Malaquite Beach Reviews

This was a great beach - very clean and beautiful. I liked the bathrooms and outdoor showers in the parking lot too. Getting there from N. Padre took longer than 20 minutes this Spring Break Week (2017) because they are doing road construction. They have it down to 1 lane and each side has to take turns and the wait is very long but maybe they'll be done by the next few months! Oh also I like they have people keeping an eye on things...keeping the kids out of the sand dunes and stopping people from feeding the seagulls too much. Will definitely go again someday!

Wow! What a beautiful beach! We were lucky enough to be here when the turtle rescue were releasing hatchlings at sunrise - it's not a year round thing, so be sure to call the hotline to find out if one will be happening during your stay!
The release was brilliant to watch, our eldest (almost 10) was fascinated watching them make their way to the water, and our youngest (3) was happy digging in the sand.
An amazing experience in an absolutely stunning setting

If you love to step on fine sand, and swim in clear waters, head down to Malaquite Beach! Apart from swimmers, you will find people standing on the beach with fishing poles or nets, birders holding their cameras, and 4x4s parked along the shore and tents that are set-up along the beach area.

The visitor's centre of the Padre Island National Seashore is located near this area. Apart from the visitor's centre, they have a small grocery here as well to make sure you're have everything you need before you head down to the open waters.

It has clean restrooms and an showers open 24 hours a day. If you'd like to camp, they have designated sites available, for a fee. You can also head down and camp at the beach, for free, but be aware that the last restroom you will see is before you enter the beach area.

Get away from it all by making a relatively short drive from the city. This is one of our favorite places.

Absolutely the best beach in Texas. It’s a drive in beach with 60 Miles of beautiful sand and water. We had a great trip down driving it with friends.

This was a realy nice beach. Lots of room for everyone. Amazing to se so much small herring in the sea.

This beach is in the Padre Island National Seashore. There is a $10 charge per car; National Park passes are accepted. Restrooms, cold rinse showers, changing areas, and vending machines are available. No lifeguards. The staff in the visitor center were friendly and helpful.

Nearby is a .75 mile paved nature trail. The guides were not in stock when we were there, but it was a pleasant walk with no bugs due to strong winds.

I am not from the area and was puzzled by the description “pedestrian only beach.” I subsequently visited other area beaches; people drive and park their cars on them.

It took us a good 35 minutes or more to reach Malaquite Beach from Corpus Christi with no traffic.

Do not spend a time at beach in city and around, go straight to Malaquite Beach in National Seashore park. You need to pay for entrance, but you will find clear water, cool breeze and clean beach. Not too much people as well.

A beautiful beach with no commercial places in sight. Campgrounds and parking lots. I really recommend sticking to the paved roads and parking lots unless you know how to drive on sand and respect the tides. A great place to watch the sunrise and sunset.

We chose this beach due to the positive reviews but found it to be a lot rougher than expected. The permanent sign advising of dangerous undertow as you headed to the beach was an honest representation. We have two teenagers and a 9-year-old. One of the teenagers was enthralled with the high waves, and while they can be fun, I felt like if we had been anywhere else there would have been flags out warning beachgoers that the ocean was not safe for swimming today.

I will say that it was a beautiful beach and well kept! The sand was soft and white. I just was hoping to find a safe, clean, family-friendly beach that was a little less rough.

Pretty white sand.....very clean....and very quiet....it is a walk up beach though so hopefully u dont have a ton of things to drag thru the puffy white sand. :)

This beach was a great little find! We were there near sunset so it wasn't crowded. Sand is nicely packed, so no fear of getting stuck...which we had happen on Bolivar Peninsula. Walked around barefoot as I saw no broken glass. Nice spot for a picnic, but of course there are no facilities at this location. It's a free parking, no fee area.

First time to go to this beach, but was recommended by friends. We went together and had a wonderful time! We will return.

Great experience. Loved walking the beach and watching the birds. Miles of clean beach. Camp sites plus camping right on the beach by the surf.

There was no charge on Christmas. The facilities are nice (showers/bathrooms). The sand is divinely soft. Worth the drive.

Nice facility and educational program for the entire family; however, a better job should be made to clean all the trash that drifts on the beach. Seaweed is natural; a nursery and habitat for many sea creatures. However; there are fishing lines, ropes, all kind of plastic containers and more that could be cleaned up.

This is one of the cleanest beaches I have been to on the Gulf Coast. My husband and I like to walk around and pick up trash that is left behind either by other people or trash that has drifted ashore. The visitor center is well stocked and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable.The beach is quiet and the weekend we visited there was no loud music and it is patrolled by staff on ATV'S. If you are looking for place to party and drink alcohol this is not the place for you. This is a place for families and those who would like some peace and quiet.

The steady wind with no gusts made this a great place to fly kites during kite fest. Good spot to grab a snack; good facilities to clean up.

Had a blast at Malaquite Beach with the family. Just when you think you found the perfect place in Corpus you come across someone else knows about. My sister told us about this beach and wanted to see for ourselves so we planned a day trip. IT WAS AWESOME!!!! There are public restrooms AND showers before you get to the beach. The views were great and the water was perfect!!! Best place we have been so far at the coast so far! We are already planning a trip back. It was a great family trip and can't wait to do it again.

If you have your senior pass, then your camping here is for $4. No services, but the ocean crashing and the seagulls pelicans flying. There are cold showers and flush toilets. It is just beautiful. Lots of large RVs but there are quiet hours for generators. We had a great time riding bikes and walking the beach

Out of the way, but clean and quiet. Great views, picnic tables, showers. Go on the off season, avoid the crowds and see the beauty.

There is plenty of room for kids to build sandcastles, swim, or enjoy the beach! They have a big parking lot. The beach is swept clean in this area for garbage - the natural detritus is there like seaweed. The Rangers are nice and very helpful.

For bird watchers, there are all sorts of birds that are here year round or migrate through. We saw pelicans, egrets, terns, herons, cormorants, curlews, ibis, and many other species.

As of March21, 2017, they are current doing roadwork, so you may have to sit in line for up to 20 minutes before a pilot car takes you through. They should be done within a month or lees from now.

Great for shelling, wading. Just perfect for ocean watchers. Nice gift shop and educational stuff. Nice to have an unobstructed view of the ocean, that is without built up structures and buildings. Lots of birds. Love to watch the pelicans, gulls, sandpipers. Picturesque dunes and sea grass make for good photos.

We stopped in here to pay our $10 for the park entrance fee, and we were surprised at just how busy the whole area was. Inside the visitor center, they had quite a few workers that had a lot of information to share with everyone. There was a "touch and feel" area with lots of fish bones and other dead sea creatures. The guy that was in that area was very knowledgeable about everything. There were some other interesting exhibits and a few gifts in there as well. They had some sea turtle releases scheduled, but they were all at 6;30am. Too early for us! The bathrooms and the showers weren't the cleanest, but it is a beach area, so I am sure it's hard to keep immaculate. It was quite a hike from the parking lot to the beach area, so we decided to head down to the beach area where you can drive down the coast. There is a boardwalk to access the beach, so that helps. We just didn't feel like making the trek!

Even though this beach is a little farther than the others, it is totally worth it. It is almost a virgin beach. We like that it is never crowded.

Beautiful, quite beach. Minimum amount of garbage on the beach. What's there seems to have come from the water. Watch out for the jellyfish. One of the days we were camping down the way, the kite festival was on. What a fun way to spend the day people watching and kite watching.

We enjoyed our day here. The beach was clean and in crowded. There are several semi-covered picnic tables. The visitors center was also clean with good bathrooms.

Made priceless memories with my teen daughter. It was a blessing to watch the release of the turtles with background of sunset. Malaquite Beach is a pretty place! We will return.

We just love this beach for walking our dog along the shoreline and also to come and spend the day at the beach. It has an area to shower, restrooms and an educational on marine life as well as clean beaches. Just love it here!!

Just love the "wildness" of Malaquite beach. The winds were high today as were the tides so there was a very narrow space for driving. As I've said before, you never know what you will find but its always fun.

Little bit further out but totally worth the drive. Showers were really nice for after a day at the beach.

Although you have to drive on SPID or take the ferry to get here it is not located in
Corpus Christi it is located on Park RD 22 in Kleberg County....

This is a great beach to walk, watch the waves, and relax. The water is clean and clear. This is always a place I come to get away.

Come here and take a long walk! Look for shells, birds, and more. Take a ranger-led tour if available (they're free)!

This is a great place to take your family for the day. Mostly families with a little store to buy snacks and drinks. They have bathrooms and outdoor showers after you leave the beach so that you don't get all of the sand in your car. It is completely out of the so you are not around any city things at all.

Malaquite Beach is part of the Padre Island National Seashore. It is $10 a vehicle to get in for one day. We came here for one of the sea turtle releases they do in the summer. There is a gift shop and restrooms in the Visitor Center. Beach was very clean. It is very out of the way, however. The closest businesses are 15-20 minutes away on Park Road 22. Very nice beach overall. Well worth the money.

My wife and I spent the entire day here. There was scarcely anyone here, which made it even better. There were other people at the beach; however, because the beach so was spacious, there was plenty of room to have our own little area. To be honest, it felt like our own private little beach.

The beach was relatively clean and TRAFFIC-FREE. There were NO cars allowed on the beach, which was nice! No trashy vehicles, no obnoxious Trump flags, no loud music, no nothing. It was nice! We have been to other public beaches here in CC, where we would see garbage like that. This was like an oasis.

The Park Rangers were nice and informative. The restrooms were clean compared to others we have seen. We liked it so much we plan on going back in a few days.

Quiet beach away from the crowds, there is a visitor center with gift shop and bathrooms on a wood deck, with the wood walkway that leads out to the beach. On the beach there are a few wooden/grass cabanas. There is a lot of information posted about the turtle sanctuary and conservation efforts to help sea turtles.

