Suances

Suances is a beach and surf town on the coast of Cantabria, at the mouth of the Saja estuary about 20 km west of Santander in a straight line. Reach it by car on the CA-132 from Viveda, or by bus from Torrelavega and Santander; its beaches line the estuary and the cliffs around Punta del Dichoso, with Los Locos the surf beach. It suits families and surfers who want several beaches within walking distance; skip it if you want an old town to explore, which you will find at Santillana del Mar, 6 km away.

Quick facts

• Names: Suances. The town was formerly called San Martín de la Arena, and the estuary is still the Ría de San Martín de la Arena, or Ría de Suances (Wikipedia).
• Where: central-western coast of Cantabria, between Santillana del Mar to the west and the Saja estuary, which separates it from Miengo, to the east.
• Coordinates: 43.4260, -4.0416 (the town; the beaches lie 1–2 km north).
• Municipality: 9,034 inhabitants (INE 2025), with the villages of Cortiguera, Hinojedo, Ongayo, Puente Avíos and Tagle.
• Roman past: spain.info calls it the former Portus Blendium of the Romans, with Roman finds made next to its church (Spain.info); some historians place Portus Vereasueca here instead.
• Beaches: six, west to east: El Sable (Tagle), La Tablía, Los Locos, La Concha, La Ribera and La Riberuca.

Access and parking

By car: the CA-132 runs from Viveda to Suances, and the CA-351 links Santillana del Mar with Suances (Wikipedia).

By bus: Autobuses Casanova runs lines from Torrelavega to Suances, Tagle and Ubiarco, and La Cantábrica runs Santander–Suances and Santander–Ubiarco. We could not confirm timetables or fares.

By air: Santander airport is the nearest; we did not find an official transfer to Suances.

Parking: Spain.info lists La Concha and La Ribera as reachable on foot or by car and Los Locos as reachable on foot. We could not confirm the location or charges of public car parks; in July and August arrive early.

The beaches

Spain.info groups the town’s beaches around Punta del Dichoso, a natural harbour backed by cliffs. Figures are from its beach pages.

• La Concha: the town beach, about 1,000 m by 60 m, shell-shaped along the town centre, with some dunes at one end and a campsite nearby. Showers, footwash and a sports area (Spain.info).
• Los Locos: 350 m of sand and pebbles beyond Punta del Dichoso, rated strong waves and windy, with a surf practice area, showers and a promenade with open-air bars (Spain.info). Spain.info calls it ideal for surfing.
• La Ribera: 120 m of sand inside the estuary, protected by a sea wall, with calm water, bars and the fishing port at one end, and a ramp to the sand (Spain.info).
• La Riberuca: 300 m on the estuary beyond the fishing port, calm water, trees behind and small boats at anchor (Spain.info).
• El Sable (Tagle): 200 m of sand west of town, with a promenade (Spain.info). Spain.info says the beach of Tagle is the place for sunsets.
• Cuchía: across the estuary in Miengo, 300 m of sand with a bar-restaurant, disabled parking and wheelchair ramps; a long breakwater separates it from La Concha (Spain.info).

What to see

Suances grew as a resort from the mid-19th century, when sea bathing brought summer visitors who built villas; the sea wall (malecón) of 1878 split the original beach in two and let the town spread down to the shore (Wikipedia).

• Punta del Dichoso and the lighthouse: the low limestone headland between La Concha and Los Locos, called Roca Blanca or Piedra Blanca locally, with the Suances lighthouse at its tip (OpenStreetMap).
• Defensas del Torco: 17th-century gun batteries on the headland, restored, built against attacks from the sea.
• Castillo de Ceruti: a 1904 building above Los Locos.
• Church of Nuestra Señora de las Lindes: the 17th-century parish church in the upper town.
• Cueva de Las Brujas: a cave at La Gerra, protected as an archaeological site, with finger markings thought to be Upper Palaeolithic. We found no public visiting arrangement.

Los Locos also gave its name to a 1955 novel by Elena Soriano, and José María de Pereda set his novel La puchera (1889) here.

Surfing

Los Locos is the surf beach: spain.info rates it strong waves and windy and lists a surf practice area, as it does at Luaña in Cóbreces, 15 km west. The estuary beaches, La Ribera and La Riberuca, are the calm-water alternative for children. We could not confirm current surf school operators or prices.

Accessibility and safety

Best time to visit

July and August are the beach months, with spain.info giving a typical maximum of 21 °C and water around 16 °C. For quieter beaches, come in June or September.

Nearby alternatives

• Santillana del Mar, 6.4 km: the medieval village and collegiate church.
• Camping Santillana del Mar, 6.9 km: the nearest campsite on CostaMap.
• Altamira, 8.5 km: the museum and Neocueva replica of the cave.
• Santander, 19.5 km: the regional capital and its beaches.
• Comillas, 20.8 km: Gaudí’s El Capricho.
• San Vicente de la Barquera, 29.4 km: the fishing town by the Oyambre park.

Distances are in a straight line from the town. For the whole western stretch, see our San Vicente de la Barquera to Suances guide.

FAQ

Is Suances good for surfing?

Yes. Los Locos is the surf beach, which spain.info calls ideal for surfing and rates strong waves and windy.

Which is the best beach in Suances?

La Concha for a long town beach with services, Los Locos for surf, and La Ribera or La Riberuca for calm water on the estuary.

How do I get to Suances by bus?

Autobuses Casanova runs from Torrelavega and La Cantábrica from Santander. Check current timetables with the operators.

How far is Suances from Santillana del Mar?

About 6 km in a straight line; the CA-351 road links the two.

Is there a lighthouse in Suances?

Yes, on Punta del Dichoso between La Concha and Los Locos, next to the restored 17th-century Torco batteries.

Sources and freshness