Costa Calida Information

Take time to enjoy the lifestyle of Spain in the Mar Menor region. The fabulous stretches of unspoilt beaches, the busy bars and restaurants where you can enjoy fabulous seafood, meats and cheeses at very reasonable prices. Not to mention the wines ... visit the local bodegas (wine cellars) and get a real taste of Spain. If you prefer to shop, the busy towns of Murcia and Cartagena both have excellent shopping centres. There is an outdoor market taking place in a village every day of the week in the area. The largest and busiest market of all is at Cabo de Palos on a Sunday morning, here you will find everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to leather goods, and all that there is in between! If you want a more active holiday then visit the beach club at Mar de Cristal, for windsurfing, jet ski-ing and kite surfing. Even horse riding lessons can be arranged at the local riding stables!

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE AREA
Murcia was founded in 831 and lies in the middle of the valley through which the River Segura flows. Murcia has the added attraction of “two seas” on one coastline; the Mediterranean with its endless beaches of white sand, crystal clear water, magnificent cliffs, lively ports and picturesque coves and the Mar Menor which was originally an open bay but is now a large costal lake of warm seawater measuring 170km.

The area has a magnificent climate and there are more than 3,000 hours of sun and even winter temperatures are an average of 18° C! A perfect location for swimming, fishing, sailing, water skiing and scuba diving, in fact virtually all watersports. There is of course, a wealth of golf courses available and comfortable accommodation; hotels, pensions campsites and rural houses.

Inland offers conservation areas with a wide range of bird life, the opportunity to go horse riding, cycling, walking, climbing, trekking and the chance to savour the rural sights and enjoy the peaceful rural accommodation. This area is an historical adventure with cave dwellings and paintings, incredible architecture and museums. A perfect place for an energetic or relaxing holiday! There are two airports; San Javier which is situated on the north shore of the “Mar Menor” and the “El Altet” airport at Alicante which is approximately 11 kilometres west from the city with easy access to the A7 motorway

Local Information

Coastal Destinations Two seas on one coastline - the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean - , impressive cliffs, heavenly beaches of endless white sand, lively ports and wild coves with crystal clear water, more than 3,000 hours of sun a year and mild temperatures - even in winter - with a yearly average of more than 18ºC. This is the Costa Calida, the ideal place to spend some days relaxing both in winter and summer.

From the fishing town of Aguilas to the white dunes of the beach of El Mojon in San Pedro del Pinatar, stretch kilometre after kilometre of beaches and deserted coves awaiting the arrival of the bather, the sailor, the diver or the fisherman. In addition, there are delightful picturesque fishing villages, like La Azohia or Cabo de Palos where you can lose yourself for a few days; ports like the one in Mazarron where you can spend a lively evening and enjoy its magnificent gastronomy after a day on the beach; heavenly areas of natural beauty, unique in the whole Mediterranean, at the beaches of Calblanque and Calnegre... and one of the most highly considered tourist complexes in the Mediterranean: La Manga del Mar Menor, a paradise between two seas with infinite beaches, sandy sea beds and crystalline waters, and endowed with an excellent hotel infrastructure.

Furthermore, fans of water sports will find one of the best places in the world for practicing sailing, canoeing, swimming, water-skiing, jet-skiing, fly surfing, windsurfing, catamaranning, and every other type of water sport activity in its numerous clubs, ports and sailing schools. The Nautical Resort on the Mar Menor and similar consortiums in Mazarron and Aguilas offer the chance to hire out equipment, book sailing courses and reserve accommodation at extremely reasonable rates.

Mar Menor Large pond,

Since distant times, the wealth of its water, the kindness of the climate and the beauty of the area as a whole attracted many people. The Iberians and Phoenicians and, later, the Arabs have a part in the history of the Mar Menor. In the Moslem period, it was known as the Mar Chico, and the place known today as Los Alcázares (from the Arabic ´Al-Ksar´, literally translated as "place of residence") was chosen for their recreational houses. The continuous skirmishes with pirates from Algeria led to the need to construct watchtowers, some of which are conserved today, such as that of El Ramé or Rami. Until the 18th century, the area was occupied only by inhabitants dedicated to fishing and to the exploitation of the salt flats. From the 19th century, these centres gradually became centres for recreation and relaxation for the inhabitants of La Huerta, who established their summer residence next to the coast, attracted mainly by the curative properties of its brackish water. Even today, the Mar Menor remains faithful to the concept of ´residential area´ characterized by rest and tranquility.

