Conil's beaches are the main reason people come here, and they are genuinely very good: long stretches of fine pale sand, Atlantic swells that are strong enough to be interesting but rarely dangerous, and water that stays clean.
Playa de los Bateles is the main town beach, stretching north from the old fishing port. Wide and long, it gets crowded in summer but is large enough to absorb the crowds. The waves here are good for bodysurfing. Beach bars (chiringuitos) run the full length in season.
Playa de la Fuente del Gallo is south of the old town, backed by low cliffs and a bit more sheltered. It attracts a slightly calmer crowd and is popular with families.
Cala del Aceite is a small, rocky-edged cove a couple of kilometres north of the main beach, reached by a path along the headland. The water is clear, the setting is intimate, and the nearby chiringuito is one of the best in the area. Arrive early in summer.
El Palmar, technically in the municipality of Vejer but only 8 km south of Conil, is one of the best surf beaches on the Costa de la Luz: a long, exposed Atlantic beach with consistent break. Surf schools operate here and the village behind the beach has a handful of decent restaurants and bars with a noticeably more international crowd than Conil.
Cala del Aceite to Cala del Puerco: north of town, a chain of small coves tucked into the pine-covered headlands. Some are accessible only on foot or by kayak. The coastline here is relatively undeveloped and gives a sense of what the whole coast looked like before the 1970s. A summer evening walk along the clifftop path is excellent.
The Atlantic swell at all these beaches means rip currents are possible. Red flag days are real — pay attention to the flag system.