Costa Calida
Costa Calida is in the province of Murcia and is situated South of Alicante and North of Almeria and is made up of spectacular mountain ranges, fertile plains and a dramatic coastline.
The area is served by two International Airports of Alicante and San Javier (Murcia) and has excellent motorway links to the rest of Spain and Europe. A third airport is planned for Corvera, close to Murcia city.
Murcia province and Costa Calida are still two of Spain's best kept secrets. The Spanish themselves have been buying holiday homes here for generations and the lack of big hotels means that people coming to this area are looking for something a little different.
The beautiful provincial capital city is Murcia. Here you will discover a city that has retained it's Moorish heritage, yet offers today's visitor a fantastic array of fashionable boutiques, up market department stores and the finest local cuisine. The baroque Cathedral and University are well worth a visit.
The province of Murcia boasts many EU Blue flag beaches and in Mazarron there are 3 or 4 very good dive centres.
Boating enthusiasts will also be happy to hear that the Mar Menor and Mazarron have some of the best marina facilities on the coast, with a brand new multimillion Euro marina currently in construction in Puerto de Mazarron. Complete with underground parking, shops, bars and restaurants, situated along the quayside, this will really lift the profile of Mazarron.
The provinces second city is Cartagena. This is an ancient coastal city and the old part of the city is quite spectacular and many of the buildings go back to Phoenician times.
For walkers and lovers of nature, the Sierra Espuna National Park is within 25 minutes drive or even closer, just by the city of Murcia is the Sierra de Carrascoy and the ancient Santuario de la Fuensanta, the home of Murcia's patron saint.
So if you are looking for "pie & peas" or all night Karaoke bars, please do not read on. If, however, you are looking for the "real" Spain, if you want to experience a different way of life and embrace the Spanish culture, the Murcia and the Costa Calida is for you.
Mar Menor
Mar Menor (Little Sea) is a unique area within the region of Murcia. Few regions have the good fortune to have both a Saltwater Lake and a Mediterranean shore. The region of Murcia has both and the Salt Water Lake with an area of 170 sq.km is known as Mar Menor, the largest Salt Water Lake in Europe.
The area dates back to prehistoric times but most remains found date from the Roman and Arabic periods. The Romans valued the area highly and developed a valuable salt industry. It was about 1000 years ago that the lake took on the appearance it has today.
The Romans called it Belich and referred to it as a port of refuge. It was much deeper in those times so could cope with even the largest of vessels. Over the last hundred years or so, the area has developed into a tourist haven.
As well as the natural importance of the area the mud and clay are said to have therapeutic properties.
The average annual temperature here is 17ºC and the average during the summer is above 21ºC. The winters are very mild, very rarely falling below 10ºC. Rain is also rare here. With over 3000 hours of sunshine a year and the mild climate, the water here can reach 30º in August.
The coast of the Mar Menor is flanked by small towns, in the past homes to fishermen and today, tourists enclaves.
From the fishing town of Aguilas to the white dunes of the beach of El moon 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 food 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.
The villages around the Mar Menor have been tourist destinations for the Spanish for many years. The beautiful beaches of resorts such as Lo Pagan, Santiago de la Ribera and Los Alcazares (a resort even in Roman times) are on the crystal clear Mar Menor.
The Mar Menor is open to the sea at it's northern end and is quite shallow, so it is excellent for children as it's beaches shelve very gently. In Summer, the waters are literally like a warm bath.
La Manga
On the far side of the Mar Menor can be found the La Manga Strip which is unique in Europe, having sea on both sides. One with waves and one practically calm all year long. With so much water here there is no wonder that the area is a haven for water sports. The possibilities here are endless from sailing to diving, windsurfing, jet skiing or just swimming. There are many marinas in the area and several schools for these activities.
City of Murcia
The Capital of the Region is Murcia City, which glories in a mixed legacy from its Moorish founders and Christian baroque.
The City has managed to blend its historic past with a modern feel. The glorious cathedral and the elegant casino, a beautiful monastery, gardens and parks, are among its fine monuments, but there's also a real pleasure in just strolling the streets and enjoying the café society in year-round fine weather.
It is shopping heaven with many up market shops and department stores. You can wonder through the pedestrainised areas to beautiful squares which are just waiting to be discovered.
South from Murcia the motorway takes you past the town of Alhama de Murcia with it's Moorish castle, Roman spas and beautiful church. Continue south to Totana which again has a beautiful church and an enormous market every Wednesday. Both of these small towns are on the edge of the stunning Sierra Espuna Regional Park. This area is a paradise for walkers with dedicated trails criss-crossing the mountain area which is covered in pine trees.
Cartagena
The City of Cartagena was founded in pre Roman times. There is a wealth of history and architecture to see as well as the attractive port area where there is a mixture of old and new buildings.
It has always been a major port due to its natural harbour and its strategic position on the Mediterranean coast and has played an important role in the history of the region and of Spain itself.
The city is surrounded by five hills which in theory made the city easy to defend. Many of the forts, castles and guns built for this purpose can still be seen today.
The port city has a large marina and a great deal of money is being invested restoring the beautiful buildings.
The waterfront has been completely rebuilt with several restaurants and bars. The city is a working port and also a naval base and is very proud of it's history. During September there is a major Fiesta where the residents dress as Romans and Cartaginians and party well into the early hours.
A large section of shopping area has been pedestrianised, there are many excellent shops in Cartagena including El Corte Inglés, a very large and up market department store.
If you are exhausted by all the sightseeing and shopping there are many parks and shaded squares, particularly in the old part of the town, where you can take a break. There are street side cafés, restaurants and many good bars where you can sit and eat/drink and watch the world go by.
San Javier
Perhaps best known for being the home of Murcia's airport, San Javier is a small town on the Mar Menor coastline.
The region of San Javier is very important for agriculture and a wide range of produce is grown there. In recent years it has also become very important for tourism, the Mar Menor being a huge draw for tourists due to its warm waters and safe beaches. The golf and water sports facilities also contribute greatly to its popularity.
San Javier is a busy little picturesque town, with a comprehensive range of shops, bars and restaurants; with the Thursday and Sunday street markets attracting locals and visitors alike from all over the Region.
