I can’t really get excited about whether a beach has a blue flag or not. It’s just not a criteria I’d use when picking where to stretch out on the sand.
If it looks good and feels good, then it will do for me. Although it’s nice to know the water is pure.
But Blue Flag status is important for some.
This week it was announced who were the 2015 winners and losers when it came to Blue Flag Beach awards.
Forty one beaches were awarded Blue Flag status in the Canary Islands with Gran Canaria scooping most blue awards (13). Tenerife came second with 11, then it was Fuerteventura (7), La Palma (5), Lanzarote (4) and La Gomera (1).
Considering nearly all the nicest beaches are on the eastern Canary Islands it seems incredible that La Palma did better than Lanzarote.
What Does Blue Flag Status Mean?
To get a Blue Flag a beach has to meet certain criteria. These include, amongst other things, having pollution free waters, toilet facilities, lifeguards on duty, being kept clean, drinking water available and keeping domestic pets away (like a cat would want to go near anywhere there was water).
The flag is awarded for a season only.
Blue Flag Beaches on Tenerife
And the winners are…
Playa El Médano (El Médano), Playa Troya I and II (Costa Adeje), Playa Fañabe (Costa Adeje), Playa del Duque (Costa Adeje), Playa Torviscas (Costa Adeje), Playa San Juan (Playa San Juan), Playa de la Arena (Playa de la Arena), Playa El Socorro (Los Realejos), Playa Jardin (Puerto de la Cruz), Playa San Telmo (Puerto de la Cruz) and the pools at Bajamar.
Beaches which had a blue flag last year but lost them this time around are Los Guios in Los Gigantes and El Arenisco at Punta de Hidalgo. The Blue Flag website doesn’t quite match up as it still shows all those mentioned above as well as La Jaquita in El Médano.
It’s interesting when you think of the beaches that aren’t there. There’s no flag for any Arona beach (Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas) so many tourists’ favourite, Playa las Vistas didn’t pass muster. Neither did the best looking beach on the island (some will disagree, but it’s the one used all the time in travel articles), Playa de las Teresitas. My favourite beach El Bollullo was also excluded, but it’s more of a wild beach than the others so no surprise there.
Considering San Telmo has been a construction site for some time now, it was a surprise to see it still on the list.
The Blue Flag awards are mildly interesting, but how much they affect people’s choice is questionable. I can’t really see people giving Playa del Camison in Las Américas a miss and trekking all the way to the nearest blue flag beach in neighbouring Costa Adeje instead.
Jack is co-editor, writer and photographer for BuzzTrips and the Real Tenerife series of travel websites as well as a contributor to online travel sites and travel magazines. Follow Jack on Google+
Be the first to comment