Beautiful, sandy, clean beach. If you walk a bit away from the entrance, it won't be so crowded. Fun waves for the kids to play in and sand as far out as I was willing to go / let the kids go!

Love the beach here. Clean, quiet (whenever we've come). Having shade provided is great. Bathrooms generally clean.

Like the title says, this is a beautiful beach. We had so much fun playing in the surf, watching the coquina clams dig themselves into (and out of) the sand. The beach isn't crowded at all, and very clean. We did our part by packing out a small bag of various trash items we gathered. At the visitor center they have several interesting programs, including info about their Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle conservation program.

We camped here over the holidays and while the weather was less than cooperative it was still awesome. Very close to water and you could hear the waves crashing all night. Clean restrooms, showers are cold water only which is a bummer but not a deterrent! We had a solar shower and filled it with warm water and it was doable! The beach is a nice one with lots of space to bike, kite fly, beach comb, walk, fish, run, frisbee, whatever and not real crowded. Biggest drawback was pet owners who did not follow the leashing rules in the campground or on the beach and pets were often wandering around off leash. Camp host were new and had a few glitches in managing sites but otherwise no complaints.

Having the use of restrooms and showers to rinse off the sand was excelkent for my little one especially. Very clean and maintained beach area.

This beach is one of the most gorgeous properties in the US. It has a gorgeous entrance with dramatic grasses and dunes. There is ample parking, a visitors buildingvandcdock that is soo well done. It is worth the extra 20 minutes if you are searching for peace and quiet. Sunset is amazing too!

We stopped at this beach just for a moment. It was a nice sand beach that wasn't to crowded. Saw a few people swimming. The waves were very mild and the water was warm enough to be in. Great place for a picnic or watch the sunset.

Of all the beaches we’ve gone to, this one had the most constant and biggest waves (they were still small enough for our 9 year old to be out in them).

Great beach that you can walk on without stepping on thousands of shells or seaweed. Definitely a place we’ll go to again anytime we’re down there.

was great to come up after night of camping in the dunes and take a shower and refresh ourselves....

This was our second time to Malaquite beach. The beach had quite a bit of seaweed this time, but was clear in the areas where you camp or swim. We enjoyed our experience. Only 15-20 people ever swimming at a time. Super chill beach, great for families or couples. No electricity or cell service so come prepared and if you plan to camp, get a wind resistant tent and long beach stakes - 10 in if you can. There were 30 mph winds when we were there and our first tent didn't make it. The second one held up fine.

nice and clean beach. Bathrooms. Viewing deck. covered eating areas. There weren't many people there.

It was a pretty long drive over a pretty long bridge, but the trip was worth it. Very beautiful sand nice breeze. Though a large crowd there was plenty of room to stretch out. Also has restrooms available.

This is a year round place to visit, a walk by the beach is always awesome! Calming , shooting, relaxing.

If I had not looked up “things to do” in Corpus Christi, TX I would never have learned about this wonderful spot. No commercialized BS.. no sno cones or T-shirt shops, no over built run down hotels... just raw, splendid beach. Amazing camp sites (and I do not camp but for views like this, Im going to give it a go!)

So thankful this place has been preserved. Trash cans only in parking
lot so please bring something to
pick up trash to keep this place pristine.

Far from the maddening crowd and crazy drinkers this beach is a real gem. The sand is clean and the water is clear. The NPS maintains very nice facility’s Sweet campgrounds in the area.

GPS came up with wrong location initially so check the map/website.....it is very easy to get there ... minimal visitors, a little walk from parking to the beach

We stopped to go in the Visitor's Center. There was a Park Ranger there outside doing demonstrations and answering questions. The bathrooms were clean, there are areas for showering, picnicking, swimming. There are a couple of observation decks to look up and down the beach.

Right off the Visitor Center you'll find access to this beach. Plenty of spots to lay your things down and stake your claim. Careful with the current there are no lifeguards around. The day I was here there was also a Red Tide wanting. I did go swimming anyway and so far am OK. Plenty of parking. The Visitor Center has showers, exhibits, changing rooms, bathrooms and other facilities.

You can drive right out to the waves if you want. Weekends seem a little more crowded. Many people with picnics, dogs and kids. Good for families.

The beach has the most beautiful sand I have seen in Texas. The views are lovely, the place is incredibly clean, and the rangers kind and courteous.

We enjoyed the beautiful beach today! The water is clean and warm. There’s are restrooms and showers available as well as a gift shop.

A great place for a sunny day picnic with the kids or a romantic walk with the hubby (or significant other). Nice amenities like picnic benches and an info center. But really kind of secluded at the long end of a road. Great for wind surfing.

Near the end of the road once entering Padre Island National Seashore, a decent-sized visitor's center and a large beachfront that's not a long or steep trek to and from to soak up the scenery. A bit further south is another beach access point to check out. Be careful not to drive too far out onto the beach, especially if you're in a rental car!

Very nice visitor center, including bath ouse/changing rooms at the beach entrance. The dunes and beach are gorgeous, views from the top deck of the visitor center seem to go on forever. Pelicans are frequent along the shore.

This is the nicest section of the Padre Island National Seashore. No cars are allowed so the sand is much nicer. The rangers at the ranger station are very friendly and helpful.

Although we almost blew away due to the wind... we loved every minute of it! Very quiet and a good place to relax.

Nice Clean Ocean and Pets Friendly. It cost you nothing to use plus free and safe parking. Also close is friendly restaurant and volley ball curt to use. I love this place and I will keep going back to this place.

We spent some time here watching the people trying to catch waves on their surfboards. Many people were out trying to catch fish.

Is part of the beach is right behind rthe visitor's center. You cannot drive on this part. Good for kids. Drive down further for beach access

Nice clean beach. We loved it. There are restrooms with showers on site and a little convenience store. We also saw a sea turtle release early one morning which was really neat and the kids enjoyed it.

We picked up two full yellow bags of trash. That’s not the complaint, we gladly do our part keeping the beach clean. But $10 is not enough to keep thoughtless people away ( those who litter or ignore litter.) Raise the fee to discourage these “undesirables” from bringing their trash to this beach.

Very nice family beach. There is the visitors' centre right next door with showers, toilets, a shop and tables.

For families with young children and tweens this is the perfect beach. There are bathrooms, showers, picnic tables, a small visitor center with tours led by park rangers, plenty of parking and space to spread out. The best part...no vehicles are allowed on the beach which equals safety for the littles. Also, perfect for beach combing for sea shells. Downside is the undercurrent but you should always be watching your littles anyhow. Also, there were some man of war jellyfish washed ashore but we arrived right after high tide. Just be aware and the park rangers are trained to help or you can bring vinegar or meat tenderizer with you. We had no issues while they were swimming in the water with encounters with jellyfish.

We drove for what seemed like forever, and the gps told us the wrong way twice, but we got here, and it was worth it.
The beach was clean, they had facilities to shower, change, use the bathroom, and get snacks or drinks. They also had recycling bins, so it was easy to toss your trash correctly.
The only downside was that it was extremely windy that day, so we had to leave early. But totally worth going.

Great beach, has a parking lot, showers, and bathrooms. Also picnic tables if you get there early enough! It is located in a National Park though, so there is a fee to get in. But definitely worth it! I went for the 4th of July weekend, and it was a great decision!!! Way less crowded than the free beaches in the area, and much nicer too!

This National Seashore has wonderful beaches and birding opportunities. We wished we would have had more time to explore. You do need to have a car to get there.

Incredible place to visit, I enjoyed the beach. Good for the family and children. I Recommend to visit it.

This is where there was a kite festival. Loved to have seen it; missed it by one day. The breezes are warm and the ocean and sand are great. I can always spend time near the ocean.

We went to a turtle release at that beach and afterwards we played on the beach. It was very clean! There were clams every where. It was very pretty

It’s a bit of a drive to get there from north Corpus Christi, but it’s worth it! The sand is sugary-soft and there is plenty of beach for everyone. The natural wave-pools made it perfect for my toddler to play in. Getting cleaned up afterwards was great too, as it’s right near the visitors center.

We live in San Antonio and after having tried several Texas beaches, we’ve settled on Malaquite Beach for the past several years. We drive down and come back the same day. The beach is south of Corpus about 20-30 min and you pay $10/vehicle. This is one of the cleanest Texas beaches there is and if you monitor the beach alerts, the beaches south of Corpus almost always are in the green. Lots of parking, great visitor center, showers and restrooms, highly recommend bringing your own canopy since if you get there after noon the tables may already be taken (though we usually get there early, but I always see people showing up later that didn’t bring any shade); the beach is clean (but watch out for jellyfish!!), the water is fairly shallow and you can actually walk out quite a ways; the waves are good and the water is cool and blue. The only other beaches I would recommend are farther south like South Padre, but in actuality, this beach is just as nice and has less people. It is our only go-to beach in Texas where we actually feel comfortable jumping in the water !!

An ordinary beach next to Visitor Center in National Park.

Fine sand, Visitor Center services available, nothing so thrilling.

Not bad, but nothing so excellent either.

Very clean and well managed section of Padre Island. Lots to do and see, also a great for fishing and winding down

Well, its a beach. Nothing special but good view and nice visitor center. Worth to visit if you are in the area, don't plan to spend a lot of time there.

There is a very nice beach education center here if you want to learn or ask a ranger questions, and they also do sea turtle releases during the season. The beach is quite pretty, though there is sometimes some trash that needs picking up, Good parking area and lots of space.

Encountered a huge crowd it being a Sunday and Labor day weekend. Was unable to spend sufficient time as there was a sudden sandstorm and had to leave the beach in a hurry. However found the waters and beach a bit dirty as compared to Mustang Island.

I think because you have to pay the state park entrance fee, they have better facilities and are cleaner than some public beaches we visited on our vacation. We were lucky enough to snag a picnic table with shade (there are only maybe 4-5 so we were really fortunate!). The walk from the parking lot isn’t far but the sand gets h-o-t! We didn’t check out the visitors center but we we ever visit CC again, I’d definitely visit this beach/park again.

