Low season is just around the corner, and the thriftiest tourists are already planning on spending their holidays on a picture-perfect beach… armed with a smartphone to make sure their friends and co-workers who are already back home go green with envy!
A big part of going on holiday is sharing the experience on social media, especially if you’re treating yourself to a stay on a beautiful beach, the kind that even look goods without filters. In Spain has some of the most popular beaches on Instagram, but which ones were the most popular and sought after by tourists from around the world in the summer of 2019?
At Lookout Pro, we published a study conducted by Holidu, the search engine for holiday rentals, which compared hashtags from more than 500 beaches both this year and last year to see where the most popular holiday spots are this summer. Are you ready to discover them?
1. Tossa de Mar Beach, Catalonia – 108.54% more hashtags than last summer
Tossa de Mar, Girona, is one of the most charming villages on the Costa Brava. Not only has it been the scene for multiple film shoots, but it also offers beachgoers a view of the Vila Vella, an imposing 12th-century medieval castle with stone walls that towers over the town from above.
Perhaps that’s why the beach has become the most fashionable Spanish beach on Instagram this summer, with 1500 #tossademarbeach hashtags it has seen an unparalleled increase of over 100% compared to just 761 posts last year.
2. Santa Ponsa, Balearic Islands – 97.51% more hashtags than last summer
Santa Ponsa in Majorca is a spacious beach offering perfect conditions for swimming and a wide range of water sports, in addition to offering a pleasant promenade full of restaurants and shops.
It comes as no surprise then that many have chosen it for their summer holidays, immortalising it in selfies and tagging it in almost 2000 posts, an increase of nearly 98% compared to the 1004 #santaponsabeach hashtags for the same dates in 2018.
3. Corralejo Beach, Canary Islands – 77.89% more hashtags than last summer
Corralejo is more than a beach. It is a celebrity; its fine sands and clear turquoise waters have placed it among the most desired beaches on Instagram, and it’s also a favourite among Google users, who have given it a rating of 4.8 out of 5.
You can take great photos among the dunes, or even with a camel! With all these charms #corralejobeach has jumped in popularity this year from around 5000 to almost 9000 hashtags, increasing its popularity on the well-known social media platform by 77.89%.
4. El Cotillo, Canary Islands – 71.15% more hashtags than last summer
El Cotillo seduces an ever greater number of beachgoers by offering one of the most beautiful beaches on the Canary Islands – on both sides of the town! The southern beach is a magnet for adventurers: surfers, windsurfers and kitesurfers.
The northern beach is beautiful, featuring lagoons that extend beyond the lighthouse and invite visitors to relax and disconnect from it all. That’s why #elcotillobeach is emerging this year with over 4000 mentions, surpassing the 2381 hashtags in 2018 by 71.15%.
5. Torremolinos, Andalusia – 65.45% more hashtags than last summer
Torremolinos is a star destination on the Costa del Sol, known for its beaches, nightlife, variety of restaurants, shops, golf courses and even theme parks!
With all these attractions, its Andalusian beaches attract countless national and international tourists, who can access the beach easily via the Malaga – Costa del Sol Airport.
This beach has all the ingredients to have a big impact on social media, which is why the #torremolinosbeach hashtag has seen a 65% increase this year, leaping from 3795 mentions last year to over 6000 this summer.
6. Zarautz Beach, Basque Country – 59.64% more hashtags than last summer
The beautiful Zarautz Beach is the most visited beach along the Basque Coast. To back up this claim, the beach offers more than two kilometres of fine golden sand, picturesque blue-striped awnings, a lively promenade full of bars, cafés and restaurants, and one of the best surfing communities in Europe, thanks to the ideal conditions the beach offers for beginners.
So, it comes as no surprise that this beach has stolen the heart of Instagrammers, who in 2018 used the #zarautzbeach hashtag 3823 times, and this year it jumped to over 6000 mentions.
7. Cofete Beach, Canary Islands – 54.63% more hashtags than last year
Cofete is another prize-winning beach, both on Instagram and among Google users, who have given it a spectacular 4.9 out of 5. The beach is in Fuerteventura, and this wild paradise can only be accessed via dirt roads.
The beautiful, vast stretch of virgin golden sand offers spectacular views and is an unbeatable setting for your summer photos. So, it’s not surprising that the #playadecofete hashtag has seen a boost in numbers this year – from 2460 to over 3800.
8. Cala Millor, Balearic Islands – 53.53% more hashtags than last summer
Cala Millor in Majorca is a wide urban beach with almost two kilometres of white sands, clear water and all the facilities you need. It also has an attractive promenade that stretches from one side to the next that even has a bike lane.
The water temperature is ideal for taking a dip, and the location lends itself to excellent photos. So naturally, the #calamillorbeach hashtag has increased its popularity this summer, jumping from 3811 to almost 6000 mentions.
9. Playa de Muro, Balearic Islands – 51.78% more hashtags than last summer
The largest sandy area in Majorca is located in the town of Muro and covers around 6 kilometres in total, divided into four sections. Beautiful white sandy dunes make for a stunning landscape in contrast with crystal clear waters and a gentle sea breeze.
Its shallow waters mean you can still touch the bottom until you are very far from the coast so that you can enjoy a carefree day at the beach, even with children. So that’s why #playademuro has gained followers on social media, reaching almost 50,000 hashtags, 50% more than the tally of 30,655 last summer.
10. La Barrosa, Andalusia – 50.46% more hashtags than last summer
La Barrosa in Cádiz is a fantastic beach with soft white sands and stunning sunsets. The beach has showers and bathrooms and has numerous beach bars and cafés with a wide variety of cuisine on offer.
Beachgoers have attested to this by sharing over 5,000 photos of the beach on Instagram this summer under the #playalabarrosa hashtag, 50% more than the 3343 mentions in 2018.
