The Blue Flag is an international environmental recognition that is awarded annually. 30 countries in Europe, South Africa, Morocco, New Zealand, Canada, and the Caribbean use this ECO label. In total, more than 3,500 beaches and marinas are recognised.
The recognition made by ADEAC, the Environmental and Consumer Education Association, is a reward for the efforts made to properly maintain a beach or marina.
Given that this is an annual award, it is also a constant guarantee of quality.
For yet another year, the Valencian Community is synonymous with excellence on its beaches. The region once again stands out as the leader in Spain with a whopping 153 blue flags, 14 more than in 2022, a hallmark that is synonymous with quality on the coast. However, from the more than 140 kilometres of Valencian coast that have received this award, six beaches that won the distinction in 2022 have not achieved recognition this year.
Rather surprisingly though, despite the poor management by the current municipal government team, the absence of Chiringuitos, toilets and many other facilities, all 11 Orihuela Costa beaches received the award once again, bringing into question the legitimacy of the judging standards by those who make the awards.
Nevertheless, beaches from across Spain, have achieved six more ‘Blue Flags’ this year than in 2022, maintaining the worldwide leadership they achieved in 1994, and accumulating 15% of the total awards.
Alicante is the province that has obtained the most blue flags, with 69 beaches and 16 marinas. This year La Cala de Finestrat has recovered its Blue Flag, which it lost in 2022.
Benidorm, however, has not obtained any flags because the City Council, in protest for not granting the blue flag to the Poniente beach in 2022, decided this year not to submit any requests.
Blue Flags in 2023: special mentions
ADEAC also awarded ‘Special Mentions’ to three Blue Flag municipalities that made the greatest efforts in relation to environmental education, lifeguard services and accessibility and care for people with disabilities, which in the province, included Alicante, Gandía and Orihuela.
Spain also has 86 Blue Centres, nine more than last year, these are are interpretation centres of municipalities with ‘Blue Flags’, whose objectives are consistent with the Program and contribute to raising awareness among the population about the environment and sustainability.
BLUE FLAG BEACHES IN THE ALICANTE PROVINCE:
Alicante: L’Albufereta, Postiguet, Saladar-Urbanova, Sant Joan, Tabarca
Altea: Cap Blanc, La Roda, L’Espigó, Benissa, Cala Baladrar, Cala Fustera
Calp: Cantal Roig, La Fossa, L’Arenal-Bol
Dénia: Les Bovetes, Les Marines, Marineta Cassiana, Molins, Punta del Raset
El Campello: Carrer de la Mar, Mutxavista
El Poble Nou de Benitatxell: Cala del Moraig
Elx: Arenals del Sol-Sur, Carabassí, L’Altet, La Marina, Les Pesqueres-El Rebollo
Finestrat: La Cala
Guardamar del Segura: Centre, El Moncaio, La Roqueta, Dels Vivers
L’Alfàs del Pi: Racó de L’Albir
Orihuela: Aguamarina, Barranco Rubio, Cabo Roig -La Caleta, Cala Capitán, Cala Cerrada, Cala Estaca, Cala Mosca, Campoamor-La Glea, La Zenia- Cala Bosque, Mil Palmeras, Punta Prima
Pilar de la Horadada: Conde, Higuericas, Jesuitas, Mil Palmeras, Puerto Rocamar
Santa Pola: Calas del Este, Calas Santiago, Bernabéu, Llevant, Varador
Teulada: El Portet, La Ampolla, Les Platgetes
Torrevieja: Cabo Cervera, Cala de las Piteras, El Cura, Los Locos, Los Náufragos, Torrelamata-Sur
Vila Joiosa: Bon Nou, Ciutat (Centro), La Caleta, Paradís, Varadero
Xàbia: Granadella, La Grava
THE 16 MARINAS RECEIVING THE BLUE FLAG:
CN Altea, CN Benidorm, Dehesa de Campoamor NPP (Orihuela), CN El Campello, CN Jávea, CN Les Bassetes (Benissa), Torrevieja International Marina CN, CN Santa Pola, CN Vilajoiosa, Marina Denia, Sports Marina of Alicante, SA, Marina Greenwich (Altea), RCN Calpe, RCN Denia, RCN Torrevieja, CN Moraira (NEW)