Was greeted by some super nice park hosts Carol and Lloyd. Very friendly and accommodating. I payed $8 a night. Expect a 10 dollar national park fee if there's a attendant. Grounds are very clean. Sand is nice on the feet. Great breeze off the gulf if your into that. Me, I like it. Bathrooms have functioning toilets and ground temp showers. Nice tables on the beach are a bonus. Outside the park is a Rv dump station and fresh water refill stations

This beach is beautiful for relaxing. Not a great place to swim due to the rip tides. I am not sure if this is always the case, but it was while we were there. There are frequent nature talks for those that come to learn and a crazy diverse amount of birds. This beach has amenities including restrooms, showers, and covered picnic benches on the beach. Overall, we enjoyed our visit.

Love love love! People talk about Florida and California, but I think Texas beaches are fantastic! Sadly there were warnings of red tide, but we didn't see any evidence, and didn't experience any problems. The sand here is white and feels like flour on your feet. It's so soft and feels amazing between your bare toes!

The visitor is a must stop! They have all the touristy stuff, but they have tons of interesting information about the beach, and the turtles, and the two rangers/volunteers were awesome. They were older gentleman, and had a lot of fantastic information and were a lot of fun to talk to!

The beach was clean, the water was clear, and it was a gorgeous day! I could have stayed here all day, but sadly circumstances prevented us from spending that much time here. They had showers, but no feet showers, which was too bad. But the soft flour sand comes off easily with baby wipes so it's not too bad.

I love this place, and would love to come back and spend more time here. It's gorgeous, and someday will come and see the release of the baby sea turtles!

We have visited many beaches, but this was the first time we have driven on one. It was very clean with plenty of space for everyone. We did visit during the winter, but the weather was nice.

Once we discovered this little gem, we also found out they have camp sites and tent sites as well, so if you want to spend the night it is possible as well. Very nice and not too crowded especially during peak season. Great location and family friendly.

Has shower facilities and covered deck at park facility for sitting and eating. Small store for forgotten necessities or cold drinks. Beach goes for 80 miles, but don't get caught at south end when high tide comes in as the beach narrows. Only a mile from Bird Island windsurf beach.

Most unique and safe beach close to Corpus Christi Texas. A fun family type beach for swimming fishing and camping area. Close to restrooms. Rv type camping without hookups. Clean and drivable roads.

Easy to walk to the beach. Great visitors centre. Lots of families having fun? Watch out for small jellyfish in water. Gentle waves, great for children.

Love this beach - super clean - informative. Great information for turtle lovers as well as offering information on local flora and fauna. Costs more but well worth it.

This is a no vehicle beach in the National Park ($10) and you have to walk in from the parking lot. I prefer the Padre/Mustang Island year long beach pass $12, and I have access to all the other beaches on both islands, plus I can drive to a secluded area, use washrooms and have immediate access to garbage and recycling bins. I can unload my stuff right there with ease, plus there are many beach access points.

As far as Texas beaches go, this was a nice area. It's much less crowded, especially during Spring Break. It's more remote and one of the few beaches where horse riding is allowed.

there is nothing like getting up earley in the morning and going to the beach seeing the sun rise and getting to see baby sea turtes get let go to the wild

This is the perfect beach for a quiet getaway with family of someone special. Usually not a lot of traffic or hard core partiers!! You can also camp and fish here!

I already did a review about the Padre Island National Seashore, but these are one and the same, as far as I can tell. It does cost $10 a car to enter but it is well worth it! Be sure to check out the visitors center!

Drove down to the beach from Corpus Christi. The facilities were nice. Did not stay very long as it was just a sight seeing trip to see what the "fuss" was a bout.

Great visitor center. Lovely beach you can drive through. Many birds even though there was a lot of people. There is a lot of trash that comes from the gulf and there is a big effort to clean up. If you take a walk, the will give you a bag to collect trash.

This beach is part of Padre Island National Seashore and is on the Gulf Coast about 20 minutes from Corpus Christi. Admission to the park is $10/car (good 7 days) and they accept access passes. Malachite Beach area features a campground, parking, and a visitor center with exhibits, bath-house, restroom, picnic tables, observation decks, gift shop and information desk. The rangers are very friendly and helpful. A long boardwalk ramp leads from the visitor center over the dunes to the beach and it is suitable for wheelchairs. The sand at the end of the ramp is soft but special beach wheelchairs with fat balloon tires are available for loan (see rangers at visitor center). In the summer baby sea turtle hatchings are released on the beach (see website for schedules). There is no food for sale here so bring a picnic. Pets must be leashed and are not allowed at the visitor center or on the beach behind it with the shade ramadas. There is a separate trail and beach area for pets north of the visitor center. A short distance south of Malachite Beach there is an access point where you can drive onto the beach. It's hard-packed and smooth enough for the first five miles to allow low-clearance 2WD drive vehicles, though it's best at low tide.

Our in- laws were rv camping with our two older children and cousins. 5 children ages 12, 9, 6, 4 and 9 months.
It was excellent. Pretty white, fluffy sand, nature hikes, beaches that were easy to play on and get to from the camp site. Older boys fished for days and did some 4- wheeling in an off road area.
There was a turtle release and Jr. Ranger program. I was pleasantly surprised. The night time temps were high 70s. Rv generator turn off time in 10 pm. It was cool and comfortable. It did get really breezy, but great time to unplug for a few days ! FYI almost no cell service :)

The beach was very clean and well maintained. The sand was soft on the feet and the waves were really relaxing. It was really hot in Corpus Christi but being on the beach was very cool and pleasant. It also was not crowded. Plenty of room on the beach. There was also facilities there and a cute little gift shop . The kids picked out some really neat books for our journey home.

Lovely peaceful Nature Reserve but the day we visited Malaquite Beach it was boiling hot and were greeted with lots of dead fish washed up, dead crabs and a seagull. Not the place you want to be with a chance something in the water that may have caused this. With regret we retreated back to the car and went elsewhere.

I can’t say enough about the beaches in Texas! Gorgeous! This beach has bathroom facilities, indoor showers and a little gift shop. There is a small cost to enter but totally worth it. This part of the beach does not allow driving on,. Great place to camp with nic people all over. I just wish people would be respectful and pick up their trash. It’s heartbreaking when you see trash in the beaches.

i love the beach!. I drove from Houston and spent two days there. It is not crowded, water is very clean, wave is just all right for fun for kids and adults, sand is soft and white powdered. The kids enjoyed it very well.
No safety guard for the beach, so watch out your kids.
The dress changing area and the shower area are semi private which is the only thing I would complain.
But it definitely worth the trip. I would highly recommend it. 10 times better than Galveston.

We love Malaquite! The visitor's center parking lot has nice parking but, if you've got 4-wheel drive, I suggest you drive on down the beach! Aim to go during low tide so you can hunt for shells, sand dollars, and starfish -- just beware of the jelly fish! Take your meat tenderizer, just in case. There is usually tar on the beach so you may also want dish soapl to help clean up afterward.

I loved my trip to Malaquite Beach on the Padre Island National Seashore. There is a welcome center with shower and changing facilities. The beach is easy to access and there is an area where you can camp on the beach. The next time I go I will take advantage of the camping area. When you get a chance to go to this beach take a minute to just stand on the beach close your eyes and just listen to the Gulf of Mexico crash into the shore, it can be life affirming.

This beach is not visited much. Plenty of room for everyone. This is Padre Island National Seashore campground area.
Lots of marine life. Fish are close to shore and lots of pelicans.
You can walk for miles.

Malaquite Beach. Get your gear, food and drink. Get ready for a great experience and nature as you never seen before.
The roar of the waves, the wind in your ears, and the salty air are waiting for you to enjoy.
Aquatic life just about everywhere, and the variety of birds and critters is amazing.
Seagulls are not bashful and will come eat out of your hand, the starfish are plentiful, and the jellyfish will make their presence known.(Fresh water only enhances the sting, use vinegar I was told by a Park Ranger).
Walk, wade, explore. It's there.
Bring you sun screen, and a superior insect repellent. While not a problem on the shoreline, going inland by the marshes can bring out the skeeters with their own airstrip.
Enjoy the day!

The visitors' center is informative (of course)- there is a nice display of photos that tell you what is around and what you may likely see. The staff is friendly and informative- but the gentleman we spoke with was not really "a bird person". I suggest you get a bird list from an online source if that's what you're doing there, otherwise- also a great place for kids and there was a BIG field trip with several happy day campers when we were there (weekday). Camping in available close by.... and swimming and sand play

Nice area for backing truck up to and walking, having a picnic or just swimming and wading in the ocean here. Love this area of the island

We went there for an evening and camping. good thing is that you can drive your call on to the shore and also it is well maintained with washrooms as well.

This place was serene. It's something about hearing the waves of the water. It takes you to such a peaceful place. You'll definitely enjoy it as much as we did.

This is a great beach. There is no driving allowed so you have to park and walk.it's the only beach that is still clean in august. The rest have been junked up by terrible dirty people all summer long. If you visit this beach, please clean up after yourself.

My Husband and I enjoyed Padre Island National Seashore’s Malaquite Beach. It is near the entrance of the National Seashore. The beach is one of the nicest beaches in the Corpus Christi / Port Aransas area. There were not many seashells on the beach. We also enjoyed the Malaquite visitor’s center a couple miles down the road.

The beach was very nice and very clean! The bathroom facilities were quite nice, and the benches and picnic tables provided were great as well. The cost of our camping trip was pretty low, and it was a really great value. Definitely the best beach I've been to in Texas, and I'm from Texas. I would say our trip was really nice overall. The one downside was that there was very little in terms of lighting, and that some of the other campers were inconsiderate about crabbing very late at night near our tent, which woke us up because of the noise and the light. I would definitely stay here again!

