On the beach
Right now
Live conditions from Open-Meteo, refreshed hourly.
7-day outlook
7-day marine forecast from Open-Meteo.
Sea temperature
Next 7 days, °C
Wave height
Next 7 days, metres
View as table
| Day | Sea temp (°C) | Wave height (m) |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 | 27.4 | 0.7 |
| Thu 3 | 27.6 | 0.4 |
| Fri 4 | 28.0 | 0.2 |
| Sat 5 | 27.9 | 0.3 |
| Sun 6 | 27.8 | 0.4 |
| Mon 7 | 28.1 | 0.4 |
| Tue 8 | 28.1 | 0.2 |
Water quality history
Official EEA classification, one rating per bathing season, 2015–2025 — real data reported by national authorities.
- 2015: Not classified2015
- 2016: Not classified2016
- 2017: Not classified2017
- 2018: Not classified2018
- 2019: Not classified2019
- 2020: Not classified2020
- 2021: Not classified2021
- 2022: Excellent2022
- 2023: Excellent2023
- 2024: Excellent2024
- 2025: Excellent2025
Excellent in the most recent season, and 4 of 4 classified years rated Excellent or Good.
- Excellent
- Good
- Sufficient
- Poor
- Not classified
View as table
| Year | Classification |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Not classified |
| 2016 | Not classified |
| 2017 | Not classified |
| 2018 | Not classified |
| 2019 | Not classified |
| 2020 | Not classified |
| 2021 | Not classified |
| 2022 | Excellent |
| 2023 | Excellent |
| 2024 | Excellent |
| 2025 | Excellent |
Typical sea temperature by month
Modeled estimatePlausible seasonal climatology derived from latitude, for illustration — not a measured average.
Monthly sea temperature
Typical range across the year, °C
View as table
| Month | Typical sea temp (°C) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 17 |
| Feb | 16 |
| Mar | 17 |
| Apr | 19 |
| May | 21 |
| Jun | 24 |
| Jul | 26 |
| Aug | 26 |
| Sep | 26 |
| Oct | 24 |
| Nov | 21 |
| Dec | 19 |
Location & nearby beaches
Nearby beaches
- Playa Calas del Cuartel610 mAlicante
- Playa de la Ermita2.0 kmAlicante
- Playa Calas del Este2.8 kmAlicante
- Playa del Varador3.2 kmAlicante
Distances calculated as straight-line (haversine) from official coordinates.
Getting there & around
- By car: there's parking about ~670 m from the beach.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest town: Santa Pola, about ~4.4 km away.
What kind of beach is this?
With no facilities mapped nearby, this beach is usually on the quiet side even in season — worth knowing if you're after solitude, but also worth bringing your own water and shade.
Estimated from OpenStreetMap surroundings data (ODbL).
- A quiet swim
Is the water clean at Playa del Bancal de Arena?
Playa del Bancal de Arena sits on a stretch of coast classed as a coastal bathing site, carrying an official EU Bathing Water rating of Excellent for the 2025 season. Under the EU Bathing Water Directive, national authorities test for intestinal enterococci and E. coli through the season and report the results the following spring — the 2025 rating was published in spring 2026, and 2026's won't follow until spring 2027. In addition to that yearly rating, some national authorities — for Croatia, the national environmental authority — publish individual water sample results during the season itself, ahead of the annual report. It sits in Alicante. You can park about ~670 m away.
Looking to avoid the busiest weeks? The water is typically warmest around August, with the most reliable swimming window running July–September; outside that stretch you'll find a cooler sea but a quieter beach. That rating has been consistent: every one of the 4 classified seasons on record has come back Excellent or Good. On site you'll find Sandy shore and Rocky shore. Santa Pola — the closest town — sits about ~4.4 km from here.
“Excellent” is one point on a four-step scale — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — assigned once per year from that season's water samples, not a live reading. It describes how the site performs on average across the season, not the exact water quality this afternoon; for day-to-day sea conditions, see the “Right now” and 7-day outlook panels above.
Frequently asked questions
Is Playa del Bancal de Arena a safe beach for swimming?
Yes. Its official 2025 EU Bathing Water rating is Excellent, the top classification, and 4 of the 4 classified seasons on record have rated Excellent or Good. It's also held steady at Excellent for 4 straight years.
How cold or warm is the water at Playa del Bancal de Arena today?
As of the latest update, the sea temperature at Playa del Bancal de Arena is around 27°C — see the “Right now” panel above for live conditions. That's the reading right off Alicante.
What's the best month to visit Playa del Bancal de Arena for swimming?
The most reliable stretch for warm water runs through July–September, based on the modeled climatology. That applies to the water around Alicante.
How is the water quality rating measured?
National authorities sample the water for intestinal enterococci and E. coli bacteria through the bathing season and report the full-season results to the European Environment Agency each spring for the season just finished, which assigns one of four annual classifications — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — under the EU Bathing Water Directive. Some national authorities, including Croatia's IZOR, also publish individual in-season sample results ahead of that annual report.
How do I get to Playa del Bancal de Arena without a car?
By car, there's parking about ~670 m from the beach. The nearest town is Santa Pola, about ~4.4 km away.