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BEACHES

Spanish beach resort bans ball games, nudity, and peeing in the sea

San Pedro del Pinatar in Murcia is the latest seaside town in Spain to bring in a raft of measures to control behaviour on its beaches.

Spanish beach resort bans ball games, nudity, and peeing in the sea
Photo: karrelnoppe/Depositphotos

A set of by-laws will come into force on July 18th that will see fines for nudity, playing music, ball games and even urinating in the sea.

Those refusing to cover up their private parts will be slapped with a fine of €750, as will those caught playing bat and ball or attempting to reserve a spot on the beach with a towel.

READ MORE: Spain's top beaches for summer 2017

More severe penalties will be brought against those attempting to light fires or barbeques on the beach (€1,500) while unauthorized sellers hawking cold drinks and snacks face a fine of €3000.

Cycling has also been outlawed along the town’s promenade and no surfing, jetskiing or other watersports will be permitted within 200 meters of the shoreline.

The town on Spain’s southeastern coast is the latest to introduce measures designed to make the beach experience enjoyable for all by outlawing “anti-social behaviour”.

Here is a list of other activities that are banned on beaches in different parts of Spain

Red flag swimming


Photo: lkpro/Depositphotos

At most beaches a red flag is a warning against swimming and bathers do so at their own risk. But in some resorts – Estepona, Lloret de Mar, Castelldefels and Valéncia – entering the sea when the red flag is flying will bring a fine of up to €3,000.

Rusty equipment

In Valencia city, beach inspectors could order you to remove rusty parasols or other equipment that is deemed to be a risk for other beachgoers.

Reserving a spot on the beach

Photo: mik38/Depositphotos

Some municipalities have been clamping down on the practice of beach-hogging – waking up at the crack of dawn to lay claim to their own spot on the sand by setting up their parasols and towels only to abandon them for hours while they head back to bed or for a spot of breakfast.

Torox on the Costa del Sol and Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca both impose fines  of up to €600 for the sin of ‘pre-booking’ a patch of sand.

READ MORE: Beach hogger fined for saving spot with umbrella

Too close to the water

So you think you have found the perfect spot on the beach, not near other sunbathers and right next to the lapping waves? If you happen to be on a beach in the Valencia region then think again as by-laws prohibit laying down your towel within six meters of the sea.

Sandcastles


Photo: fotoall/Depositphotos

You may be forgiven for thinking nothing says harmless fun more than sandcastle building. Not so in the opinion of councils in Calvia (Magaluf) in Mallorca, Benidorm on the Costa Blanca and in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands, where fines for castle building or hole digging can reach up to €1,500.

Ball games

In Cadiz, ball games of all types are prohibited on the beaches outside of designated areas. In Benidorm, playing bat and ball is not allowed in the shallows. While in Malaga, balls are only to be played with at a distance of six meters from other beach users.

Sex on the beach

While no resorts actively encourage such behaviour and those who can’t wait till they get back to the hotel room risk breaching public indecency laws, some resorts have written specific by-laws against it.

In Tossa del Mar on the Costa Brava, those caught having sex on the beach face fines of up to €1,500.

Dogs

Most towns have regulations against allowing dogs on public beaches in the summer months, if not year round. But more and more are setting aside designated beach areas for our four-legged friends.

READ MORE: Woof! How to find dog-friendly beaches in Spain

BEACHES

Beat the crowds: 10 hidden beaches and coves along Spain’s Costa Blanca

If you're going to be staying in Spain's Costa Blanca this summer and you're looking to spend time relaxing at a secluded beach or cove, here are ten spectacular spots where tourists and sometimes even locals don't go in Alicante province.

Beat the crowds: 10 hidden beaches and coves along Spain's Costa Blanca
Cala Racó del Conill (Villajoyosa). Photo: Samu Alicante/Wikipedia

Finding a quiet spot to put down your beach towel can be pretty challenging during the peak summer period in Alicante. 

The pandemic and ongoing travel restrictions mean many Spaniards are spending their holidays in the country, and the Valencian province is particularly popular among national tourists, just as it is with foreign visitors. 

 For peace seekers, that unfortunately means packed beaches and the usual hustle and bustle that comes with life in Spain. 

However, Alicante’s coastline has lots of fairly unknown beaches and coves where you are less likely to encounter crowds. They may not all have fine white sand and all the usual amenities but their ruggedness and natural beauty are part of the charm. 

Here are ten playas (beaches) and coves (calas) in Alicante where you may find the peace and quiet you’re after. 

Les Rotes (Dénia)

Photo: Salvador Fornell/Flickr

Playa Portichol (Javea)

Photo: Concepcion Muñoz/Flickr

Cala del Moraig (Benitatxell)

Photo: Jesús Alenda/Flickr

Cala Baladrar (Benissa)

Photo: Joan Banjo/Wikipedia

Coveta Fumá (Campello)

Photo: William Helsen/Flickr

Cala Tio Ximo (Benidorm)

Photo: Enrique Domingo/Flickr

Cala Ferris (Torrevieja)

Photo: Miguel Angel Villar/Flickr

Cala Llebeig (Benitatxell)

Photo: Valencia Tourism Board

Playa del Bol Nou (Villajoyosa)

Photo: Diego Delso/Flickr

Cala Racó del Conill (Villajoyosa)

Photo: Samu Alicante/Wikipedia

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