XXVIII Travesía a Nado Nerja 2026

On the morning of the Travesía a Nado Nerja, the shoreline between Playa Torrecilla and Playa Burriana transforms into a workspace for the local CMD Nerja organizers, who coordinate the logistics of a race that has reached its 28th edition. Swimmers gather on the sand, observing a coastline that was once defined by the constant threat of 16th-century Barbary piracy. To defend against these raids, a network of watchtowers was established, including the now-vanished La Torrecilla, which once signaled approaching ships through smoke by day or fire by night. Moving through these waters, participants trace a path that echoes the defensive history of the Axarquía region, which swimmers seeking a different pace often compare to the nearby Travesía La Herradura held in September.

Historical depths and marine life

As you navigate the course, the seafloor near the Balcón de Europa reveals the remnants of a 1812 naval bombardment. British vessels, including the Hyacinth and Termagant, fired upon this coastline to dislodge French forces, leaving the ruins of the 'La Batería' gun battery submerged beneath the surface. Beyond the military history, the swim passes through the Maro-Cerro Gordo marine reserve. Here, the absence of motor-powered vessels allows for a pristine habitat where the Posidonia oceanica seagrass creates dense, protected meadows. It is a rare environment where endangered species thrive in shallow, sheltered coves. The event, which in previous years has drawn up to 267 participants, remains a direct link to the maritime character of the town, where memories of historical exiles—such as the 15th-century departure of the local Jewish community from Playa del Salón—still linger in the local narrative.