A beach in Lanzarote has been closed to swimmers after tests revealed microbiological contamination in the water. Playa Dorada, in the resort town of Playa Blanca, was shut on Tuesday (June 4) following an alert from Public Health officials.

Water samples taken from the beach on Monday showed signs of pollution, prompting Yaiza Town Council to impose a temporary ban on locals and tourists entering the water. The council is urging visitors to Playa Dorada to stay out of the water while investigations into the cause of contamination are carried out. More samples are being taken to monitor the situation. 

In a statement, the council asked the public to respect the warning and added that the safety of beachgoers is its top priority, reported Canarian Weekly.

The beach will only reopen once tests confirm the water is safe for swimming.

For those on holiday on the popular Canary Island and worried that their beach day has been thrown into chaos, multiple nearby beaches remain open and have not been affected by the contamination. This includes the popular Papagayo coves within the Los Ajaches Natural Monument, Playa Flamingo and the smaller beach in the heart of Playa Blanca.

The Canary Islands fared particularly badly in the newly released Blue Flag beaches list for 2025. 

A Blue Flag beach is an internationally recognised award given to beaches that meet high standards for environmental quality, safety and amenities. It signifies a clean, safe and environmentally managed beach. 

However, the islands, which also include Tenerife and La Palma, were awarded only 47 Blue Flags this year, nine fewer than t received in 2023. This made it the Spanish region with the biggest drop.