With over 200km of sandy beaches stretching from the warm crystal clear waters of the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean beaches of the La Manga strip, across the craggy cliffs and coves of the Calblanque Natural Park and down to the sweeping bays of the Mediterranean resort of Aguilas, the Costs Calida has a wealth of beaches.

Santiago de la Ribera

The lovely town of Santiago de la Ribera comes under the municipality of San Javier. It is one of the beautiful and popular resorts lying on the Mar Menor.

Santiago de la Ribera grew from a small hermitage built in 1888, the fishing village grew as a prime holiday destination for wealthy Murcians who built their houses along the coast. Santiago has a lovely promenade flanked by attractive palm trees. Today Santiago is still popular with the Spanish for their vacations but also attracts tourists from all over Europe and although it has a modern air, it has still maintained its 'fishing village' atmosphere.

Santiago de la Ribera has about 4 kilometres of fine sandy beaches which can be enjoyed by holidaymakers and these can get very busy during the hot summer months when both Spanish and International tourists arrive to enjoy the sunshine and the warm waters of the Mar Menor. Santiago looks across the mar Menor to the narrow strip of land know as La Manga. It also boasts a popular water-sports centre and sailing club and has a good selection of shops, bars and restaurants.

Lo Pagan

Lo Pagan on the Mar Menor is best known for its therapeutic mud baths, the mud has been renowned from early times for its healing powers. Due to the long hours of sunlight and the very high salt level in the waters a unique mud has been created in a section of the lake known as La Puntica.

People come daily to apply the mud from the bed of the lakes to their bodies and then wash it off in the Mar Menor. The Spanish firmly believe that this process relieves aches and pains and is especially popular with those who suffer from arthritis and muscular problems. This theory is supported by many doctors and medical experts in Spain and indeed across Europe.

Los Alcazares

Los Alcazares has one of the most beautiful Blue Flag beaches on the Costa Calida. It's palm lined promenade stretches about 4 kilometres to Los Narejos and is blue flag beach all the way. Los Alcazares is very popular with the Spanish as they love to 'promenade' on a warm summer's evening. Dotted along the Los Alcazares and Los Narejos promenade there are several wooden beach bars so the weary can take a rest, as well as a jug of sangria and watch the world go by.

Los Alcazares is a busy tourist resort with a good selection of shops, bars and restaurants. It is a popular spot for water sports and the Mar Menor is a haven for all types of such sports including windsurfing, sailing, jet-skiing, scuba diving and swimming. For golfers there are a good range of courses nearby, with new complexes currently under construction, also the famous sports resort of La Manga is just a short drive away.