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 | 21.4 | 0.6 |
| Thu 3 | 22.0 | 0.6 |
| Fri 4 | 22.0 | 0.6 |
| Sat 5 | 21.6 | 0.5 |
| Sun 6 | 21.9 | 0.5 |
| Mon 7 | 22.0 | 0.4 |
| Tue 8 | 21.7 | 0.6 |
Water quality history
Official EEA classification, one rating per bathing season, 2015–2025 — real data reported by national authorities.
- 2015: Excellent2015
- 2016: Excellent2016
- 2017: Excellent2017
- 2018: Excellent2018
- 2019: Excellent2019
- 2020: Excellent2020
- 2021: Excellent2021
- 2022: Excellent2022
- 2023: Excellent2023
- 2024: Excellent2024
- 2025: Excellent2025
Excellent in the most recent season, and 11 of 11 classified years rated Excellent or Good.
- Excellent
- Good
- Sufficient
- Poor
- Not classified
View as table
| Year | Classification |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Excellent |
| 2016 | Excellent |
| 2017 | Excellent |
| 2018 | Excellent |
| 2019 | Excellent |
| 2020 | Excellent |
| 2021 | Excellent |
| 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 | 23 |
| Jul | 25 |
| Aug | 25 |
| Sep | 25 |
| Oct | 23 |
| Nov | 21 |
| Dec | 19 |
Location & nearby beaches
Nearby beaches
- 828 m
- 1.9 km
- Playa Camaron3.9 kmCádiz
- Playa Regla5.3 kmCádiz
Distances calculated as straight-line (haversine) from official coordinates.
Getting there & around
- Easy by car — there's parking close to the beach.
- Bus stop: Av. Juan Carlos I - Hotel Playaballena, about ~270 m away.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest town: Chipiona, about ~5.3 km away.
- 6 places to eat within 1 km Closest is Chiringuito El Poniente, about ~250 m away.
- 2 places to stay mapped nearby Closest is Playaballena SPA Hotel, about ~360 m away.
- 2 shops nearby, the closest about ~1.0 km away
What kind of beach is this?
This beach belongs to a small coastal village. It's usually calmer than a resort or town beach, though a popular village spot can still fill up on the best summer days.
Estimated from OpenStreetMap surroundings data (ODbL).
Is the water clean at Playa la Ballena?
Playa la Ballena is a coastal bathing site with an official EU Bathing Water rating of Excellent for the 2025 season — the highest official classification under the EU bathing-water assessment. That annual classification comes from the EU Bathing Water Directive: national authorities test for two indicator bacteria, intestinal enterococci and E. coli, throughout the bathing season, then report the full-season results to the European Environment Agency (EEA) the following spring — the 2025 season's rating was published in spring 2026, and the 2026 season won't be rated 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. On site you'll find Showers and Parking. You can park about ~160 m away.
That rating has been consistent: every one of the 11 classified seasons on record has come back Excellent or Good. The most reliable swimming window here typically runs from July–October, with the sea usually at its warmest around August. Outside that window the water is cooler and often quieter. It's been a consistently reliable spot too — the rating has held at Excellent for 11 straight years. Chipiona — the closest town — sits about ~5.3 km from here.
Worth remembering: “Excellent” isn't a live reading, it's an annual grade — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — set once a year from that season's water samples and describing the average, not this afternoon's conditions. For what the sea is doing right now, check the “Right now” panel and 7-day outlook above. It sits in Cádiz. There are 6 places to eat within a kilometre — Chiringuito El Poniente is the closest, about ~250 m away.
Frequently asked questions
Is Playa la Ballena a safe beach for swimming?
Generally, yes. Playa la Ballena's 2025 EU Bathing Water rating is Excellent — the highest tier — backed by 11 of 11 classified seasons rated Excellent or Good. It's also held steady at Excellent for 11 straight years.
How warm is the sea at Playa la Ballena right now?
Right now, the sea at Playa la Ballena is measuring around 21°C; see the “Right now” panel above for the latest conditions. That's the reading right off Cádiz.
What's the ideal time of year to swim at Playa la Ballena?
July–October tends to be the sweet spot for swimming here, with sea temperatures usually peaking later in that stretch. That applies to the water around Cádiz.
How is the water quality rating measured?
The grade comes from a full season of official sampling for intestinal enterococci and E. coli, reported to the European Environment Agency each spring under the EU Bathing Water Directive, which assigns Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor. Some countries (Croatia, via IZOR) also publish individual in-season samples ahead of that report; Playa la Ballena doesn't have that feed yet.
How do I get to Playa la Ballena without a car?
By car, it's easy — parking is right by the beach. By bus, the nearest stop is Av. Juan Carlos I - Hotel Playaballena, about ~270 m away. The nearest town is Chipiona, about ~5.3 km away.