itself; Playa el Cable-Rio Real isn't yet covered by that in-season feed.
Can you drive to Playa el Cable-Rio Real?
By car, it's easy — parking is right by the beach. By bus, the nearest stop is El Cable, about ~240 m away. The nearest town is Marbella, about ~2.6 km away.