I love this beach because it is quiet. There are no cars to worry about. You can park your car on pavement. It has good showers and bathroom facilities. But the beach itself is pristine and less crowded.

When we want to get off grid Malaquite Beach is the best campsite for our crew and us. Yep. If you drive deep down Malaquite Beach you can escape cell phones, electricity and many other trappings of our era. Simply put this is where real camping starts. As for the fishing, its great! See you there.

My family and I enjoyed a display of Kemp's Riley turtles being released.
Pros:
Great place to learn more about turtles.
Very clean beach.
Over all very educational.
Most families and individuals experience pressure while seeing the young turtles.
Very useful facility with pristine and clean accommodations, such as, public toilets, vending machines, shaded tables, and a gift shop mainly center around Kemp Riley turtles.
Is a non-profit organization so all proceeds go to a great cause.

Cons
Personally I would not bring young kids, not very interesting for them.
It is in no way a hands-on experience, you never touch the turtles.
Gift Shop prices are especially high.
You have to wake up unusually early if you want to get the facts before you go.

One of the many beaches around Corpus Christi. Great place for a stroll. It is like all the other local beaches. Easily accessable and available for all activities

Take a nice relaxing drive along the beach. Sit and watch the waves crashing onto shore or for a reasonable fee you can pitch a tent and stay awhile. Amazing views and wildlife galore. Love this place!

Away from crowds of people. Peaceful nature and scenic seascapes. Nice sandy beach with sand dunes. 10 miles from North Padre Island's restaurants.

Getting onto Malaquite Beach can be a challenge. Getting your equipment over the sand dune is tough. But once you're planted, it's beautiful. Not loaded with beachgoers. Lots of pelicans flying in formation above you. Nice, clean sand without too many shells.

Malaquite has a visitor center with restrooms, showers, good parking, and other amenities.

The beach is flat and good for sand castle building. The have showers for the adventurers who go in the water. The beach was quiet and did have picnic tables. Only vending machines for refreshments.

This is a beautiful beach. It's worth the extra drive and the $10 to get into the park. I think both of these factors are what keeps it from being super crowded. We visited on a Tuesday and a Friday, neither day was extremely busy, but Friday was certainly more. There is a nice picnic area with bathrooms, vending machines, etc. at the entrance. My only advice is to take bug spray. Friday we got quite a few bites sitting back away from the water.

P.S. The $10 is good for 7 days! Just keep the receipt!

The day after Labor Day there were almost no people on the beach and we were surprised that there was very little trash left by crowds. You can pick up a free trash bag at the ranger station.
The dunes and vegetation on the dunes are beautiful
The sand is not sugar white, and there were almost no shells, so don't expect a sugar sand Florida beach with lots of shells and you will not be disappointed. You can walk for miles.

You can't go wrong taking a day trip to this spot! While easily accessible it's location within the National Seashore means it's serene and puts you right in touch with nature; there are numerous sea turtle nests along the beach.

Malaquite Beach is a jewel along the Texas Gulf coast as part of the Padre Island National Seashore. With the adjacent NPS Visitor Center and its showers, restrooms, interpretive programs, and gift shop, this vehicle-free stretch of beach is the perfect for a day’s outing year round. Visitors are in for a treat from May to September when the hatching and releasing of baby sea turtles occur.

Malaquite Beach is a great place to take your family to visit the Padre Island Natonal Seashore area without driving on the beach. They have everything you need while visiting. Shops, educational information, restrooms and showers. The beach is maintained well and you do not have to worry about vehicles driving on the beach while you and your family are having a great time on the beach. There is a lot of paved parking for everyone. It's a great place to visit!

I stumbled upon this park by accident ! What a detour ! There is a 10$ car fee or free for military . We happened to visit during the week so much of the park was empty which was perfect ! Restrooms were clean plenty of showers ! Beach was perfect ! Clean sandy beaches perfect waves water was a beautiful color unlike the murkey color elsewhere! I can't wait to return !

This beach was so clean and beautiful! The sand was really nice and soft too. The visitor center was nice and there were bathrooms and a shower to wash the sand off. I thought it was worth the $10 fee to go here!

My husband, some friends and I enjoyed Malaquite Beach. The beach was beautiful and clean. We found only 4 unbroken seashells as we walked from the campground to the visitor’s center (about 1 mile). There were a few seagulls and sand pipers.

It's been a couple of years since we last visited Malaquite. The quality of the water and beach has not changed. It's still exceptionally beautiful, partially secluded and lovely warm waves in the summer. Another beautiful beach vacation capped by multiple sea turtle sitings and swimming with dolphins - both completely unexpected but very fun to experience!

What a beautiful day at a beautiful place. The water is warm. The sun is shining. The on shore breeze is keeping us cool. The waves are big enough to be fun but not intimidating, and the crowds are small.

Beautiful Beach- clean water. Tons of clams and birds. Plenty of space to play. Clean and family- friendly. visitor center with showers to get cleaned up after Beach. The restrooms could have been cleaner and the showers are not private but handy for a day at the beach.

water temperature is perfect even when it was 90 degrees. soft and beautiful sand. very clean. covered picnic tables on the beach and near the gift house. two restrooms and two fresh water rinsing areas. also restroom, shower and changing facility but not advisable due to being crowded and very sandy. nice observatory area with lots of parking. waves were about 2’. good for all ages, beach wheelchais available for rent

Love this beach! It is incredibly clean and considerably less crowded than other Padre Island beaches. We had a great day playing in the ocean and relaxing in the sand. It was so peaceful and beautiful. The bathrooms and pavilion area were very neat and clean. They also have a nice shower area to rinse off once your done at the beach. This is well worth the $10 per vehicle entrance fee!

This was a good place to go to the beach. The area was very clean, and they have a nice visitor center, shop. There are also showers to help get rid of the sand. There are quite a few shaded shelters and picnic tables for eating on the beach, and picnic tables near the visitors center and showers that are shaded.

We were visiting in Corpus so we drove out to see the beach. There is a small parking lot but, they allow you to actually drive out onto the beach. The sand is pure and the water blue and the whole area is very clean. You can bring your coolers, chairs, umbrellas and all you need in the back of your car. Then just pull out onto the beach and unload. It is a very nice place.

Natural settings, lovely beach. Camped here in a class C motorhome and listened to the waves at night. Restrooms and showers. No stores so. Ring everything you need.

Fun in the sun, saw surfers and families playing and having a great time. Went on a romantic relaxing moonlight walk. Had a great time here!

Beach here was great! Not too crowded and had nice shade structures. There is a hub that has showers, bathrooms, a board walk down to the beach and a gift shop/information center. These facilities are well maintained and clean. The park rangers were very friendly and helpful.

We fished, swam and took a stroll down the beach. Water was nice--not super clear but that expected in the gulf...the sand is also super fine so the water picked a lot of it up.

This is our families go to Texas beach spot.

Loved it , the kids enjoyed it as well, it was nice and quiet , not overly crowded at all, I would Go back again

I don't understand the amount of trash on these beautiful beaches.....Is it lack of National Park resources or just a lack of concern?

If you decide to go to the beach, might as well drive here: a few times over better than any other place near Corpus Christi! Park entrance fee is reasonable. Make sure to stop by the visitor's center: the rangers are very helpful. You will learn quite a bit about the reserve. Also, there is a good showers facility. Ask the rangers where to go if you want to walk on the beach and not be bothered by the people who drive on it: there is a stretch where driving is prohibited.

This is a beautiful beach, and a great quiet place to go and enjoy. We visited on a Tuesday the week that school was back in session, so it was just perfect.

Malaquite Beach is located on the Padre Island National Seashore. It is near the end of Park Road 22 on Padre Island. There is plenty of paved parking and the National Seashore Visitors Center is there. There are bathrooms and showers there. They have a small museum showcasing the beach and the park rangers are happy to tell you all about this beach and the entire park. This section of the beach is car free so you don't have to worry about your kids getting hit by a car here. During the winter months this is a bird watchers paradise as many birds migrate through here. This is a very clean, well maintained beach and one not to be missed if you are in the Corpus Christi area.

A friend and I camped out on this beach for a night. It was relatively peaceful, and in the early morning we saw the sand crabs running from one underground den to another. There were toilet facilities and outdoor showers. This end of the island is much less developed than South Padre, which is a plus for me.

I'm not sure, but I think this is the beach you first come to when you enter the gates for the Padre Island National Seashore. I've also done a review on that thinking they were all the same.
This is the part of the beach that is closest to the visitor center & museum.
Most of what I wrote in my review of the PINS is applicable here.
One thing I mentioned in the other review was that there are restrooms & showers at the visitor center.
As some other reviewers have noted, the bathrooms smell horrible, & the showers aren't great. That's the only negative.

Our regular beach trips just like any other, but today’s was special. First look was with disbelief. What is that squeamish thing moving in the beach water. Okay, the girls weren’t expecting to catch a sea horse for sure. But here it is. The pictures don’t give it much justice. I’ve said it, and I’ll say it again. Malaquite Beach it definitely worth the drive.

BEAUTIFUL, quiet & relaxing beach. It's easy to forget your worries and excape daily worries here. Fishing is nice too.

Love this beach. But this visit the beach was closed because of high water on it so there was no beach. But we still enjoyed Malaquite anyway

This is where you can find some private beach. To do so you will need a 4wd vehicle. Be courteous to others on the beach. Local fishermen don't want to be crowded. Pick up after yourself and be mindful of the tide chart.

Near the NPS Visitor Center and Pavillon, this is a wonderful place to enjoy the serenity of the waves and beach creatures. At the Visitor Center, there are lavatories and showers for use. There is plenty of parking at the Visitor Center lot.

Loved it secluded beach... went in March winds were high, water was freezing, watch for under tow. . With little kids..

Understandably off the beaten track (phones do not work) but well worth the trek. Rarely crowded and a great place to kick back and enjoy the Gulf. Bring a kite - the winds are endless.

