Plage de la Mala, Cap-d'Ail: what the photos don't tell you
Short answer: Pebbles beach facing south-west. Mid-July: Direct sun on the sand from 08:50 (2 h 46 after sunrise) to 19:55, 1 h 17 before sunset, when the sun drops behind the hills: 11 h 05 of sun in all.
Also called Mala beach. Côte d’Azur: Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez.
Thu 15 July 2027
Sun on the sand 08:50–19:55
Direct sun on the sand from 08:50 (2 h 46 after sunrise) to 19:55, 1 h 17 before sunset, when the sun drops behind the hills: 11 h 05 of sun in all. Sunset at sea level: 21:12.
Each block is half an hour from 05:00 to 22:00. sun on the beach · sun up but behind the cliffs or hills · sun down.
Reality check
- Surface
- Pebbles (OpenStreetMap)
- Water shoes
- Recommended: pebbles are hard on bare feet and hot by midday, and urchins live on rocky seabeds. (From the surface)
- Climb back up
- No car park or bus stop mapped within 700 m: expect a walk or a boat. (Elevation model + OpenStreetMap)
- Beach clubs and free sand
- No beach clubs are mapped on this beach. That usually means free sand, but clubs are not always mapped: check recent photos for rows of sunbeds. (OpenStreetMap)
- Natural shade
- Cliffs rise 36° above the beach behind you: deep shade comes early (see the sun times above). No trees or shade otherwise; bring an umbrella for midday. (Calculated from the terrain)
- Water depth
- Drops off fast: deep water close to the shore, watch small children. 200 m out about 13 m deep, 400 m out about 20 m deep. (Seabed model with about 100 m detail: the first metres from the shore are not resolved.) (EMODnet Bathymetry)
- Toilets and showers
- None mapped within 400 m. (OpenStreetMap)
- Sea temperature
- August: 25 °C on average. Warmest August (25 °C). (NOAA OISST, 1991–2020 average)
Plan it
Arrive before the sun reaches the sand to get a spot, or come for the last hours of sun when the day crowds leave. A boat trip reaches coves with no road access.
Through the year
Times on the 15th of each month, local time.
| Month | Sun on the sand | Lost to cliffs | Sea | Waves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10:15–17:15 | 2 h 17 | 14 °C | — |
| February | 09:45–17:55 | 2 h 20 | 13 °C | — |
| March | 09:20–17:55 | 3 h 18 | 14 °C | — |
| April | 09:30–19:10 | 3 h 45 | 15 °C | — |
| May | 08:50–19:35 | 3 h 58 | 18 °C | — |
| June | 08:35–19:50 | 4 h 11 | 21 °C | — |
| July | 08:50–19:55 | 4 h 03 | 24 °C | — |
| August | 09:15–19:30 | 3 h 45 | 25 °C | — |
| September | 09:50–18:45 | 3 h 37 | 22 °C | — |
| October | 10:05–18:30 | 2 h 38 | 20 °C | — |
| November | 09:35–17:05 | 2 h 11 | 17 °C | — |
| December | 10:05–16:50 | 2 h 12 | 15 °C | — |
Questions
What time does the sun leave Plage de la Mala, Cap-d'Ail?
In mid-July: Direct sun on the sand from 08:50 (2 h 46 after sunrise) to 19:55, 1 h 17 before sunset, when the sun drops behind the hills: 11 h 05 of sun in all. Pick any date above for that day's times.
Is Plage de la Mala, Cap-d'Ail sand or pebbles?
Pebbles. Water shoes: Recommended: pebbles are hard on bare feet and hot by midday, and urchins live on rocky seabeds.
How far is the walk from parking to Plage de la Mala, Cap-d'Ail?
No car park or bus stop mapped within 700 m: expect a walk or a boat.
Is the water deep at Plage de la Mala, Cap-d'Ail?
Drops off fast: deep water close to the shore, watch small children. 200 m out about 13 m deep, 400 m out about 20 m deep. (Seabed model with about 100 m detail: the first metres from the shore are not resolved.)
How warm is the sea at Plage de la Mala, Cap-d'Ail?
Jan 14 °C, Feb 13 °C, Mar 14 °C, Apr 15 °C, May 18 °C, Jun 21 °C, Jul 24 °C, Aug 25 °C, Sep 22 °C, Oct 20 °C, Nov 17 °C, Dec 15 °C (1991–2020 averages).
Is there free beach at Plage de la Mala, Cap-d'Ail or only beach clubs?
No beach clubs are mapped on this beach. That usually means free sand, but clubs are not always mapped: check recent photos for rows of sunbeds.
Sun and shade come from the sun's position and the skyline around each beach, measured every 4° of compass direction from a 30 m elevation model out to 6 km. The climb back up is the height difference between the beach and the nearest mapped car park or bus stop (about 0.17 m per step). Water depth comes from the EMODnet seabed model; surface, beach clubs, toilets and showers from OpenStreetMap; sea temperature is the 1991–2020 average from NOAA OISST and waves the 2015–2024 average from ERA5. Prices are not shown: they change every season and differ between clubs. Map data checked 7 Nov 2026; next check 1 Dec 2026 (monthly). Sea averages are refreshed every January. Sun and shade are calculated for any date you pick. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · map record. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information.