Playa del Atalayón in San Javier

Not strictly a beach but a nice bathing and leisure area in Santiago de la Ribera

Although this section of the San Javier coastline is named Playa del Atalayón, there is actually very little here in the way of a beach. However, it is a very important element of the San Javier leisure offering.

This section of coastline is filled with sailing clubs, bathing jetties and the like as the water rises higher against the seafront than at other sections of the coastline. A long walkway links the beaches of San Pedro del Pinatar and Lo Pagán to those of San Javier and Santiago de la Ribera in the area where the two built-up districts merge into one another. They are joined by the main coast road and this pedestrian promenade, with shaded areas, children's play areas and seating.

This all links to an area occupied by the armed forces' social club and other leisure facilities, which offer private tennis and sailing opportunities as well as a range of other social activities.

As the road approaches Santiago de la Ribera motorists are diverted into the residential back streets, which, while pleasant, can be a fraught experience for those with little local knowledge and can make finding a parking space something of an adventure.

The residential nature of the area means that beaches along this stretch of coastline are quite highly occupied in the summer and guarantees that the Explanada and walkway are busy and bustling during peak months. There are also a number of old wooden bathing stations on this stretch of the coast, some privately owned and others for public use. These were originally designed to enable bathers to enter the water with a degree of modesty and at a reasonable depth.

Many are still open for public use today, and during the summer they are festooned with tent-like structures offering shade and comfort.

Click to see an overview of the beaches in San Javier, or to go to the home page of San Javier Today for more local news, events and other information.