Head to a perennially popular sun-drenched destination like Malaga and you might assume that you'll have trouble finding a peaceful beach to relax on. Never fear, though, because there are actually plenty of secluded stretches to find.

The trick is to hire a car at Malaga airport, which you can learn about by visiting this website, so you can drive to all those out-of-the-way spots that other travellers rarely reach. Malaga – and we're talking about the province, rather than the city – has an impressive 160 km of coastline, which is home to a brilliant variety of beaches.

Below, you can find out about some of the most tranquil, quiet spots where you can unwind away from the busy throngs of people that crowd the region's more mainstream beaches.

Guadalmar Beach

Our first suggestion is Guadalmar Beach, which is near to the city of Malaga, as well as a golf course. This is a good place to come if you're staying in the city itself but don't want to battle with the crowds that flock to the more central beaches in their droves. Campo de Golf offers a similar level of seclusion just outside the city.

Penoncillo Beach

Next up is Penoncillo Beach, which you'll find in the town of Torrox. A nice long stretch of sand, this beach is one of the few in this area that isn't backed by apartment buildings, which is part of the reason it's so lovely and quiet. It's around a 40-minute drive from Malaga city.

El Chorrillo Beach

Over in the scenic town of Nerja, which is ever-popular with tourists, is El Chorrillo Beach. While Nerja itself is often quite busy with travellers, this small cove manages to stay relatively quiet.

Ringed by dramatic cliffs, this cove can be reached by crossing Calahonda Beach and heading down some concrete steps. As a quick tip, it sits below the Balcon de Europa, which is one of the Costa del Sol's finest lookout points, so be sure to visit it while you're here – the views across the coastline are more than worth it! Bear in mind it is a very popular attraction, though, so it's unlikely to be crowd-free.

Wilches Beach

Heading back to Torrox for our next suggestion, we recommend spending some time on Wilches Beach. Conveniently, it has a decent car park, which is good news for anyone who decides to hire a car, and there are plenty of other facilities too, including beach chair hire.

Given how good its facilities are, it's surprising how isolated and quiet this small beach appears to be – but that's bound to be a welcome trait for those of you seeking a little alone time.

Torremuelle Beach

Over in Benalmadena you'll find Torremuelle Beach, which predominantly comprises rocks rather than sand. So, it's more of a place to come for a quiet sit down or walk rather than traditional sunbathing – but it's definitely a fantastic place to do either of those. Plus, it's also good for swimming, though the waves are classified as moderate, so it's better for confident swimmers than timid paddlers.

Realejo Beach

Our final suggestion is Realejo Beach, which is near Marbella Marina. With its golden sands and often crowd-free shores, this is a gorgeous place to while away an afternoon. It's only accessible by car, though, so if you were considering public transport it's worth bearing in mind that that will only get you so far!