Four Marbella beaches receive universal accessibility certification

Marbella has taken another step towards making its coastline more accessible. Puerto Banús, San Pedro Alcántara, La Bajadilla and El Faro have received the UNE 170001-2:2007 Universal Accessibility certification, which assesses how these beaches are organised and managed to meet the needs of people with different abilities.

The certification goes beyond simply providing a ramp or an adapted toilet. It looks at the entire service, from access routes and facilities to procedures for identifying barriers, responding to incidents and continuously improving the experience for visitors.

The recognition forms part of a wider municipal strategy covering Marbella’s approximately 27 kilometres of coastline.

What does the UNE 170001-2:2007 certification mean?

The standard recognises a formal universal accessibility management system.

This means that beaches, facilities and services should be designed and managed so they can be used as independently and safely as possible, regardless of a person’s age or physical, sensory or cognitive abilities.

Accessibility is therefore treated as an ongoing process rather than a one-off improvement.

The system must include measures to identify new needs, maintain existing facilities, remove barriers and respond effectively when problems arise.

Puerto Banús, San Pedro, La Bajadilla and El Faro

The four newly certified beaches are located across different parts of Marbella’s coastline.

Puerto Banús and San Pedro Alcántara extend accessible services towards the western side of the municipality, while La Bajadilla and El Faro are much closer to central Marbella.

Facilities available across adapted beaches can include accessible walkways and routes, adapted toilets and showers, shaded areas and equipment to support assisted bathing.

The aim is to make a day at the Mediterranean more accessible for people with reduced mobility or other support needs.

Assisted bathing with amphibious chairs

One of the most important services is assisted bathing, designed for people who need support entering and leaving the water.

Some adapted beaches offer amphibious chairs and trained assistance staff, as well as dedicated shaded areas and other equipment intended to make the beach experience easier.

During July and August, the assisted bathing service operates from 11am to 8pm, while in June and September the hours are from 11am to 7pm.

Users are advised to follow staff instructions and check availability before using the service.

Nine Marbella beaches offer adapted facilities

The four certified beaches form part of a wider network.

Marbella currently has nine beaches with shaded areas and adapted assistance, distributed across different parts of the municipality.

Depending on the beach, facilities can include reserved parking spaces for people with reduced mobility, walkways towards the shoreline, adapted toilets and assisted bathing equipment.

The wider goal is to ensure that accessibility is not limited to only one or two beaches.

Accessibility depends on management as well as infrastructure

The certification also highlights an important point: an accessible beach is not defined by infrastructure alone.

A walkway needs to remain properly maintained, an adapted toilet must stay operational and assisted bathing requires trained staff. Accessible routes also need to remain free from obstacles.

That is why UNE 170001-2:2007 also focuses on planning, procedures and continuous improvement.

This management-based approach is what turns individual adaptations into a more complete accessibility strategy.

Safety and assistance throughout the beach season

Accessibility is also integrated into Marbella’s wider summer beach safety operation.

The municipality maintains lifeguard and emergency services during the bathing season, supported by rescue equipment, ambulances and other resources.

Technology such as drones is also used to assist with surveillance and to help locate swimmers or people in difficulty in the water.

With these services and the new certification, Marbella aims to make its beaches increasingly accessible to residents and visitors with different mobility and support needs.

Full details on the certification and the measures introduced at Puerto Banús, San Pedro Alcántara, La Bajadilla and El Faro can be found in the official information published by Marbella Town Hall.