Santa Marina beach and the promenade of the indiano villas

Crossing the bridge over the Sella you reach Santa Marina, Ribadesella's urban beach: a stretch of golden sand about 1,200 metres long at the mouth of the river, lined by a promenade with all services. It is good for swimming and, with the groundswell that often comes in, for surfing too.

The promenade of villas

The beach promenade began in 1907 with the development promoted by the Marchioness of Argüelles, and Turismo Asturias describes it as unique among seaside towns. It is lined with palaces and villas of indianos (emigrants who returned rich from America) and aristocrats; some are now hotels, such as the Villa Rosario, an indiano mansion from the early 20th century, or the Ribadesella Playa hotel. It runs from Punta del Arenal, where the Sella makes its last bend, to Punta el Pozu, at the west end, where dinosaur footprints can be seen in the rock: it is one of Ribadesella's points within the track sites of the Asturian coast. The promenade is flat and fine with a pushchair; there and back, at an easy pace, takes about an hour.

Beach facilities

According to the Turismo Asturias sheet, it has lifeguards every day from 15 June to 15 September, from 11:30 to 19:30, showers, toilets, fountains, beach bars and parking for cars and bicycles, and a system for identifying lost children. It is a smoke-free beach and has held the Q for Tourism Quality since 2004, renewed each year.

For people with reduced mobility there are adapted toilets and showers, reserved parking spaces, a ramp, assisted bathing service and an amphibious chair, which is requested from the lifeguards.

Dogs

From 8 June to 15 September dogs may not be on the sand from 8:00 to 21:00; from 21:00 to 8:00, they may, on a lead. On the paths next to the beach accesses they must be on a fixed lead and, if necessary, muzzled. Outside those dates, the sheet publishes no restriction.

Bear in mind

In season it fills up: if you go by car in summer, arrive early. The groundswell that surfers love means there are days of heavy surf; respect the flags. If you want to try, the surf lesson at Santa Marina takes place on this same beach.

How to combine it

From Punta el Pozu the road that climbs to Tereñes starts, where the cliffs with dinosaur footprints continue. On the other side of the bridge are the old town and the Grúa walk with La Guía chapel, from whose viewpoint the whole beach can be seen. For a meal facing the promenade there is Ayalga, the Villa Rosario restaurant.