Playa de Luarca, Protected beach in Ḷḷuarca, Spain

Playa de Luarca, also called the first and second beaches of Luarca, lies beside the fishing harbour of Ḷḷuarca in Valdés, Asturias. The two shell-shaped coves total 480 m in length with an average width of about 80 m, made of fine sand and rocks; a rocky outcrop mid-way separates them, and the río Negro flows out here.

The two shell-shaped beaches, known as the first and second of Luarca, lie beside the fishing port of the town called the Villa Blanca. After the west breakwater was rebuilt, the third beach, Salinas, was separated from them by that jetty alone. The Punta Atalaya lighthouse stands nearby, and the Río Negro empties into the sea here.

The two beaches are known as the first and second beaches of Ḷḷuarca, divided by rocks near their midpoint; the western breakwater now separates them from the third beach, Salinas. The river Negro flows into the sea here, and the Punta Atalaya lighthouse stands nearby. In summer the sand fills with bathers, and the beach holds the designation "Special Category" because of the crowds and emergency risk.

The beach is reached by stairs leading down from the village, with free parking available nearby. Restaurants and cafés are within easy walking distance, making a visit easy to plan.

At high tide the beach becomes much narrower as water covers parts of the sand, while low tide reveals a much larger area to explore. This change creates two quite different experiences of the same place.