The blue flag, the standard that flies over the beaches of Mallorca

The beaches of the Balearic coast and Mallorca in particular are famous for their beauty and their exceptional quality, whether in terms of their waters, their sand or their services. And in this case, it is a reputation that is more than deserved.

Proof of this are the 42 Mallorca´s beaches that currently boast the prestigious blue flag award, an unmistakable seal of quality in a range of areas: quality of the water, environmental management, safety, and so on. These top-quality beaches are scattered throughout the island, especially in the south-west and on the east and north coasts.

What does the blue flag mean?

The blue flag is a distinction awarded annually by an independent organisation: the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).  The criteria to be fulfilled by the best beaches and marinas in Europe in this category are agreed every year, but invariably involve the four following broad areas:

• Information and environmental education

• Quality of the water.

• Environmental management

• Safety and services

This means that in order to belong to the privileged group of beaches distinguished by the blue flag, it is necessary to meet some extremely strict quality standards and requirements, including:

• The existence of signboards with information about the beach and the ecosystem present in the surrounding area, as well as the natural habitats that may exist. Another indispensable stipulation is the existence and dissemination of a code of conduct to ensure the maintenance, cleanliness and conservation of the natural landscape and environment.
• Organisation of awareness-raising and environmental education activities by the municipality in which the beach is located (at least five a year).
• The quality of the water must be excellent.
• The environmental management must be in strict compliance with the prevailing legislation in terms of the selective collection and management of waste and, if possible, extending this with efficacious and effective initiatives.
• At the level of services, a blue-flag beach ought to have, at a minimum: public lavatories, easy and safe access points, a team of lifeguards, appropriate equipment and other measures to ensure the safety of bathers (another extremely important aspect for gaining the award).

 Hotels VIVA: on the doorstep of blue-flagged beaches and ports.

Included among the many attractions of Hotels VIVA is their location in the north-western part of the island of Mallorca, very close to beaches and ports that, year after year, receive the blue flag award: the Playa del Muro and the port of Alcudia and Cala Rajada, among others.

Some of our hotels are geared towards families while others are adults-only or focused on cycling and other sports, but respect for nature and a firm commitment to sustainable tourism in an environmentally-friendly way is a primordial and characteristic element shared by all our establishments.