Nice clean beach with few people. Easy to get to. Very isolated with no stores or hotels so it offers a lot of peace and quiet. There is a campground if you like camping. There are hotels in a nearby town. There is a National Park Service visitor center with a boardwalk to the beach. The visitor center also has some information about the beach and the Padre Island National Seashore.

It was a wonderful spot with lots of sunshine and very few people on the day we visited this beach. It was the very first beach my grandson had visited and was loved by all...

I grew up in Corpus Christi and came to what is now Malaquite Beach many days after school once I acquired a car. That was 50+ years ago, and I've not lost my fascination with the sea. Padre Island was rugged and barren when I was young... virtually endless in time, space and water. . Today the privately owned portions of the Island are moving as quickly as possible to look like Florida -- with so many condominiums that the sea itself becomes lost to all but the wealthy and privileged.

Thank God for the National Park Service and the nationalization of what is now Padre Island National Seashore, still primitive, still majestic and still beautiful in an understated way.Endless seeming and still open to all -- if they can pay (but fortunately not much required).

That being said my visit this October was disappointing. There was a "red tide," a bloom of toxic algae that kills millions of fish; the seaweed accumulation stank; and a large shark ate half of a porpoise live just offshore. But, this is part of what makes the park so wonderful. It is real, real, real ...

I only get to the Island a few times a year but normally October is the best time of year -- the days are warm, the humidity is tolerable, the breeze fresh, and the never-very-crowded beaches almost empty.

I'm already looking forward to next October. Maybe we will have slowed climate change and there won't be another red tide to ruin the day.

The nicest of all beaches in Corpus Christi. While some days there may be some crowds, you don't have to walk far to find your "private" area on the beach. There are plenty of areas where driving on the beach is not allowed, which is a good thing especially if you have little kids. If you are 62, don't forget to buy your National Parks Senior Pass which is a lifetime pass for all national parks and national refuges (and applies here).

Making the drive out to Malaquite Beach @ The National Seashore is worth the time and effort. The beach itself is very clean...mostly free from litter. That is a big deal compared to the other beaches in the area. You park in a parking lot, and walk either down to the beach or up to the pavilion. In the pavilion area are rangers who can tell you all kinds of things about what you are seeing, picnic tables, a wonderful view of the water (while sitting in full shade), and a bath and shower house that is included with the entrance fee to the park. We always bring soap, shampoo, towels and a clean set of clothes so we can shower and get dressed before heading out. It makes the drive home soooo much more comfy. For those of the modest set I will warn you the shower stalls have no doors. That said, I go to the back of the room, and there is generally very little foot traffic when we are there (but we choose to come early mornings and stay only until mid to late morning...that way we really do avoid the crowds of the afternoons). I also want to caution that in the heat of summer the restroom and bath-house are very warm...uh...hot! The showers only have cold water, but it feels oh so wonderful! After your shower you will want to towel off and dress quickly to make a hasty exit of the building.

We also like the park and walk down to the beach set up, as then you don't have to worry about cars driving back and forth in the same areas that you play. Keeping an eye on our lively granddaughter is activity enough around the ocean...why add moving cars to the mix? There are a few moving vehicles in the area though. They are all staff/turtle patrol for the National Seashore.

We were lucky enough to venture out one day in June to find the water crystal clear (that is not a typical trait for the gulf waters in the Corpus area), with literally hundreds of schools of baby Spade Fish. All the kiddos on the beach were squealing with delight as these tiny creatures swam among them.

When you come early it assures you a choice of picnic tables. We always arrive with a picnic in tow. It helps make our time there complete.

Always bring PLENTY of sun block, or you could live to regret it!

After a long day of running, swimming, splashing and building sandcastles, you go home feeling tired, yet clean and happy.

A natural raw beach, true beautiful beach, some parts a four wheel truck will be necessary, depends how far you are going.

We really enjoyed the beach even though it was further then some of the other beaches on Mustang Island. The water was very warm but the waves were strong on the days we were there. Also we did not find many sea shells near the main beach area. The did have some very nice picnic areas with plenty of shade. I would definitely recommend visiting there during any stay near Corpus Christi.

this place was clean and the views are great. hurrican harvey caused 2 people to fall in love and get married on the beach. a small but beautiful wedding. you don't have to get married to enjoy it! just go and walk the long beach. it's really nice.

Stay on the beach with my RV for 2 weeks, it was wonderful getting up early morning haveing a cup of coffee and watch the sun rise, just beautiful and fish all day. Visit the city of Corpus Christi at night. The cost is nothing no drinking water the neerst store is 22 miles inland.

This beach was extremely clean.. I didn't think white powder sand it possible here in Texas and was very pleasantly surprised. I will definitely visit again

I am totally prejudiced so take my review with a grain of salt. I like the pristine, natural aspect of Malaquite Beach. If you want lots of tourists, swimming pools, this beach is not for you.
I grew up in Corpus Christi and remember an unpopulated beach. Malquite is as close as I can get to that. Yes, it has showers, restrooms, and a giftshop. Yes, it has a place to learn to windsurf on its Laguna Madre side. But there really aren't a lot of amenities and that's what I like about it.

Malaquite Beach is basically at the end of a nice drive down Padre Island. You can even drive on a section of the beach but we decided to take a stroll instead. It was a little windy and cool so we waded in a few spots but didn't go for a swim. We could see some huge dumpsters full of garbage that we were told washed during the hurricanes last fall but thanks to the many volunteers the beach was very clean. It also was a bonus to take the beautiful drive in a Mustang convertible.

The primitive campsites at PINS Malaquite Beach are very well maintained, and there is enough variety of sites that a tent is not drowned out by RVs and boat rigs. The showers were spacious and toilets were in good condition. The shore is a close walk away, and breaker dunes provide excellent views of the inland side of the park. Go here for peace, solitude, stargazing, turtle hatching and bird watching.

Was on vacation in October with young kids and we loved it. Quiet and great access to the beach. The facility has big changing rooms and showers on the board walk so I did not end up with a bunch of sand in the car at the end of the day. The gift shops have reasonably priced items and items for use on the beach. It's a bit out of the way and a longer drive than other beaches on Padre Island but worth it.

After reading the reviews for all the beaches, we decided to go to Malaquite to go shelling. The beach was a much longer drive from our beach house than the other beaches but the drive was nice and quiet and not full of buildings or traffic. The beach itself had a lot of debris scattered about that had washed up on the surf. I realize there isn't much that can be done about the trash that washes up on shore. We weren't able to find any shells at this beach, but the kids found tons of sand crabs that they enjoyed watching as they scurried around.

Enjoyed the walk on the beach, picked a few seashells and waded in water. Park personel were very informative. Would to come back when turtles are laying eggs or park personnel are releasing hatchlings back into the Gulf.

Very secluded beach, good parking, bathrooms, snack/ gift shop. Great if you want to get away from the crowded local beaches, and also great for long walks along the water.

Long wait but worth it, grandson LOVED it. Good weather, clean shower area. Will return😎 Beach area clean friendly beach patrol staff.

I used to enjoy going to this beach. It was clean and well maintained. It has been managed by the National Park Service for decades. I guess with budget cuts nationwide it's not that great of a beach to visit anymore. Probably better to hang up around the hotels on the island, or just drive on up toward Port A. Save the $10 and the extra 15 minutes of drive time.

Malaquite Beach is and always will be my favorite beach! I have gone here since I was a child and will love to take my children when I have them!

Operated by the National Park Service for this center houses restrooms and changing rooms, covered picnic area, souvenir store and information desk. You can feel safe here where there are a lot of park rangers here.

The parking lot is huge. The store/information room is very nice where it gives a brief history of Padre Island and wildlife living here. Most items sold are targeted to kids but I purchased a kit where I can sponsor a sea turtle. The restrooms are clean for being near a beach. There are drink and snack machines here but not sure they were working properly. Important to clean up any trash.

There is a ramp which extends to the beach throughout the natural sand dunes. The beach is really nice and wide providing some covered picnic tables. On this day there was not too many people here so it felt we had the beach to ourselves. Kids were busy playing in the sand. You will see different variety of sea birds hanging around but remember do not feed any seagulls. The water is really clear here versus Galveston.

Keep any eye out where you will find small mammals and crabs in the dunes.

They have a small museum which is excellent to see it explain the history of the area. I enjoy talking to the Park Rangers. They are very friendly and have a good knowledge of the area and are very helpful in directing you to the places you need to see. They also have walking tours.

We got eaten alive by mosquitoes. We were almost the only car there that day and it wasn’t supposed to rain, but then it did so it was just a waste of $10 and we got eaten alive and did not get to enjoy the beach at all. Padre was not for us. This was the only beach with a normal parking lot and I’m not interested in driving my little hatchback onto the sand. I wouldn’t come again.

We stopped at the visitor center and walked down to the beach. On the day we were there which was a Wednesday there were very few people there. It was also a windy day which might have contributed to the lack of people. The employees inside the visitor center were very helpful in instructing us of the sea turtles and when they usually lay their eggs and what happens after that. We were about a week too early of when that event starts to happen. We enjoyed walking along the beach. Very nice!

We took a drive over to Malaquite beach in October to see if there had been any damage from Hurricane Harvey. We had been there a few years ago and the good news is that everything seems to be as it was. The place was practically deserted but the ranger at the visitors' centre was knowledgable and very helpful in providing information on the natural aspects of the beach. It is very cool that you can drive your car on the beach though it is tough to imagine sun-bathing with cars going by all the time! In any event, there is a lot of beach so not to worry about it being crowded.
We had intended to see the migrating birds but they were late this year.

When we visited this beach, we had it nearly all to ourselves. It is wonderful that we could stay as long as we wanted without having to worry about closing time. We left shortly after sunset because the mosquitos came out in full force, but if we had had insect repellent, we would have been happy to stay longer. There are great bathrooms and a covered picnic area and observation deck near the visitor’s center. A long boardwalk leads over the dunes down to the beach.

