FLYING THE FLAG FOR MARBELLA’S BEACHES

Heading to the beach in Marbella this Summer? We have listed the best beaches in Marbella for you to enjoy a perfect d

With 11 Blue Flag approved beaches in the resort in 2023, you can look forward to swimming in clear, clean waters and making the most of the beach life in the warmth of the Spanish sun.

Think long stretches of white sand, gentle lapping waves and warm waters, the beach is one of Marbella’s major attractions. Stretching some 27 kilometres, the beaches are a major part of the attraction of the modern Mediterranean lifestyle on offer in the resort offering not only sunbathing and water sports, but beach clubs, beach bars and restaurants, the beach is a focus of Marbella life all year-round.  Add to this the long beach front promenade, and the senda litoral – the wooden boardwalks bordering most of the coastline between Nerja and Sotogrande, and the beach is the ideal place for walking, jogging and cycling.

Recognized in approximately 50 countries, the Blue Flag is an accolade for beaches, representing quality, safety and cleanliness of the beach and importantly, the water. Following rigorous controls and tests, only beaches that reach the highest of standards of the Blue Flag are awarded the honour on a yearly basis, with validity from June through to mid-September.

With year-round sunshine and long, hot summers, people flock from around the world to experience the beaches of southern Spain – to kick back and relax, frequent luxury beach resorts, enjoy swimming and water sports as well as sailing from the many leisure marinas.

More than 12 million people visited the Costa del Sol in 2022, the vast majority attracted to the beaches and the inimitable Andalusian outdoors lifestyle.  Add this to the local population frequenting the beaches, and we are looking at some of the most in-demand coastline in Spain. Accordingly, Andalucía does everything possible to keep the region’s beaches in the best condition in order to keep visitors happy and, importantly, keen on coming back year after year.

With 148 Blue Flag awards currently in Andalucía, 39 in the province in Málaga, 11 of those beaches awarded  Blue Flags are in Marbella.  Making up 27 kilometres of coastline, with some 24 separate beaches, the 11 Blue Flag beaches in  Marbella are as follows:

  1. Fontanilla
  2. Nagüeles
  3. Casablanca
  4. El Cable
  5. El Faro
  6. Levante
  7. Guadalmina
  8. Venus
  9. Puerto Deportivo Marbella
  10. Puerto Banús
  11. Nueva Andalucía.

The award reflects the dedication of the local council to maintain the beaches according the high standards of the Association of Environmental and Consumer Education.

Judged on cleanliness, effectiveness of recycling, safety, the beach management and qualified life guard teams, access for the handicapped, adhering to Spain’s Coastal Law and very importantly, the quality of the water, beaches are subject to rigorous controls in order to be given the all clear to wave the Blue Flag.

The best properties on the beach in Marbella >>>

 

The Safety Flag Code – The best beaches in Marbella.

Once at the beach, while there may be life guards on hand, the flags flying right there on the beach area there to let you know whether the sea is safe for swimming at any given time.

Flag Colours & Meaning:

Green Flag
Calm waters – safe to bathe

Yellow Flag
Choppy waters – bathe with caution

Red Flag
Strong currents  – advisable to stay out to the water

Double Red Flag
Dangerous Waves –  Prohibited to Swim

Orange Flag
A Hazard in the Water – Stay away

Purple Flag
Venomous creatures in the water – eg stinging jellyfish

The Blue Flag beaches of Málaga province are spread out along the coastline east of Marbella in Mijas Costa, Torremolinos, Málaga and Nerja, and west of Marbella down to Manilva giving wide scope to spend time on a range of attractive, safe and well-organized beaches along the Costa del Sol.

No Flags Needed

It’s also worth noting that those idyllic hard-to-reach beaches, off the beaten track, due to negligible facilities are not eligible to be awarded blue flags – but if you are looking to avoid the crowds, they may just be the ones making the extra effort to reach…

Written by Bas de Boer

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