If you would like to travel to one of the countries in the world with the best beaches, if you are concerned about preserving the environment and if you want your activities on the coast to be respectful of the environment, grab your swimsuit and come to Spain. You will be able to choose between more than 670 beaches, more than 110 marinas and 6 sustainable tourist vessels given the prestigious Blue Flag.What is the Blue Flag? An award managed by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and used by around fifty countries as a world standard for tourism eco-quality. When you go to any of these beaches or marinas, you can trust that they meet criteria of accessibility, safety, environmental education and cleanliness. Spain has been a world leader in Blue Flags for years, so you will be able to choose between different holiday destinations.
All along the coast… and inland too
You'll find a Blue Flag in most of the coastal areas in Spain. Holidaymakers heading for the north can expect to see spectacular landscapes and cliffs. Make a note in your calendar of Galicia, where you can enjoy destinations boasting several of these awards, such as Sanxenxo. You will also find them on the coast of Cantabria and Asturias.Would you prefer to go to the Mediterranean? Mild temperatures, warm waters, palm groves... You could try Catalonia, for example, on the beaches of Sitges. You also have the option of visiting the Region of Valencia with towns such as Cullera (Valencia) or Orihuela (Alicante). And what about Murcia? There is nothing like a good swim at an award-winning beach like those in Águilas.In Andalusia, in the south of Spain, you can enjoy breathtaking sunsets. It is also home to several outstanding beaches distinguished with the Blue Flag including Roquetas de Mar (Almería), Marbella (Málaga) and Rota (Cádiz). There are more Blue Flag beaches very close by in Ceuta and Melilla.
If you want to visit any of Spain's islands, you will find beaches of guaranteed quality both in the turquoise waters of the Balearic Islands and in the Canary Islands, with their characteristic black sand beaches of volcanic origin.Are you more into inland tourism? Spain also boasts river beaches and large reservoirs with a Blue Flag, where the landscapes are incredible and you can do all kinds of activities. Most of these inland beaches are located in Extremadura, although you will also find one in San Martín de Valdeiglesias (Region of Madrid), in Álava (Basque Country) and another in Almodóvar del Río (Córdoba).
What is so special about these beaches?
You will see that the water quality is excellent; that access is easy; that there is always a team of lifeguards; all kinds of services and signposting of areas for activities including kitesurfing, parasailing, and water skiing.There are two other projects linked to the Blue Flags that may also be of interest to you.On the one hand, the Blue Path network (you can find information panels about these routes on several of the Blue Flag beaches). There are 194 paths that form a network of more than 1,200 kilometres where you can walk surrounded by nature. Most of them are coastal and will allow you to walk between lighthouses and watchtowers and gaze at unforgettable sunsets.
All of these trails have focused on regenerating dune environments, planting indigenous species and rewilding trails that are no longer used.Alternatively, you can plan a beach holiday with visits to interesting visitor centres and maritime museums. Here you will find information on around 90 Blue Centres located all over Spain. You can visit mills, attend nature workshops, learn more about a strict nature reserve of dunes, discover the secrets of the salt flats, delve into lighthouses or marine research centres...
Sustainable tourist vessels
Do you feel like going whale watching or recreational diving? Different marinas and tourist vessels in Spain have been awarded the Blue Flag for their commitment to respecting good tourism practices and defending life in the sea, and zero pollution.Specifically, you will find the award-winning tourist boats in Benalmádena (Málaga), where you can sail on a catamaran or traditional golondrina boat in search of cetaceans, sunbathe on the boat's sun deck or take a refreshing swim in the Alboran Sea.
And it is not the only one. You can also find Blue Flag catamarans in other Mediterranean ports such as Málaga, Denia or Valencia, or in the Atlantic such as Isla Cristina, with which you can explore the nearby coves and headlands and enjoy a refreshing swim off the boat.Do you also commit to caring for the environment and respecting the marine environment?