The warm waters of the Mar Menor, with a maximum depth of 7 meters, hold the ideal conditions and means for those who enjoy open or group sailing. Furthermore, visitors to this area can enjoy all the advantages of the Sailing Station of the Mar Menor, which in keeping with the ski station concept, offers a set of sailing, sports and tourist infrastructures together with hotels, accommodation and establishments for leisure and learning grouped together in one place: the entire Shore area of the Mar Menor and La Manga. This large saltwater lake has ideal climatic conditions (315 days of sunshine per year and an average annual temperature of 18ºC) for the continuous practice of water sports.

The descriptive name of La Manga (the sleeve) holds an interesting geographical layout which has become one of the symbols that best identifies the coast of Murcia as a tourist resort: a chain that stretches along approximately 24 km from Cabo de Palos to the Punta del Mojón, and is the natural limit of the salt water lake known as the Mar Menor. Originally, what is now known as La Manga del Mar Menor was a bay open to the Mediterranean; at either end, volcanic reefs gradually held back the sand and sediment that was dragged along by the sea currents to form a sandy column of dunes and rock vegetation and long beaches in contact with two seas: the Mediterranean and the Menor. La Manga is a narrow piece of land with a width that varies between 200 m and 1 and a half km. It is cut off by natural channels that keep the two seas in contact with each other; the so-called ´golas´ allow water from the Mediterranean into the lake. As such, the space was kept virgin until the 60´s, when La Manga was ´discovered´ as a tourist resort and underwent a transformation which included the urbanisation of the area and the construction of tourist infrastructures

Nowadays, everything in La Manga has been designed to enhance the visitor's stay. Complete hotel installations, with a network of establishments with maximum qualification (including a five-star hotel), located at strategic points, apartment complexes, sailing ports, sailing schools, recreational centres, supermarkets, shops, bars, discos... everything you need for a complete holiday. In winter and autumn, La Manga is kept open, since its population is constant all year round. Winter is an ideal period for those in search of peace and quiet, with the necessary services and infrastructures.

Due to it being located between two seas, La Manga is also an ideal place for water sports. There are sailing and skiing schools that run periodical courses, as well as windsurfing and catamarans. The Mediterranean can be enjoyed by those who prefer high waves for windsurfing and the entire coast also offers a series of areas that are ideally suited and perfectly isolated for diving, such as Cabo de Palos and the rocky depths next to Isla Grosa.

Furthermore, visitors to this area can enjoy all the advantages of the Sailing Station of the Mar Menor, which in keeping with the ski station concept, offers a set of sailing, sports and tourist infrastructures together with hotels, accommodation and establishments for leisure and learning grouped together in one place: the entire Shore area of the Mar Menor and La Manga. The exceptional climatic conditions of the area (315 days of sunshine per year and an average annual temperature of 18ºC) are ideal for the continuous practice of water sports.

The bay of Mazarron is a gulf area that extends from Cabo Tinoso to Cabo Cope. A coastline that is rich in diversity, where you can find an abundance of breathtaking forms of excavations, or erosions, hence carving out almost 40 beaches. Added to this – a winter average temperature of 18 degrees and a summer average temperature of 32 degrees, plus 320 days of sunshine per year, you can appreciate that the bay of Mazarron is a real paradise.

The bay of Mazarron is one of Spain’s best-kept secrets, with its own fishing port and over 35 klm of spectacular coastline. Far away from the busy tourist resorts but with easy access to both Alicante and Murcia airports.

World Health Organisation statistics – state that the Costa Calida has one of the healthiest climates in Europe.

Cartagena The coast of Cartagena is very varied and along its entire length has different landscapes ranging from high cliffs with hidden coves to large bays to delight any bather, from those in search of comfort and the entire range of services to travelers looking for untouched countryside.

