The Blue Flag Programme (owned and run by the independent non-profit organisation, Foundation for Environmental Education, FEE) released the wordwide awards last week. Spain once again came out on top and offers holidaymakers the cleanest and safest beaches on the planet having been awarded 499 Blue Flags, in addition to a further 77 for its marinas.
A total of 61 beaches across the Balearics have been granted the prestigious flag including 18 in Ibiza. The award is an international symbol of quality, and has been bestowed on over 3,300 beaches and marinas in 36 countries across Europe, South Africa, Morocco, New Zealand, Canada and the Caribbean.
Beaches are awarded the flag through strict criteria dealing with water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and other services.
San Jose again has the most blue-flag beaches on the island with a total of six - Cala Tarida, Cala Conta, Cala Bassa, Cala D´Hort, Cala Migjorn (Salinas) and lastly, Cala Vadella, which is new to the list this year. This is followed by Santa Eulalia which can this year boast Cala Llenya, es Canar, Cala Llonga, Santa Eulalia beach and es Figueral. San Juan will have four - San Miguel, Cala San Vicent, Portinax and Benirras, whilst San Antonio is proud to have three - Cala Gracio, es Calo des Moro and es Pouet. Surprisingly Formentera do not boast any.