Eco Beach, on the Kasarkod side of the Sharavathi River mouth, was one of the first eight Indian beaches to earn the international Blue Flag certification in 2020. The certification is about how a beach is run and you notice it as soon as you walk in: the sand is raked, bins are everywhere, there are clean toilets and changing rooms, lifeguards on duty and wheelchair-friendly paths down to the water.
The beach faces due west, so evenings are the main event. Families arrive around five, children take over the play area and the whole stretch turns gold as the sun drops into the Arabian Sea. Mornings are quieter and good for a long walk south along the shoreline.
Swim only in the flagged zone and only when the lifeguards allow it. The Arabian Sea has strong currents and swimming is not allowed during the monsoon (June to September).
Like the estuary next to it, Eco Beach sits close to the site of a proposed private port. Visiting and talking about this coast helps make the case for protecting it.
Tips
- If the gates are closed, the open beach at the Sharavathi River estuary next door is always accessible.
- Carry a bag for your own trash. The Blue Flag status depends on it.
