Map of Top Ten Beaches in Spain

The "Ten Best Beaches for the Summer" as picked by Spanish newspaper El Pais. I know many but not all of these beaches personally, and I have never been to its number one choice in particular is so I am not quite in a position to argue with the paper's selection, and I wouldn't anyway - or would I? First, the list, which.is as follows:

1
S'Alga
S'Espalmador, Formentera, Balearic Islands

A paradisiacal beach on a private island (with unrestricted access, except for the number of yachts), reached by the ferry boat the Bahia. (or from the popular Ses Illetes beach on Formentera, swimming or even walking when the sea is calm - it is said to be waist high). Take lots of water and food. Anchorage in the bay is free but restricted because of the island's popularity, there being around fifty mooring buoys.

2
Cala Macaralleta
Ciutadella, Minorca

Fabulous cove in the south-east of Minorca, fringed by pine woods. Reached from its neighbour Cala Macareta on foot (or swimming, which in turn is reached by ferry from Ciutadella or by road, leaving your car in a car park a few minutes walk up hill from the beach (this access is closed when the car park is full). You can also reach it on foot from the Cala Galdana.

3
Sotavento de Jandia
Pájara, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands

The leeward side of the Jandía Peninsula in the south-east of Fuerteventura is seemingly endless beach, 26 incredible kilometres of it.

4
Playa Torimbia
Niembro, Llanes, Asturias

An off-the-beaten-track naturist beach in Green Spain.

5
Playa de Figueiras
Islas Cies, Vigo, Pontevedra

The Islas Cíes are an important nature reserve in the Ría de Vigo, but their beaches are also alluring. So much so that As Rosas was put at the top The Guardian's Top Ten Beaches in the World in 2008, while El País put Figueira on its own list of Top Ten Beaches in Spain. They are reached by the Mar de Ons ferry lines from Vigo, Balona or Cangas de Morraza - reserve seats for return trip.

Also marked on the map is:
As Rosas
Islas Cies, Vigo, Pontevedra

6
Bahia de los Genoveses
San José, Nijar, Almería

Wonderful bay and beach running south from the village of San José down to the Cabo de Gata. I have read that it is "a completely safe spot, as the wind pushes you back into the bay," which I think is a reference to windsurfing.

7
Es Caragol
Santanyl, Majorca

Santanyi is best known for its moderately upmarket developments like Cala d'Or on the east-facing coast of Mallorca. But just a few kilometres west from there across Ses Salines is this unspoilt bay, more easily visited by boat than by car.

8
Langre
Ribamontán del Mar, Cantabria

There are tremendous beaches on the Cantabrian coast from Santander to Laredo, but Langre stands out because of its dramatic, cliff-surrounded setting. The beach used to be almost completely inaccessible by land, until locals dynamited a way down through the rocks.

9
Cala del Senyor Ramón
Santa Cristina d'Aro, Girona

There are fine beaches on the Costa Brava north of Tossa de Mar up to Sant Feliu de Guixols, but the Cala del Senyor Ramón is outstanding, one of the most perfect coves imaginable. Unfortunately, a rockfall in 2003 caused two deaths, and the beach was closed until nearly the end of 2007, but it is now open again.

10
Playa Victoria
Cádiz

A town beach if ever there was one, and the citizens of Cádiz are enormously proud of it - indeed, in the summer months, the centre of city life essentially shifts beachward. Playa Victoria is impeccably maintained, and has all the quality ratings a beach can acquire - blue flag, quality Q, etc.

As I say, I don't know all these beaches personally, so I can't argue with El País's selection. It's a top ten, so you can't expect the whole of Spain to get in, but there are omissions - why are there no beaches from the Spanish Mediterranean mainland south of the Costa Brava, for example? As if there were no great beaches on the Costa Maresme, Costa Dorada, Costa del Azahar, Costa Valenciana, Costa Blanca, or Costa Cálida - there definitely are. And if we are going to include urban beaches like Playa Victoria, shouldn't we at least consider San Sebastian's La Concha, or Valencia's Malvarrosa?

What do you think? Drop me a comment, tell me about your favourite beaches in Spain (or Portugal), and what makes them great. Or even your least favourite - ditto. I'll even add your favourites to the map unless I strongly disagree, which is not very likely. So come on, tell me about your best beaches in Spain.

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