Esther Luna
Hi, I’m Esther — the person behind Best Spain Beaches.
A note on the byline: “Esther Luna” is a pen name under which this site is researched, written and published — not a stage name for a public figure, just how the work is signed. The About the Author page sets out how these guides are put together.
I grew up exploring Spain’s coastline one cove at a time, and somewhere along the way, what started as a personal habit turned into something closer to an obsession. I’ve spent years tracking down the beaches most guidebooks skip: the ones with no road sign, no chiringuito, and no crowd — just clear water, a steep little path to get there, and the kind of view that makes the walk worth it. I’ve also spent plenty of days on the beaches everyone already knows, because sometimes the obvious choice really is the right one, and someone should say so honestly.
This site exists because I got tired of choosing between two kinds of beach content: glossy listicles that recycle the same five photos, or forum threads buried in comments from 2014. I wanted something in between — real, specific, useful information, checked against what the town halls, the regional beach registers and the natural park authorities actually publish rather than copied from the site next door. Some of these beaches I know well; others I have researched carefully but not yet reached. Where I have not been somewhere, the guide sticks to what can be verified and does not invent an afternoon I did not have.
Every guide on this site follows the same approach. I research each beach in depth — what the sand or pebbles are actually like underfoot, how the water behaves in different seasons, what’s worth doing nearby, and the practical details that make or break a visit, like where to park, when the crowds peak, and whether you’ll need water shoes. I’d rather tell you a beach has tricky access or gets uncomfortably busy in August than oversell it and let you find out the hard way.
Spain’s coastline is enormous and wildly varied — from the volcanic coves of Cabo de Gata to the pine-backed inlets of the Costa Brava and the wind-whipped dune beaches of the Atlantic south. I’m working my way through as much of it as I can, region by region, and adding new guides regularly. If there’s a beach you think deserves a closer look, I’d genuinely love to hear about it.
Thanks for reading, and I hope these guides help you find your own favourite stretch of Spanish coast.
Guides by Esther Luna
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Spanish Property Taxes for Americans: What You Pay Every Year on a Beach Home (2026)
Spanish property taxes for American owners: the yearly tax on an empty home, IBI, rental income at 24%, the court case over expenses, tax when you sell and how it fits your U.S. return.
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Hurt on a Spanish Beach? Hospital Costs in Spain for American Tourists (2026 Prices)
Hospital costs in Spain for American tourists, from an official 2026 public price list: emergency visits, hospital days, ICU, ambulances and common emergencies, plus how to pay and claim.
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Spanish Mortgage for Americans: How Much Banks Lend Non-Residents, and at What Cost (2026)
A Spanish mortgage for Americans: how much banks lend non-residents, 2026 rates from official data, what the bank must pay by law, early repayment caps and the currency risk on dollar income.
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Buying Property in Spain as an American: The Real Cost of a Beach Apartment (2026)
Buying property in Spain as an American: purchase taxes by region, a worked cost example, the NIE, the stalled 100% tax, Ley de Costas checks and the US forms that apply.
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Travel Insurance for Spain from the US (2026): What Actually Covers a Beach Trip
Spain does not require travel insurance from US tourists, but you must pay for medical care there. What actually matters for a beach trip, what EU flight rights already cover, and what to buy.
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Does Medicare Cover You in Spain? A Beach-Trip Guide for US Seniors (2026)
Original Medicare almost never pays for care in Spain. Here is what Medigap and Medicare Advantage really cover on a Spanish beach trip, the 60-day rule, and why evacuation cover matters most.