Artikel: Dog-friendly beaches in Asturias, Cantabria, and Basque Country

Playas para perros en Asturias, Cantabria y País Vasco

23. Jul 2018

Dog-friendly beaches in Asturias, Cantabria, and Basque Country

COVID-19 UPDATE:

Due to the exceptional situation caused by Covid-19, many of the dog beaches in this blog may not be operational this summer 2020 due to capacity modifications.

For greater safety, we recommend that you contact the local Tourist Office before visiting their beaches.

As we mentioned in the previous blog, we continue with the series of dog-friendly beaches, updated for 2020. The new development is that in Asturias, you can access its four beaches at any time of year.

Dog-friendly beaches in Asturias:

- Playa el Rinconín, Gijón

A wide dog beach with fine sand. It is very popular as it also has a dog park next to the beach.

- Cala Saliencia, Cudillero

It is a small beach located next to Playa Lairín, in Novellana. Access is somewhat difficult; you have to walk down a small, steep path. It does not have any services, so you will have to bring everything you need (water, food, umbrella…) for a day at the beach.

- Playa del Sablón, in Bayas, Castrillón

This year 2020, some improvements have been made to the beach: a wooden and rope demarcation like those used in natural monuments, as well as fountains and showers for bathers and dogs, and toilets in the beach parking lot. It is considered one of the best dog beaches in Spain. You can also enjoy a pristine beach, ideal if you love nature.

- Playa de Cambaredo, El Franco

Extensive beach 220 meters long with gravel, rocks, and stones. Access is easy if you are willing to go up and down the more than 130 steps of its pedestrian access.

- Playa de Sabugo, in Valdés

Opened in 2018, it has difficult access, which is why it is not very popular among bathers.

These 5 dog-friendly beaches in Asturias have been recently opened to meet a growing demand. They are official dog beaches and can be visited all year round, including summer, with no time restrictions. These 5 dog beaches are the only dog-friendly beaches in Asturias where you can go in summer without fear of being fined.

Below we detail the

Beaches in Cantabria

- Playa La Maza, or "Playa de los Vagos," in San Vicente de la Barquera, is located in the Oyambre estuary. It is a fine sand beach and one of the latest beaches enabled in Cantabria. The best part is that you can visit with your dog all year round. Notable services include fountains, bins, and a nearby grassy area.

- Playa La Riberuca, in Suances. A beach area, right at the mouth of the Saja river, and according to some users, it is the dirtiest of all, hence its low occupancy rate. It has no services of any kind.

- Playa Arcisero, a beach to the east of the city, is made of stone and sand. It has strong waves, so you will always have to keep an eye on your pet.

- Oriñón Pier, not exactly a beach, it is a cove of the Oriñón river where fishermen leave their boats at night. Dogs can walk freely off-leash all year round.

- Cala Cargadero Mioño, in Castro Urdiales, also allows free movement for dogs all year round, as it is not a traditional beach either; it is a unloading area with cobblestones.

- Playa el Puntal, in Somo. It is an extensive sandy area that forms the entrance to the Bay of Santander, right at the Miera estuary.

- El Arenal del Jortín, a tiny fine sand cove, one of the most beautiful in Cantabria because it is surrounded by nature, in Soto de la Marina, Bezana.

- Playa de Brazomar, in Arcisero (Castro Urdiales) has a beautiful promenade to enjoy with your dog.

- Playa de Helgueras, in Noja. Opened in the summer of 2018, it has 800 linear meters of rock and fine sand.

Now we move on to detail the

Dog-friendly beaches in the Basque Country:

It should be noted that in the Basque Country, there are no officially designated dog beaches. People go to certain beaches, but they are not for dogs. We will tell you which ones… if the Civil Guard sees you there, you could get a fine of between €30 and €300, but people enjoy swimming there with their dogs. We repeat, it is not legal, but people do it.

In 2020, no dog beaches have yet been enabled in the Basque Country. However, at your own risk, here are some that locals visit for a day with their dog:

- Playa de la Zurriola, in San Sebastián, is still not official, but it is listed in the "Euskadi with a dog" guide provided by the San Sebastián city council. 800 meters to share with surfers from all over the world, it is one of the city's youngest beaches.

- Playa de Kanala, in Gautegiz Arteaga: A quiet and welcoming beach, composed of fine golden sand, pebbles, and stones, offers visitors the possibility to relax sunbathing or enjoying a pleasant swim.

- Playa de Aitzuri, in Deba: A small, wild, and nudist cove composed of dark sand and rock. It is located in the municipality of Itziar. To find it, you must go towards the Itziar campsite, and before reaching it, turn right and descend a road until you reach the car park. Access is on foot.

- Playa de Mendata, in the municipality of Deba, Gipuzkoa: Accessed from the N-634. With low occupancy and strong waves, it is a nudist beach of stones and rock.

- Playa Saconeta: Also located in the municipality of Deba, it is a small beach composed of stones and rock, with low occupancy. It is located between the points of Sakoneta and Arantzako Portua.

- Playa Algorri, in Zumaia: With low occupancy and strong waves, this small 160 m beach is made of stone and rock and is also nudist. It has difficult pedestrian access and forms at low tide.

- Playa los Frailes, in Hondarribia: A small nudist beach 60 m long, composed of boulders and rock, with strong waves. It is accessed from the road to the Higuer Lighthouse.

- Landa Reservoir, not a beach, but this reservoir, near Vitoria, is a good option for your dog to take a refreshing dip on hot summer days.

As always, we remind you of the basic rules for being a responsible owner, regulations for taking your dog to the beach:

- control your dog at all times
- carry a water bottle to keep your dog hydrated
- try not to disturb other users
- pick up all your dog's waste
- be up to date on vaccinations and carry their health record
- if your dog is included in the list of potentially dangerous dog breeds, you must keep them leashed and muzzled