Playa de San Juan de Nieva, Protected beach in Salinas, Spain

Playa de San Juan de Nieva is the eastern end of the sandbank between the La Peñona rock outcrop in Salinas and the left bank of the Avilés estuary, near San Juan de Nieva in Castrillón, Asturias. It is about 500 metres long with fine golden sand and is bordered by the Las dunas del Espartal dune system. The beach is also known as El Espartal.

The eastern end of the Salinas sandbank, by the rocky outcrop of La Peñona and the left bank of the Avilés estuary, is also called El Espartal. The dune field behind it, Las dunas del Espartal, is a protected ecosystem that serves as a stopover for migratory birds. The beach has repeatedly received the ADEAC blue flag.

The beach is also called El Espartal, a name shared with the dune system behind it, Las dunas del Espartal. Surfers from Salinas and Avilés use its strong waves, and anglers fish from the jetty that separates the sand from the mouth of the Avilés estuary.

Access is by car with its own parking area, on foot, via bus line L-15 (Avilés–San Juan) or the C-3 Cercanías Asturias rail line. The beach has lifeguard and rescue equipment, danger signage, toilets, showers, a telephone, bins and food and drink outlets. The breakwater separating the beach from the mouth of the Avilés estuary is a spot for fishing.

The dune system behind the beach is called Las Dunas del Espartal and is a protected area. It serves as a stopover for many bird species during migration. The beach has received the Blue Flag awarded by ADEAC for several consecutive years.