ARCHIVED - Population of Aguilas swells to 150,000 during successful summer tourist season

Águilas is packed to the rafters as holidaymakers enjoy the beaches and celebratory events

Great efforts have been made in Águilas lately to reactivate the all-important tourism sector of the local economy now that pandemic restrictions have been lifted, and to judge by the numbers of people in the town this summer they appear to have been reaping dividends.

This last week has marked the peak of the summer tourist season with the “Semana Grande” coinciding with the national holiday on Monday August 15, the celebratory games in and around the port, a plethora of musical events, the annual football match between Lorca and Águilas (a fixture which is reported to be the longest-standing in Spain, dating back to 1901) and numerous other attractions alongside the magnificent beaches of the municipality. The Town Hall estimates that for the spectacular firework display over the bay of Levante on Sunday evening as many as 150,000 people were in Águilas, as opposed to a year-round population of close to 35,000.

People thronged to witness the display to all kinds of vantage point, from the seafront to boats moored in the Mediterranean, the hilltop Sagreda windmill and even the higher ground in the picturesque Rincón del Hornillo district.

At the same time, it is reported that restaurants have been packed throughout the last week as the reputation of the local cuisine grows in prestige, and parking has become even more difficult than has been the case in previous summers. Hotels, it almost goes without saying, have been displaying their “no vacancies” signs.

What’s more, there is good reason to expect that Águilas will continue to be a hive of activity for the remainder of the month, with the schedule including a concert by Fangoria and Las Nancys Rubias on August 17, the Drag Queen gala on August 19 and the Pride Águilas event on August 20, as well as the final night of the highly acclaimed Águilas Jazz Festival on August 26.

Image: Mari Soler, winner of the Águilas Fireworks photography competition in 2018

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