If the visitor starts his journey along the coast of Cartagena from the west, he will come across the villages of Isla Plana and La Azohía, which, with their large sandy beaches and mountain views, are traditional summer resorts. La Azohía has a beautiful polygonal defence tower from the 16th century and is famous for tuna fishing, an age-old art practiced by the Arabs. Beyond La Punta de la Azohía, the coast changes to cliffs, with solitary beaches such as Cala Cerrada and Cala Abierta, excellent places for bathing, accessible by sea or by walking down paths, ideal for those who enjoy both active tourism and peace and quiet. After rounding Cabo Tiñoso, an excellent vantage point at an altitude of over 300 m, the traveler reaches an area of virgin coast, dominated by the Mountain Range of La Muela, which has been protected as a result of its high natural value.

To the east of Cartagena, there are different landscapes which include the Regional Park of Calblanque, a privileged area of the coast of Murcia. It has a wealth of species of fauna and flora, with geographical formations as varied as coves, large beaches, fossil dunes, salt flats and mountain slopes, with various routes for visiting the park. Further on are the protected coves of Cala Flores and Cala Reona, near to Cabo de Palos. This area, which also includes the surroundings of Islas Hormigas and Isla Grosa, is especially interesting for divers due to the fauna and flora that live on the rocky sea bottom. In the Mar Menor area, Playa Honda, Mar de Cristal and Islas Menores are villages of summer and seafaring tradition and are popular with the faithful tourist who returns year after year in search of its peaceful environment. This also happens in Los Nietos, a small fishing village which fills to the brim in summer. Further to the north, in Los Urrutias, is the Regatta Club of the Mar Menor. In the village of Los Belones, very near to La Manga, there is an important Golf complex with 54 holes; it also has tennis courts, areas for learning to play golf and a gymnasium. A complete sports offer in beautiful natural surroundings. There are also two horse riding centres in the same area for those who prefer a relaxing trek on horseback.

The coast of Cartagena is completed with La Manga, a wide section of land surrounded by two seas, with long fine sandy beaches and equipped with all the tourist infrastructures you could need for an excellent holiday.

Local Sports & Entertainment

Blue flag beaches – some of the best in southern Spain, Bowling, Flat countryside suitable for Cycling, many Dive Centres, Fishing, Go Karting, Horse riding, Jeep Safaris, Quad biking, Sailing, Snorkeling in the warm waters of the med, Superb golf courses within a short drive from Mazarron, promenades and country walks.

Mazarron Bay

Mazarron, 7 klm inland is a bustling little town and Puerto de Mazarron has an active fishing harbour with colourful little boats and fishermen repairing their nets on the quay side. The main tourist attraction of Puerto de Mazarron are the beautiful beaches that stretch along the coast from La Azohia to Bolneuvo. Near the port, alongside the long beaches, tourist development is low key; catering mostly for the Spanish, and on the hills behind is a scattering of private villas.

Food is good in Mazarron, particularly fresh fish and many of the bars and restaurants, offer a huge variety of tapas.

New motorways have opened up the coastal area of Mazarron to pioneer investors who wish to buy in an area that boasts some of the finest beaches in Spain.

The bay is enclosed by mountain ranges and this gives the Mazarron area a microclimate, which results in more than 320 days of sunshine per year. The generally untouched nature of the rugged mountainous coastline reminds English visitors of Cornwall.

A fascinating drive from Mazarron is the road south to Aguilas, which winds through dramatic desert and mountain scenery with hills of slate and other minerals of various colours. Aguilas is a pleasant old port and market town.

Local industry

The main industry is fishing and tourism. Inland the area is mostly farming land set to Orange, Lemon, Almond, Olives and figs. The Mazarron area is famous for its tomato crop, whilst further south towards Aguilas; this area is known as the salad bowl of Europe because of the vast variety of fruit and vegetables grown and exported.

Bolneuvo

Bolneuvo is a small traditional fishing village to the west of the Puerto de Mazarron. Set between the coast and the foothills of the Sierra de Las Moreras.

There are a wide variety of bars and restaurants where you can enjoy the local gastronomic delights and wines, or stroll and browse along the local shops. The sandy beach is one of the largest in the area. Even in high season when other beaches are crowded, Bolneuvo maintains that much needed feeling of space to feel free and relaxed.

Bolneuvo beach also has the stunning natural phenomenon. “Cidudad Encantada” joint mushroom shaped monoliths carved out of sandstone by wind and rain over the centuries.

The whole surrounding area is carved out of the rugged landscape forming individual sandy coves and beachheads of outstanding beauty.

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