# Mónsul Beach

What to do en Cabo de Gata · Cabo de Gata

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/cabo-de-gata/things-to-do/monsul-beach · Revisado: 2026-11-12

- Duración: 3 h
- Temporada: All year; swimming from June to October
- Para quién: Families and couples

Beach · dark sand between lava flows and the great dune · 4.5 km from San José by track

What it is
A grey-sand beach between two arms of volcanic rock, with a large dune at the back and the famous Peineta rock at the water's edge. It is the best-known image of the park and one of the most crowded in August. The sea floor drops away faster than at Genoveses and, at the sides, the rocks are good for watching fish with a mask.
The Indiana Jones beach
One of the best-known scenes of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, by Steven Spielberg, with Harrison Ford and Sean Connery, was filmed at Mónsul. The dune, the dark lava flows and the Peineta are unchanged, so it is easy to recognise. There is nothing signposted and no memorial to the filming on the sand: Almería's film history is told in the display cases of Casa Miguel, in San José. The NeverEnding Story and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen were also shot on the same beach.
How to get there
From the San José ring road the dirt track leaves towards Genoveses; you continue to the Casa del Mónsul, about 4.5 km. There is a car park of about 50 spaces and the Vela Blanca trail starts. In summer car access is regulated by the Junta and there is a bus from San José; the rest of the year you drive in with your own car.
When to go
In spring and autumn you have it almost to yourself. In summer, arrive before ten or go late in the afternoon, when the sun sets behind the dune.

## Cómo llegar y contacto

- Coordenadas: 36.73043, -2.14543

## Cerca de aquí

- [Vela Blanca Trail, from Mónsul to the Tower](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/cabo-de-gata/things-to-do/vela-blanca-trail), a 2.4 km
- [Los Genoveses Beach and Its Trail](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/cabo-de-gata/things-to-do/los-genoveses-beach), a 2.6 km
- [Cabo de Gata Lighthouse and the Sirenas Reef](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/cabo-de-gata/things-to-do/cabo-de-gata-lighthouse-and-sirenas-reef), a 4.3 km
- [Guided Kayak and Snorkel along the Volcanic Cliffs](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/cabo-de-gata/things-to-do/kayak-and-snorkel), a 4.7 km
- [Hotel La Posada de Paco](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/cabo-de-gata/where-to-stay/hotel-la-posada-de-paco), a 4.8 km
- [Hotel Don Ignacio](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/cabo-de-gata/where-to-stay/hotel-don-ignacio), a 4.8 km
- [Introductory Scuba Dive in the Marine Reserve, from San José](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/cabo-de-gata/things-to-do/introductory-scuba-dive), a 4.8 km
- [Casa Miguel in Tierra de Cine](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/cabo-de-gata/where-to-eat/casa-miguel), a 4.9 km

## Consejos

### Climb the dune
From the top you see the whole beach and the coast towards the lighthouse.

### Mask and snorkel
The rocks at the ends have more life than the sand.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How long does it take from San José?
About 4.5 km of dirt track, a few minutes by car.

### Which Indiana Jones film was shot at Mónsul?
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, by Steven Spielberg, with Harrison Ford and Sean Connery.

### Are there facilities?
There are no bars on the beach. Bring water and shade.

### Is it suitable for children?
Yes, with more care than at Genoveses because it gets deep sooner.

Destino: [Cabo de Gata](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/cabo-de-gata.md)