The water was wonderful with waves to play in. There were quite a lot of jellyfish around during our visit. They are certainly pretty. One local that I talked to told us that Portuguese man of war are common at this beach as well. Fortunately, nobody in our group got stung.

Be prepared for a long drive out of town to get to this beach. Bring snacks, extra water, and sunscreen with you. It feels remote, but it is absolutely worth it.

This is one of the great days on a Beach. A perfectly undisturbed barrier island. We spent the day finding shells with so much fun for everyone.

Great beach to drive on no worries about getting stuck in sand. You could spend hours just watching the scenery plenty of portable bathrooms around.

Easter weekend and totally expected this area to be packed. Two hrs from San Antonio so an easy drive. Loved seeing the farms . The beach is amazing. The entrance fee was free. The education area was great. But the beach is the big draw. We didn't have enough tot iem to see all that was still there. We will definite be back and hope to stay longer. Make the effort to see this area. So worth it.

This is the best beach anywhere near Corpus Christi for so many reasons.
No worries about trashing your nice vehicle - just park in the lot & walk to the beach. There is a shower area to clean up in before you leave.
This is also the cleanest sand around so feel free to wear flip flops & wade barefoot in the water.
ALSO, you can bring your wheelchair bound family members because they have several beach wheelchairs you can check out from the pavilion.
Finally, feel free to bring your dog on a leash, but be you will have to access the beach to the left of the pavilion.

We drove the car out on the beach to find a beautiful beach. The beach was clean even with all the people on it for Labor day weekend. While in the water we had no problem. The ocean had a nice sandy bottom we did not need swim shoes.
I would recommend to take chairs and some type of cover from the sun.

We will definitely be back!

Malaquite Beach lies on the Gulf side of Padre Island, a twenty-some minute drive from the inhabited portion of the isle, but well-worth the drive on a paved road (stops soon after) among the dunes to the South. This National Seashore facility has a Ranger station/gift shop, bathrooms, and showers/changing rooms. Additionally the staff organizes short talks and bird tours. A short boardwalk leads to the vast beach itself which is a dream of white sand and bath-temperature water, into which one can wade waist-high seemingly forever. The sea breeze is strong, though, so there are moderate to high waves on the Gulf.

Started a tradition of going each July 4th weekend to watch the release of the baby Sea Turtles. Gorgeous sun rise and the excitement of seeing these little critters being swept out to sea is pretty special.

This is a family-oriented beach in the Padre Island National Seashore. Don't get alarmed if you seem to be driving into nowhere - follow the signs from Park Road 22 and you will get there. I suspect it's not as highly used as other beach areas. It is WONDERFUL! The dunes are beautiful and if you park at the Malaquite Beach Visitors' Center, you'll have easy and quick access to walk down to the beach. The Visitors' Center has tables, a park store, photographs from local artists, educational displays, and really nice restrooms / changing areas. The park rangers we encountered were more than friendly and helpful. There is a rinse-off shower right off the beach to get rid of some of the sand. There are limited benches and picnic tables, but we saw many people bringing their own pop-up tents and lawn chairs. You will enjoy the brown pelicans and gulls who seem to have no fear of people. You aren't supposed to feed them, but you will enjoy seeing them up close. Wonderful memories for our kids!

Very few people, and very clean. Went in April and the water was average, the wind was breezy, sunny.

Great place to visit the beach! Visitors center, restrooms, outdoor showers, wooden walkway to the beach, handy beach store, everything you could want in a beach visit.

yes this is where the sea turtle lay eggs and their babies hatch and crawl to the sea in the springtime. This beach has a nice headquarters with showers and flush toilets. It has a little tourist store with a display. Not sure about people complaining about rude workers there. I find if I am nice and cordial, usually workers are that way back in response.....maybe try that, and see what you get.

The concierge recommended for us to come here to enjoy the beach. BEST part of our trip. We were there the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. I envisioned crowded beach and traffic. This wasn't the case here.

Living in Houston and having a beach house further up the coast, I was pleasantly surprised at the smooth sand and waves. The beach didn't have all the pebbles like in Rockport and the water was clearer than Galveston. There were people along the beach, but we had a lovely spot in the sand. The $10 entrance fee keeps a lot of the crowds away as we travelled to Bobs Pier and it was packed.

There is a nice visitor center with gift shop in addition to bathrooms with showers/changing areas.

This is the beach to visit if you are in town. Cars are not allowed on the beach, so you don't have to worry about getting run over while enjoying the seashore. You can walk for miles. Beautiful seabirds and shells. Truly a local gem. Get a season pass if you live nearby.

The beaches here are very clean. Beautiful to watch sunrises or sunsets. Great to just spend the day loafing around a very clean beach. There is a Visitor's Station there with some hands-on stuff for the kids, showers, and a quickie mart to replenish food and drink before the short trip back to Corpus. So worth the short drive.

We were advised by a local expert to make sure we visited Malachite Beach and we were so happy we did. It might be one of the most beautiful beaches we’ve ever visited. There is a $10 fee ( which I don’t mind supporting as the park was in pristine condition and no vehicles on the beach here) but you can avoid the fee by taking the beach access road just before the park gate. We outfitted ourselves with cheap beach chairs, umbrella and hand cooler at Walmart for about $25. There is no shade except a few partly covered picnic tables so the umbrella is rather important. Spent about 6 hours there on a perfect day, had our snacks, drinks and shade and enjoyed swimming in the clear blue warm waters with the sea birds soaring overhead. Mind the gulls I think they can hear you chew, they are on guard if you have food.
PS: visitor center has flush toilets, showers, ice and vending machines for basic drinks.

Really nice clean sandy beach on Padre Island. Nice visitor center that is very informative. Nice restrooms and a shower area.

review by my 8yr old:
When we went to the beach, it was the holiday and the entrance was free. The water was not so clean but the temperature of the water was perfect. There is a large variety of animals. We have found,7 Jelly fish,5 Crabs, 3 Starfish, and more Sea shells than you can think of. We have love this place and hope to come again.

my review:
My family with 8 and 11 yr old boys had blast catching small crabs. If you watch the sea water recede back, you'll see a crab running back into the ocean. Sprint to it as fast as you can and catch it with a bucket or something. We used plastic bottles cut in half to catch them. There are trillions of live mollusks. You can just scoop them up with hands. Next time I come, I would bringing a large transparent and shallow plastic container(type used under bed), several plastic buckets, plastic shovels, a magnifying glass. You can create your own little aquarium in half an hour! Don't forget to release them before you leave the park. Also bring boogie boards if you got'em.

Got in free with national senior park pass but we'll worth the 10 dollar entrance fee. Visitors center was interesting and air-conditioned! We drove to the end of the 5 Mile limit for regular cars and had three places to ourselves. Clean beach.

We recently drove down to visit this area on the Padre Island National Seashore. We were a little disappointed. There was road construction and we were forced to sit and wait almost 20 min. to proceed down to this beach. This time of year, nothing was available to eat or drink except a beverage machine and a snack machine. This area is kept natural which means the beach is littered with debris. We sat and watched the waves for awhile, but there was nothing much else to do except go through the visitor center which was interesting.

Many of the Corpus Christi Corvette Club members have never been to one of the best kept secrets Corpus Christi has!A must see.Lots of parking.Showers, walk path to beach and 50 plus miles of beach.

You can't beat this all in one coastal destination conveniently close to city limits but worth every minute of the drive!! Gotta go just once...and you'll be sure to return to this favorite Texas spot near multiple wild life refuges...Rain or shine!

Beautiful beach to visit. Came for the kite fest. So cool to see what seemed like hundreds of different kites flying on the island. Brought our dog. Nice to live in a dog friendly community. Will definitely return next year for this. Will also return just for the beauty of the beach/nature. Highly recommend a visit!

Beach here was great! Not too crowded and had nice shade structures. There is a hub that has showers, bathrooms, a board walk down to the beach and a gift shop/information center. The park rangers were very friendly and helpful.

We fished, swam and took a stroll down the beach. Water was nice--not super clear but that expected in the gulf...the sand is also super fine so the water picked a lot of it up.

This is still one of the best places in Texas to Play. Play in the surf, build a sand castle, lay down in the sand and get buries then look to the clouds and day dream. Fish if you so desire and have the license. Breathe and breathe out....just enjoy Nature at it's best on the Texas Coastline of the Gulf of Mexico. It is what you make it. Walk for shells, pick up trash and recycle for the environment, sing and build a camp fire....bring a picnic and build memories for decades to come.

If you prefer your beaches without restaurants, gift shops, and bars, and want to see the island in as untouched a condition as it gets without requiring a 4WD or boat, Malaquite is for you. Bring a picnic lunch, pack out what you bring, and let the kids play in the sand and look for sea shells.

Went last week, before the news came out about the warnings, we were lucky to not catch what was out there. Beach was free of seaweed and jellies. Debris as always, but managable. Water wasnt cold and very relaxing. Hot, but nothing an umbrella and sunscreen with lots of water cant fix

I have Alpha-Gal so it is pretty hard for me to enjoy going out and about. This beach is secluded and I believe that grilling on the beach is not allowed. This is very important to me and to anyone with Alpha-Gal because fumes can be a trigger for a reaction. I am not 100% on this because I am reviewing this beach on memory, but I do remember leaving the beach and feeling great. Also, I am highly allergic to shellfish, and the showers help with this allergy as well. It has a shower that I can go into and rinse off with along with public restrooms that I can choose to take a shower if I am wanting to get detailed with my shower. Oh, and last but not least, I lost my phone in the restroom there last year. I thought it was gone forever. A friend received a call from a park ranger stating that my phone was found and I was able to retrieve it easily. Basically, this is my favorite beach!

Great beach with outdoor and indoor showers with restrooms. Benches out by beach....low people traffic for such a nice beach.

Wonderful sand. Clean area. Readily available shower to rid of sand, nice boardwalk from the Visitor Center to beach. Beautiful waves. We did not see too many shells.

