Only blue flags on Fuerteventura's beaches, none in Antigua or Betancuria

Fuerteventura will enter the summer of 2026 with 11 beaches awarded the Blue Flag, one more than the previous year, thanks to the recovery of Corralejo Viejo in La Oliva. This brings the island back to the level recorded in 2023 and 2024, although it remains below the 12 flags achieved in 2022, when Antigua earned the distinction for Playa de El Castillo.

The restoration of Corralejo Viejo by the La Oliva Town Hall reflects a clear improvement in water quality in the Corralejo Bay, an area historically plagued by leaks from the old “Pozos Negros.” By contrast, the main tourist beach of Antigua obtained the Blue Flag in 2022 but has not regained it in the five subsequent assessments.

Betancuria’s situation is different: its coastline is largely composed of cliffs, and it lacks beaches geared toward mass tourism where the required services—lifeguard stations, waste collection, and accessibility for people with reduced mobility—could be provided.

Spain remains the world leader in Blue Flags, with 794 awarded this year (44 more than in 2025). The Canary Islands account for 52 of them, placing the archipelago fifth among Spain’s autonomous communities despite being a single community, alongside Galicia, which boasts over 1,500 km of coastline.

Blue Flags in Fuerteventura, by Municipality

• Pájara leads the island with four recognized beaches:

  • Butihondo
  • Costa Calma
  • El Matorral
  • Morro Jable

• La Oliva holds three flags:

  • Corralejo Viejo
  • Grandes Playas de Corralejo
  • La Concha (El Cotillo)

• Puerto del Rosario also maintains three flags:

  • Playa Blanca
  • Los Pozos
  • Puerto Lajas

• Tuineje keeps the Blue Flag for Playa de Gran Tarajal.

52 Blue Flags Across the Canary Islands

Across the archipelago, ADEAC awarded 52 Blue Flags to beaches in 29 municipalities, five more than in 2025. This makes the Canary Islands the fifth autonomous community by number of recognized beaches, behind the Valencian Community, Andalusia, Galicia, and Catalonia.

• Gran Canaria tops the list with 15 beaches.
• Fuerteventura and Tenerife each have 11.
• Lanzarote reaches 6, after recovering four beaches in the municipality of Tías (Grande, Matagorda, Pila de la Barrilla, Pocillos).
• La Palma adds another 6.
• El Hierro has 2, and La Gomera 1.

No Canary Municipality in the National Top Ten

Although the Canary Islands are a major tourist destination, no municipality from the archipelago appears among Spain’s top ten for the number of Blue Flags. The national leaders are:

1. Sanxenxo – 21 flags
2. Vigo
3. Águilas
4. Cartagena
5. Orihuela
6. Sitges
7. Cullera
8. Marbella
9. Dénia
10. Torrevieja

It is worth noting that the Blue Flag is not a general ranking of all beaches; it is a certification granted to municipalities that submit candidatures. The program evaluates criteria such as water quality, environmental education, environmental management, safety, services, and accessibility.

Blue Flag, Water Quality and Services

In 2026, ADEAC reported that 713 beaches applied for the Blue Flag in Spain, and 677 were awarded—a 95 % success rate. The most common reasons for rejection were:

• Failure to achieve excellent bathing water quality.
• Coastal Law violations, such as excessive occupation or unauthorized installations.

The 2026‑2027 edition of the award is being issued as a transitional measure due to changes in international accreditation requirements and European regulations. ADEAC emphasizes that the certification remains contingent on continued compliance with the criteria and on monitoring and verification processes throughout 2027.