The dog beach

Torre del Mar has a dog beach, a marked stretch of shoreline where dogs are allowed to be on the sand and in the water.

Why it exists, and why it matters

This is the part visitors often do not know: dogs are generally not permitted on Spanish beaches during the bathing season, and it is enforced. A designated dog beach is not a nice extra, it is the only legal option in those months. Without it, a dog does not go to the beach here at all.

The rules that apply

• Pick up after your dog. This is what decides whether a dog beach survives, and it is the reason some municipalities have withdrawn theirs.
• Lead and, where required, muzzle according to local by-laws and the breed.
• Microchip and rabies vaccination are compulsory in Andalusia, and the chip must be registered with your current details.
• Bring water for the dog. Sand on this coast gets genuinely hot in summer and paws burn.

Practical

Access, extent and the exact season of the dog beach are set by the council and can change from one year to the next. Check the current municipal information before travelling with an animal, and plan the visit for the early morning or the evening rather than the middle of the day.