Clean endless ocean, we were not prepared actually. Next time one need to take everything with us - on what to sit and lay, what to drink and eat.

Gorgeous place! So beautiful, so quiet, so wild! We went several times during last year and each time it was an amazing experience. it is a Heaven for birds and fish. Lats time we went there, in September, we witnessed a true National Geographic scene, with hundreds of birds in the sky chasing after hundreds of jumping fish. Sooo beautiful! The water is blue and warm, and the facilities around the beach are great. The beach is isolated in the middle of the reservation, and is worth the Cancun beaches. A true little paradise in Texas!

This is the put in point for most visitors who want to walk/drive on the long expanse of sandy beaches that makes up Padre Island national seashore. From this access point, you can drive about 65 miles south to the southern tip of North Padre island.

Absolutely beautiful, quiet, great beach, highly recommend for families or just you and your significant other for some quiet time! Loved every minute of it, I didn't want to leave

This beach was excellent! We went on Tuesday, May 17 during vacation and there were only a few other people there. The beach does have a bit of debris at times, but we had a great time. DO make the trip.

We had a quick family getaway, it was almost deserted on a Friday afternoon. Probably 10 families or so, ample and refreshing tides, kids loved it, sunbathe friendly, changing rooms available at the visitor's center. Will most likely visit again...

My family really enjoyed our nice relaxing time while at Malaquite Beach. The water was clear, the beach clean, the sand was great and crowds didn’t exist. We had our own private area, people were there but plenty of space to spread out.

Just being in Padre island is amazing, and this place tops it off the scenery is wonderful, I wish they had more showers and restrooms well be going again

Great for a morning walk and experiencing a great beach! If you can time your visit to go on the Ranger guided beach walk, you will learn a lot. I did, and I've lived at the North end of the island for 21 years. This is a great national park any time of the year, for birding, fishing, beach play or just relaxing. From the Malaquite Beach visitor's center you have 4 miles of walking only beach. From there the rest of the 60 miles or so is vehicle accessible, which is not always good for walkers. After the first 5 miles, a 4 wheel drive is mandatory. Remember though, this is saltwater and be sure and wash the undercarriage of your vehicle if you drive on it.

This is a beautiful beach with clean water and sand. You can drive on the beach and park right up to your spot. Camping option is available too.

It is free to public. Has a nice picnic area, and shower facilities. One can spend anywhere from one to four hours. Be sure to pack snacks and lunch to enjoy the visit

This is one of the nices beaches in North Padre. We visited a year ago and decided to come back to the exact same spot this year with our entire family. The only issue is that folks did not obey the pet rules and had their dogs all over the place. But other than that, we enjoyed ourselves.

The sea gulls were very aggressive and ate our food off the bbq grill. But next time we will bring the grill cover.

We had an amazing time watching endangered turtle release. The national park ranger with a Ph.D. In marine biology was fascinating. It was great seeing all of the Kemp's Ridley Turtles walking across the beach into the surf to swim out to sea.
The rangers are all very knowledgable and patient. In addition, the videos in the visitors center are riveting.
Even in August, there was a delightful morning breeze at the 7 a.m. release. There is plenty of parking and they even have beach wheelchairs.

A very serene place. A bit foggy when I was there but still a wonderful place. The shoe of National Seashore is wonderful

The beach was nearly vacated. So quiet and very enjoyable. White, soft sand and the waves were rolling in with a steady, warm to cool breeze.

there is something adventurous about driving out to Malaquite - one of the longest stretches of undeveloped beach in the world! Sea turtles, gulls, shells, coyotes - a nature lovers delight. Brought my mom out at sunset and I thought she would cry it was so pretty. There is even a big tree with birds in the surf - guess a storm washed it up. Saw my first deer tracks in the dunes. Love it

We go there every year! Great spot for families, no loud music or craziness happening. The staff are available along with a first aid office if stung by jellyfish. Upon entering the beach, you can pay for the day or purchase an annual pass for unlimited visits for $20. Clean even though pets are allowed with a separate entrance. There are facilities for changing and showers for both men and women. Picnic areas are avilable first come first serve.

Great beautiful beach part is free drive on entering in the Padre Island National Seashore before the fee booth. The other half is national park fee area.

Wish there were closer places to eat but we loved it and are planning to return again the $10 for 1 week fee is not too bad.

What a beautiful seashore! We loved spending the day on the beach and are so happy about the sea turtle rescue program!

Great beach. Clean and quiet. Stop by the visitors center for snacks and a bit of education. The staff is friendly. There is bathrooms and showers. Buy the annual pass for $20 if you are going to be around for awhile.

We thoroughly enjoyed visiting the national seashore. The senior pass from the National Parks administration worked beautifully. The free birding tour was very interesting.

A lovely quiet stretch of beach not very used by the tourists. It is a bit of a drive to arrive there but well worth it. There is a small store with information and souvenirs, a change room with showers, and Park Rangers who are more than willing to explain the native life around the area. This trip we were able to join about 100 other individuals who had come out to watch the release of the newly hatched Texas Kemp’s Ridley Sea turtles. It is an experience that not that many people have the opportunity to see. If you like a quiet, pristine beach to walk and look for shells this is the place to come.

Been visiting Port Aransas beach and North Padre Island beaches for 50 plus years , but nothing along Texas coast compares to Malaquite Beach ( just south of North beach )
. So clean ! So remote ! Sometimes you cannot see a vehicle in any direction ! No internet service ! A BLESSING in desquise ! Been to beaches in Florida
which are nice but you always have to park your vehicle and hike long distances to get to beach ! Not in Texas !
Pull right up to waters edge , drop tailgate and life is good ! Texans don’t realize how well we have it !

Went to see the newly hatched turtles head for the sea. We visited Malaquite and the beach was gorgeous- clean, not crowded. In the afternoon watch for tide coming in as you may need a a pickup or four wheel

Great place to visit with the family. Cars are not allowed in certain areas. Lots of different birds to see. Very clean.

Friends and family visited this beach during the Labor Day weekend. You have to park your car in parking lot and walk down to beach with your goodies, but you don't have to fight with vehicle traffic and worry as much with the kids. It also was surprisingly quiet; no crazy teens blasting loud music. We got there early to get a table and patio.
$10 /vehicle.

Good for picnic areas for families and not crowded! The visitors center has showers and restrooms too. For the sea turtles hatchlings release the malaquite visitor center is the meeting point. I can spend the whole day here. The gift shop has shirts for souvenirs and for first aid too. Very peaceful beach! I want to go back!

We were there on a cloudy day but it was still beautiful. Not very busy during the week but it was November. In the Summertime it is very busy. Good place to go.

My recommendation to anyone visiting town would be to skip all attractions and straight head to the Malaquite beach! Miles long stretch of untouched, beautiful beach. The beach is extremely clean and not crowded at all. Driving on the beach was a wonderful and unique experience.

Went to see the turtle release that is a true bucket list item. Very educational and a fantastic experience. The staff was great and so helpful at the Visitor's center. The sunrise was spectacular!

Go down far enough and you will have miles of beach to your self. Every once in a while someone will drive by and wave.

For just $10 you can get a day pass into the national seashore park. This beach is absolutely gorgeous. Pristine and very secluded. We felt like we have the entire place to ourselves. And one morning they did a sea turtle release which was a real fun activity for kids.

This is a great beach to visit when you're in the area, especially during the week when it's not too crowded. It's serene and peaceful with very nice facilities. It's well maintained by the NPS staff.

We only visited the beach to attend a release of baby Kemp's Ridley turtles to the Gulf. But the park rangers were great. The small presentation before we walked down to the beach was very informative. It was noticeable by the care and attention given to the babies that the park rangers felt their responsibilities were important. This is a Must See activity!

No development so you can just be together. No cell service for us so kids just chilled and played. Take a lunch, tables available. Nice but small visitors center and good interpretation signage. Places to bath and change, lots of parking. Staff really nice. Storm today, they walked down to beach to tell us what Rader was showing. Very nice of them. Quiet, no traffic noise. Learn about sea turtles.

We came early to watch a turtle release and had a lot of fun watching the Ridley's make it to the water. Turtle races are a lot more fun than it sounds! :) Pretty beach and nice showers and changing rooms.

I’ve lived in Corpus Christi for 30 years so I know the area (and grew up on the beaches in San Diego). If you have small children and don’t want to worry about cars running them over, this is the place to be. FYI, Texans are passionate about their “freedom” to drive on the beach. But driving is not allowed here (it is allowed south of here towards Little Shell, but not here). At this beach you will find families rather than party seekers. Hardly ever have encountered loud music. This is worth the extra drive if you want a family friendly beach

This is the beach that is behind the visitor’s center. It has picnic tables and showers. We visited in the end of December and some people were swimming. The sand is packed closest to the water, but otherwise very soft and powdery elsewhere. Dogs on leashes were allowed. It was not very crowed.

It is about 20 min. outside Corpus, but it is definitely worth the short drive. The sand is clean. The water is so clear, almost like a Caribbean beach in Texas.

Decades ago my family used to camp out here. Except for the fact that beach is narrower than it was in the past, it is still lovely throughout the day & evening. I regularly come here when I go back to my hometown, and always stop at the National Seashore visitor's center to pick up a trash bag to fill. Since I have an Eagle Pass & don't have to pay the $10 per car admission, I "pay my way" by removing an hour's worth of trash - & you can pick up a lot in an hour. The photo ops are great: sunrise on water; sunset on water; birds; people fishing; lots of critters; and at this time of the year, blooming vines.

Rather than parking at the visitors center, we opted to drive to the end of the paved road and walk north. The feeling of freedom being the only ones on the beach aside from the birds was exhilarating. This is a gorgeous stretch of sand, extending as far as the eye can see in both directions. Loved it.

This beach is an easy walk from the parking lot and there are showers to rinse off the sand and salt before you drive 45 minutes back to CC.

