THE Costa del Sol has retained its 45 Blue Flag beaches, holding steady despite Marbella losing one of its award-winning stretches.
The coveted award has been taken from Puerto Banus’ Levante beach, leading Marbella’s total flags to fall to eight.
This loss was compensated for by Benalmadena which recovered its Torrebermeja-Santa Ana flag after being taken off the winners list last year.
READ MORE: Costa Blanca is top area of Spain for high quality beaches in prestigious 2026 Blue Flag awards
The recovery of the Benalmadena flag compensated for Marbella’s loss and kept the Costa del Sol’s total awards at 45.
Also on this section of the southern Spanish coast, Mijas kept all five of its Blue Flags. These include the La Cala and Calahonda beaches.
Over in Estepona, however, no awards were given.
The municipality has not been handed a flag since 2020 when it returned two awards, giving them up voluntarily.
Since then it has been reported that the town hall has never applied for another Blue Flag.
Its neighbours Casares and Manilva have a combined three awards, for La Gaviotas, Ancha and Sabinillas.Â
In total the 45 Malaga province flags account for 31% of Andalucia’s 143 awards, the largest percentage of any of the region’s municipalities.
It is followed by Almeria, which holds 38 flags, and Cadiz, which has 32.
Beaches with Blue Flags are recognised internationally for their strong environmental standards and safe, clean facility offer.
To be awarded a flag, a beach must meet four strict criteria.
The first focuses on water quality, the second on environmental management which includes waste disposal and Coast Law compliance, the third looks at safety provisions and services such as toilets and showers, and the fourth highlights environmental education through information boards and conservation activities.
Spain is the home of the most Blue Flags in the world with it having gained 35 flags this year taking its total to 677.
Malaga’s beaches with Blue Flags:
Algarrobo
Algarrobo Costa
Benalmadena
Carvajal
Fuente de la Salud
Torrebermeja-Santa Ana
Casares
Ancha
Fuengirola
Boliches-Gaviotas
Carvajal
Castillo-Ejido
Fuengirola
Malaga
Caleta
El Dedo
El Palo
Malagueta
Misericordia
Pedregalejo
San Andres
Manilva
Las Gaviotas
Sabinillas
Marbella
Cabopino
El Cable
El Faro
La Fontanilla
Nagüeles-Casablanca
Los Monteros (Adelfas)
San Pedro de Alcantara (Guadalmina)
Venus-Bajadilla
Mijas
Calahonda I (Royal Beach – La Luna)
Calahonda (Riviera)
El Bombo
El Chaparral
La Cala
Nerja
Burriana
Maro
Playazo – Chucho
Torrecilla
Torremolinos
El Bajondillo
La Carihuela-Montemar
Los Alamos
Playamar
Torrox
Cenicero-Las Duas
El Morche
Ferrara
Velez-Malaga
Benajarafe
La Caleta (Paseo)
Torre del Mar (Paseo Maritimo)
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