Platja de les Barques

Coordinates: 42.1266000000, 3.1332140000 (map)

L'Escala is the only town in the Costa Brava whose sea promenade does not run along just one long beach, like, for instance, in Blanes or lloret de Mar. Instead, the beaches of L'Escala are a collection of coves and bays, from tiny to fairly large—Platja del Portitxol, Platja de Riells, Port d'en Perris, and Platja de les Barques ("The beach of the boats").

The latter, despite its small size (100 m long and 20 m wide), is considered the main beach of L'Escala. When offering to meet "on the beach" for a stroll, lunch, some ice cream or a glass of wine, the locals mean the beach of Platja de les Barques.

This is where the key town events take place, including the procession for the holy patron of seamen on July 16 (Festa de la Mare de Déu del Carme), the Festival of Anchovies and Salt (Festa de la Sal), and the performances of the PortalBlau festival.

The Platja de les Barques beach, being the main one in a popular resort town, is well equipped (there are showers, washrooms, summer lifeguard service) and holds the Blue Flag designation for the quality and safety of its water.