Spanish Banks gives you some of the most beautiful and popular beaches in Vancouver. Fronting on the shores of English Bay in the West Point Grey neighbourhood, Spanish Banks are a chain of sun-soaked, sandy beaches that seem to extend forever when the tide is low.
Spanish Banks are part of Vancouver’s seawall. They are sandwiched between Locarno Beach to the east and the University of British Columbia’s Jericho Beach to the west, forming an uninterrupted shoreline that runs for miles. There are dozens of volleyball courts, plenty of amenities, ice cream kiosks, coffee vendors, and kite-flying spots to have fun on the windy days.
Where Is Spanish Banks In Vancouver?
Spanish Banks are located on Northwest Marine Drive about a 20-kilometer drive westbound from downtown Vancouver.
Spanish Banks Beach Address: 4801 NW Marine Dr, Vancouver, BC V6T 1E2.
Features and Facilities at Spanish Banks
Spanish Banks are full of beach-related amenities and facilities that cover all three sections of the shore, including the east, the west, and the extension.
Facilities on Spanish Banks East:
- Concession
- Public washrooms
- Barbeques
- Picnic tables
- Ten volleyball courts
- Parking lot
- Lifeguards from Victoria Day to Labor Day (late May to early September)
Facilities on Spanish Banks West:
- Designated quiet beach (amplified sound is not permitted)
- Concession
- Public washrooms
- Barbeques
- Picnic tables
- Eight volleyball courts
- Dog off-leash park
- Parking lot
- Lifeguards from Victoria Day to Labor Day (late May to early September)
Facilities on Spanish Banks Extension:
- Barbeques
- Parking lot
- Lifeguards from Victoria Day to Labor Day (late May to early September) – weather permitting
- Dog off-leash area.
What Is Spanish Banks Famous For?
When the tide peters out, the sandy flats emerge, beckoning hordes of visitors to indulge in everything beach-related. Spanish Banks is famous for its one-kilometer tidal difference that you can easily walk out the mid-chest.
As you walk along the seawall, you’ll find plenty of grassy areas to throw a BBQ, picnics, and sports fields that are always full of people. They engage in a hike, walk their dogs, sunbathe, and play water sports. Plus, Spanish Banks is so famous for skimboarding that it even hosts an annual competition every summer.
Best Things To Do At Spanish Banks
Spanish Banks is broken into three areas: the east, the west, and the extension. Generally speaking, all three sides share many features and activities in common. All the beaches are connected to the Stanley Park Seawall system, backed by the grassy knolls, and have logs for sitting on. However, there are some mere variances amongst them three.
What to Do at Spanish Banks East?
The beach east side of Spanish Banks is equipped with up to ten sandy volleyball courts operated on a first-come, first-served basis. Lifeguards are available from Victoria Day to Labor Day, and an aromatic concession stand is also available. If you’re looking for a skimboarding spot, head to the east of Spanish Banks where you’ll find many shallow pools and waves to defy gravity with tricks, spins, and turns.
The east side is also the busiest out of three as it’s the first one you encounter when coming from downtown Vancouver. It has plenty of BBQ spots to bond, home to Spanish Banks Beach Park, and van-living regulars. Amplified music is permitted at Spanish Banks East.
Location: west of Tolmie Street on Northwest Marine Drive.
What to Do at Spanish Bank West?
The west side of Spanish Banks is similar to the east but it’s a tad quieter since no amplified music is permitted. You’ll find eight volleyball courts, lifeguards in the summer, and a concession stand. Spanish Banks West is also a popular section for dog walkers with an extensive off-leash area.
Location: west of Spanish Bank East on Northwest Marine Drive.
What to Do at Spanish Banks Extension?
Spanish Banks Extension is the final leg before it meets a much narrower and rocky shoreline towards Acadia Beach. Out of three, Spanish Banks Extension is the quietest area without many facilities found at the east and west. Therefore, the extension calls for a more intimate gathering and small BBQ party along the wooded areas and piles of driftwood.
The Extension also has a kiteboarding launching zone for spectating. Dogs can run off-leash in a grassy park, which marks the very end of Vancouver’s famous Seawall.
Location: west of Spanish Bank West.
Is Spanish Banks Dog-Friendly?
Yes, Spanish Banks is dog-friendly with off-leash areas along the West and Extension sections. You’ll find a large expanse of pebbly beach backed by a lush, unfenced meadow where you and your four-legged friends can burn some energies, play fetch, and swim. When the tide is out, there is lots of space about a half kilometer to head down onto the mudflats to play in the tidal pools in a fairly safe setting.
One thing to keep in mind is that the off-leash area has no fence, while the grass field fronts onto a parking lot. So make sure to keep your eyes out on your pooch! A dog license is required, and no digging nor nuisance barking is allowed.
Do Spanish Banks Have Free Parking?
There is no free parking at Spanish Banks. Parking with a fee is applied to all parking lots around Spanish Banks from April 1st to September 30th at a rate of $3.50 an hour or $13 a day between 6 am and 10 pm. (no overnight parking permitted).
- Spanish Banks Central Parking Lot Address: Vancouver, BC V6T 1X8.
- Spanish Banks West Parking Lot A Address: NW Marine Dr, Vancouver, BC V6T 1X8.
- Spanish Banks West Parking Lot B Address: NW Marine Dr, Vancouver, BC V6T 1X8.
Why Is It Called Spanish Banks?
Historically, Spanish Banks was the name of the meeting place where English Captain George Vancouver and the Spanish explorers Galiano and Valdés met in June 1792. However, the sandbanks were not displayed on Captain George Vancouver’s map and only shown on the map of Galiano’s. The Hudson’s Bay Company started to call the area Spanish Banks for this reason, which remains the same until today.
Can You Swim at Spanish Banks?
Yes, the beach at Spanish Banks is relatively safe to swim but you want to check the E. Coli counts report Vancouver Coastal Health and tide times before coming. However, swimming is not the most popular activity here. Skimboarding, water sports, kite flying, and hiking are more beloved. In terms of water temperature, note that the Pacific Ocean around Vancouver is typically very cold even in the summer.
Do Spanish Banks Have Picnic Tables?
Yes, Spanish Banks have plenty of picnic tables all around the grassy field outside of the sandy shore.
Best Time to Visit Spanish Banks and Safety Tips
You can drop by Spanish Banks almost any time of the year. But summer is the busiest time to visit the beach. In addition, tides have a big impact on the shore throughout the day. You can look for the tide schedule if you hang out with your kids or pooch. Make sure to come at low tide when the beach is flat with shallow water as it’s safer for children to play.
Check out other attractions and exciting things to do in Vancouver: