Calpe Beach Clean-Up Removes 100kg of Waste from Cala Manzanera Cove
Community members in the coastal town of Calpe, on Spain's Costa Blanca, teamed up earlier this month to give one of the area's beloved coves a thorough clean, hauling away roughly 100 kilograms of debris from Cala Manzanera as part of a World Oceans Day initiative.
According to Euro Weekly News, the effort brought together local residents, conservation-minded volunteers and environmental organisations, who spent hours combing the shoreline and collecting waste that had accumulated along the rocks and sand.
Why It Matters for Visitors
Calpe is one of the most visited spots on the Alicante coast, drawing travellers with its dramatic Peñón de Ifach rock, sheltered swimming coves and family-friendly promenades. Cala Manzanera itself is a smaller, quieter alternative to the town's busier main beaches, popular with snorkellers and those looking to escape the crowds.
For travellers, the clean-up is a reminder of two things. First, the Mediterranean coastline remains under pressure from plastic waste, cigarette butts and single-use packaging — much of which is left behind by beachgoers during the busy summer months. Second, local communities are actively working to keep these spots pristine, and visitors can easily lend a hand.
How Travellers Can Help
Environmental associations along the Costa Blanca regularly organise beach clean-ups throughout the summer season, and most welcome participation from tourists. If you are staying in Calpe, Benidorm, Altea or Moraira, ask at your hotel reception or the local tourist office about upcoming events — no experience or Spanish fluency is required, and gloves and bags are typically provided.
Simple everyday habits also make a difference: carrying a reusable water bottle, taking rubbish back to bins rather than leaving it on the sand, and avoiding single-use plastics at beachside kiosks all reduce the load on volunteers.
Cala Manzanera remains open and accessible to swimmers and sunbathers, and the recent effort means visitors arriving this summer will find the cove looking noticeably cleaner. For those who care about sustainable travel, initiatives like this offer a small but meaningful way to give something back to the Spanish coastline that so many holidaymakers enjoy each year.