I think I would have enjoyed myself better if the Red Tide wasn't in.The drive from downtown Corpus Christi was an easy one. Admittance to the park was $10 which covers for 7 DAYS! You can beat that bargain. The Red Tide was in, so there was few visitors. However, there were plenty of soft shell crabs. The was little seaweed and what was there was dried. The water seemed a little darker than the norm and much warmer than to be expected. I was at this beach last year..it was a complete 360. It was a little disappointing but the trip down and just to stand on the beach with the ocean breeze was worth it.

One of the best examples of a barrier island beach you will find. This is one of the beaches with no driving...so that is good if you don't want cars going by, but also means that you have to carry any beach toys/supplies with you to get there and from the parking lot it is probably at least a 1/4 mile. There is also a driving beach in the park. GREAT beach, and the nature center has some amenities and is really worth a stop too.

I and friends and family spent most of our lives in C.C. at this beach! It was great!! I was a true beach bunny! ha!

Very nice beach with lots of wildlife kids enjoyed it, clean and not too crowded. There was an entrance fee but it wasn't much.

On the only National Seashore in the US this is a beautiful place where you can learn so much about our seashore. If you can, try and make it to one of the turtle releases. Very educational.

this is a secluded nice beach in a protected national seashore....no traffic or hotels or gas stations ( civilization is 30 to 45 mins away) only beautiful beaches and warm waters....great for campers ..quick get awayers from san Antonio or Dallas.... I spent a day at the beach early October and it was great not too hot just perfect...I would def go back

It was a very windy, cool day so the waves were amazing to watch but the riptide danger was too high for us to swim. The visitor center was very informational and quite clean.

You don't get to drive on many beaches in the UK so this was a treat. The beach is lovely and you can always find a spot to suit. There is usually a lovely breeze so even when its very hot its never over powering. A great place to chill.

Paradise beach. Clean and well kept. No jellyfish that I saw. Beautiful scenery and weather. You need to visit! Lots of fish in the sea

When we were there we were with a group of friends, adults and children, had a BBQ ON THE BEACH, Bring your own chairs.

It is a lot windy and water can be cold in Gulf of Mexico compared to Corpus Christi Bay. Fun place to spend with family and friends, if you love the waters.

perfect for long barefoot walk in soft sand with feet in the water. surf too strong for swimming but there is a saltwater lake a few miles down called bird island if you want to swim

Was very pretty! We didn't spend a lot of time here we stopped at the gift shop at the visitors center and walked around a bit which was nice. VERY breezy and nice to hear the waves crashing as you look at the pretty scenery. We didn't swim here as we went a bit further to the national seashore however i imagine it to be just as nice.

This was our first time at this beach. It's a pet friendly beach which is important when part of your traveling party is cute and four-legged.
The beach is kept clean and actually saw a park ranger cleaning the beach.
The beach is shallow for about 50 ft from the shore. Nice for families.
I'm looking forward to returning to this beach. I would highly recommend this beach. Would love to return when the turtle hatching are released.

Finding this beach was the highlight of our Texas vacation. The beach was clean and the water was clear. We went once in the evening and once on a Saturday afternoon. The Saturday afternoon visit was a little busy but there's enough space that you can find your own spot without being right next to anyone else and the evening visit only had a few other people. The kids had fun looking for shells that were washing up and watching the crabs scurry about. It really is a very nice Beach!

If you want a long sandy beach bordered by dunes which would be good for bathing, and is certainly good for a bracing walk by the ocean with plenty of birds to see, then this beach is for you. I have seen many better - thinking immediately of beaches in England and the Netherlands - but it still makes a pretty good afternoon out.

This beach was fairly nice and when we were there it was not crowded. I really enjoyed going down and driving on the national seashore more than anything while I was in the area. In my opinion the beaches of the Destin, FL area are much prettier, but you can hardly find many shells Destin easily. We got a tip from a local to take the Ferry to Aransas pass to see dolphins for free, we took it several times and saw dolphins every crossing.

It's right by the visitor center for Padre Island National Seashore. Decent bathrooms and a visitor center. There are showers as well. Make sure to bring your own food and snacks. There are some picnic tables and shelters by the beach as well, but those go fast.

The water is crystal clear, the beaches are well maintained, and the National Seashore complex is designed to make visitors comfortable regardless of sun and high temperatures. Great ranger talk also.

Wonderful beach to bring family! The beach cost was $10 to get in, but bathrooms and showers were available. Very clean and the sand and waters were favorable

The beach was a great experience for my toddlers they really enjoyed themselves. It wasn't too crowded but there were other families there. We went around 6pm on a Friday and it was perfect, it was a little windy but the weather was great.

I spend quite a bit on time on this beach as a volunteer releasing endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle hatchlings. We also release cold-stunned sea turtles. We walk the beach and visit the visitor's center for fun and educational programs.

Stayed here and camped at the beach. Something different and new for us!! Outdoor showers the best way to clean off!!

Managed by National Park Service. There are campsites as well as a day use area with facilities. It has an exotic feel due to remoteness of the place. Huge parking area and a short walk to the beach. Bring your beach chairs, umbrellas, food and have fun.

Went to Malaquite Beach and was amazed at the entire scene. White soft sand and the beach was fairly occupied with visitors. We had a great spot to do some swimming.

We have been to North Padre for many years and today we ventured out with our two small dogs to a new park we have never been to called "Malachite Beach". BTW - it costs $10 per car. All other beaches on this island are free for public use or private. It was supposed to be dog friendly.

Far from that, we went in to the visitors center to pay our park entrance fee and when I asked the park personnel were we were supposed to access the beach with the dogs. She was very rude and said just follow the sandy trail, so I tried to get some clarification on which trail and she said next to the building. We tried that trail which lead to a dead end. Then we found a cobble stone trail and went down it.

We got down to the end and the cleaner beach to the right said DOGS Prohibited. Then it pointed to the dirtier beach fir dog access which was covered with washed up fishing wire (the size of a car tire and tons of trash (made the beach look like a human toliet). We are then realized that the path we were sent down was covered in burrs and our poor little long haired King Charles Cavalier wad covered in burrs from head to toe (and she never ventured off the path). It took us over an hour to get all her burrs removed. If this is what they call dog friendly, I would hate to see how they treat their own pets. I would not recommend this beach to anyone (with or without dogs).

These beaches are beautiful and usually not crowded. Back up you car or truck to the warm waters, set up your shade, and enjoy. Fish, swim, sun, or explore the area, including impressive dunes.

If you like natural beauty, getting back to nature and areas where man has NOT had a detrimental affect, then this could be the place to visit. The National Parks have a 60 mile stretch along the coast that absolutely illustrates how fantastic the service is. Visitor centre with showers, toilets and helpful staff. Camping areas, beach you can drive on and various ranger based activities to keep everyone happy.i wish I went on my first day in town, don't miss out. Take care with the wind, it is really deceptive and its easy to burn yourself.

We were totally alone with the waves and the birds. It was about 20 minutes from the businesses on Padre Island and there was nothing there to eat. So we brought a picnic lunch and it was perfect.

I cant recommend this beach enough, a small talk and you will be by yourself on one of the best beaches in Texas, Highly recommend this place!!

The visitor center had very good information about the beaches and surrounding areas. If you have kids, make sure you take advantage of the Junior Ranger programs/books. Just ask any of the rangers at the desk, and they will be more than happy to help you out. Once the book is completed, your kids will get some cool stuff!

I took my daughter and her family to watch a baby Turtle release. They drove down from East TN. They were thrilled and it will be an experience they will never forget!

Last time we came to Padre we went to Mustang Island SP, this was a similar experience. Both are nice beaches.

You need a National Park day or annual pass to access the Padre Island National Seashore. Take time to wander through the visitor center.

Was a beautiful beach, but the day we went it was pretty overcast and windy. It cost $10 to get into this area of the island, but I had no problem paying it. Good times!!

Family friendly beach at the National Seashore of Texas. Swim, sun or arrive before dawn to watch frequent endangered baby sea turtles get released during the summer. You can call the Hatchling Hotline to discover when releases will occur at (361) 949-7163.

Not far from Corpus is a beautiful, pristine national park with the most unbelievable beaches. You need to go here!

Malaquite Beach was beautiful. It was not busy or crowed with people. It was nice to walk and watch the waves and birds. We were there after spring break so we didn't have to worry about lots of people. While were were there it was a bit cold and windy but not being crowed with people made it a very nice visit.

Fantastic beach with an excellent well presented Visitor Center. The Center is smart and well laid out with interesting displays, including objects found washed up on the beach, couldn't believe how many different items there were. The Rangers are friendly and informative. An interesting visit.

My family really enjoyed Malaquite Beach. The beach was clean and it was not crowded; it was the 4th of July long weekend and there were people there but plenty of space to spread out. The showers and facilities are excellent.

We were even able to watch the sea turtle hatchling release one early morning. It was amazing.

This is a clean beach and despite being there on a Saturday afternoon, it was not crowded at all. Yes, the drive to get there is a little long and there's little to see other than the grasslands for a while but it's worth it when you get there. Yes, the changing areas are incredibly hot but the beach itself is clean, secluded, and has shaded pergolas to sit under. The water was warm and the breeze was steady and comfortable. There were fish swimming in the water and pelicans flying by in V formation. It was idyllic in so many ways. Will definitely go there again in the future. Entry is per vehicle... with our car, it was $10 for 7 days. Coming from the northeast, that's a real bargain!

Loved the location and not too crowded - worth paying $5 per car entry fee for the National Seashore

Beautiful beach! Picnic tables and shelters on the beach! No drive on unless you are on the camping side! Nice visitor center and bathrooms! Really enjoyed this beach! Not the white sand but it is the Gulf of Mexico. They do have bird watching tours etc. worth a visit

LOVED this beach. Beautiful, clean, and family oriented. Pelicans fly over and fish close to the beach often. I was so impressed, this is probably one of the only beaches I will revisit in the Corpus Area.