The Canary Islands have 60 Blue Flag beaches of excellence this summer

The European Foundation for the Environment (FEE) and its Spanish subsidiary, ADEAC, published the list of beaches yesterday (Thursday) in Spain, that will display a Blue Flag this summer because they offer excellent facilities and good environmental conditions, which includes 56 beaches and natural pools, as well as 4 marinas in the Canary Islands, two more than last year.

Despite the increase, it should be noted that the most emblematic urban beach of the Islands, Las Canteras, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, has lost this distinction. Instead, it is replaced by four benchmark beaches for tourism on the islands, such as Maspalomas, Meloneras, and San Agustín, in the south of Gran Canaria, and Los Cristianos, in Tenerife.

BLUE FLAGS, BY ISLANDS:
Tenerife is the island with the most blue flags this summer with 14 beaches recognised with the prestigious award:
Playa de Jover in La Laguna;
El Duque and Torviscas (Adeje);
El Camisón, Las Vistas in Los Cristianos (Arona);
The Marina and Caletón (Garachico);
Jaquita Beach (Guía de Isora);
San Marcos (Icod de los Vinos);
El Socorro (Los Realejos);
Bajamar and Arenisco (La Laguna);
La Arena (Tacoronte).

Gran Canaria has 13 blue flags that correspond to:
Las Nieves, in Agaete;
Arinaga, in Agüimes;
El Puertillo and Los Charcones (Arucas);
Sardina, in Gáldar;
El Burrero, in Ingenio;
Playa del Inglés, Maspalomas, Meloneras and San Agustín, in San Bartolomé de Tirajana;
Hoya del Pozo, Melenara and Salinetas, in Telde.

Regarding the loss of the blue flag at Las Canteras beach, the vice president of ADEAC, Virginia Yuste, pointed out that to maintain the distinctive award, there must be a certain quality of seawater at all times, but unfortunately, Las Canteras failed two samples due to sewage discharges over the last year.

In Fuerteventura:
Corralejo Viejo, Grandes Playas, and La Concha, in La Oliva, maintain the flag;
Butihondo, Costa Calma, El Matorral and Morro Jable, in Pájara;
Playa Blanca, Los Pozos, Puerto Lajas, in Puerto del Rosario;
Gran Tarajal, in Tuineje.

In Lanzarote they will display the blue flag at:
El Reducto in Arrecife;
Las Cucharas in Teguise;
Playa Grande, Matagorda, Pila de la Barrilla and Pocillos, in Tías;
Playa Blanca in Yaiza.

In La Palma:
Bajamar in Breña Alta;
Los Cancajos, in Breña Baja;
Charco Verde and Puerto Naos in Los Llanos de Aridane;
Santa Cruz beach, in the capital of La Palma;
Puerto Tazacorte, in the municipality of the same name.

Regarding La Gomera, the blue flag flies in:
Playa Santiago, Alajeró;
La Cueva and the Playa San Sebastián de la Gomera, in the capital.

On El Hierro:
La Restinga, in El Pinar;
Timijiraque, in Valverde, are both awarded.