The coastline near Barka offers stretches of beach that are far less visited than those near Muscat. The beach is used mainly by local families and fishermen, and the fishing boats drawn up on the sand give it an honest, working-coast character that the more developed beaches near the capital have largely lost.
The water is warm most of the year and the snorkelling near the rocky headlands to the west of town is reasonable. Turtles nest along parts of the Batinah coast, including near Barka, though sightings depend on the season. Modest dress is expected on all Omani beaches, and alcohol is not permitted.