Chirala's beach runs along the Bay of Bengal directly east of the town, a broad arc of dark sand backed by casuarina trees. It is entirely undeveloped in the tourist sense — no beach shacks, no sun loungers, no vendors selling coconuts — and for that reason it feels refreshingly authentic. The waves can be strong during the monsoon months (June to September), but between October and March the sea is calm and the beach is a genuinely peaceful place to walk.
The fishermen's quarter lies at the northern end of the beach, and the activity there in the early morning is worth seeing: dozens of boats unloaded, the catch sorted by species, and a rapid informal auction conducted entirely in Telugu at a speed that leaves outsiders bewildered. The beach is best reached by auto-rickshaw from the main market; the ride takes about ten minutes.