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Costa Calida is situated in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula.
To the north lies the Costa Blanca and to the south lies the
Costa de Almeria with a total of 250 kilometres of coastline.
Blessed by the mild Mediterranean
climate it has at least 315 days of sun per year. Minimum
temperatures range between 12-14C and maximum temperatures
between 20-22C in winter. Summer temperatures vary between
18-20C minimum and between 30-35C maximum. The average annual
temperature is 18C. The
two main provinces in this region are MURCIA and Almeria.
This stretch of coastline
runs from San Pedro del Pinatar, at the northern end of the
Mar Menor (‘Little Sea’), to south of Puerto
de Mazarron. It is in two parts; the most northerly section
consists of the La Manga peninsula and Mar Menor, the southerly
section extends from the promontory of Cabo de Palos to the
resort town of Aguilas.
Like the Costa Blanca South
it consists of beaches and rocky promontories with a backdrop
of hills and mountains, and above all the unique La Manga
peninsula that creates the Mar Menor. Compared with the other
southern Costa's it is still relatively unspoiled and apart
from the historical city and port of Cartagena, there are
no major towns along the coast.
In addition to its geographical
attractions, the Costa Calida boasts three nature reserves:
at the northern extremity the salt flats of the Regional Park
of San Pedro are heavily populated with flamingos, herons,
storks and other migratory bird life. Specially made wooden
walkways allow tourists to visit the whole area. Along the
coastline from Cabo de Palos, westwards towards the village
of Portman, is the Calblanque Regional Park, a stretch of
virgin coast with hills and empty beaches. The Marine Reserve
of the Hormogas Isles, near Cabo de Palos, is world famous.
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THE MAR MENOR........What
is the 'Mar Menor'?
The Mar Menor (or 'small
sea') located on the Costa Calida, is the largest natural
saltwater lagoon in Europe and waters sustain temperatures
of approximately 17 degrees centigrade average per year. It
is a unique spot offering clean water with peaceful, tide-
free bathing on pleasant shores, whatever the time of year.
The Mar Menor was created
a little over 1000 years ago. Originally a safe little bay,
offering shelter for even large ships, it became a natural
lagoon when sediments from the sea built up on a small underwater
mountain range and closed off the inlet with a sandbar. On
its Western side is mainland Spain, and on its Eastern side
is La Manga de Mar Menor, a strip of land, (known as The Strip),
that is no more than 900 metres at its broadest point with
views of the Mar Menor and Mediterranean.
The climatic conditions
of the Mar Menor, with a high number of hours of sun per year
and its high salinity, have brought about the deposit, over
the centuries, of clays for therapeutic treatment in various
areas of the Mar Menor. The beaches are cleaned and combed
every day, resulting in the awards of the E.U. Blue Flags
for cleanliness and maintenance. In fact, the region was recently
declared the cleanest area in Spain by the World Health Organisation.
La Manga and The Mar
Menor
The La Manga Strip is a
unique feature in Europe, 21 Km of land with sandy beaches
and sea on both sides. It is difficult to imagine a more idyllic
place for all lovers of water sports, marinas and beaches,
you are never more that a few meters from the sea. Where else
would you find a choice of two seas, offering the crystal
clear waters of the Mar Menor, with its shallow warm salty
waters or the majestic Mediterranean with its surfing waves
and marine reserves? There is a choice of many water sports,
including jet skis, yachting, scuba diving, kite surfing,
boat trips and many more.
Living or Staying Around
the Mar Menor
& Costa Calida
Sports facilities abound
and include the provision of all water sports including but
not limited to skiing, sailing, windsurfing, snorkelling and
scuba diving. At La Manga Club there are three championship
golf courses in addition to numerous other clubs around the
area. In fact, the new courses and complexes being planned
are quickly turning the area into a golfer’s paradise.
For the explorer, cycling
around the Mar Menor, along footpaths, dirt tracks and even
ancient royal roads, always close to the water, is a good
way of discovering this special piece of coastline.
The towns themselves around
the Mar Menor and in the Costa Calida area are small and inviting,
the people friendly and accommodating. In many of these towns
the town councils have a strict policy of only allowing building
of low rise properties, thereby ensuring a pleasant skyline.
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TOWNS
(from north to south)
SAN PEDRO DEL PINATAR /
LO PAGAN
A compact but important
town, with a good shopping centre and weekly street market
on Mondays. San Pedro is well liked and has a pleasant centre
with plenty of shops and entertainment all year round. It
is of easy access with the motorway nearby. The suburb of
Lo Pagan boasts a long beach and promenade area with a marina.
SANTIAGO DEL RIBERA
Long palm-lined promenade.
Relatively undeveloped but this is shortly to changed with
several large urbanisation’s planned on the edge of
town. The town centre boasts a small but attractive shopping
street, which starts on the promenade and goes inland.
SAN PEDRO DEL PINATAR,
SAN JAVIER
San Javier is another medium
sized centre on the Mar Menor. It has a beautiful church and
narrow streets. As usual it has banks, supermarkets, shops
etc... A few developments have a foothold here.
SUCINA
Small inland typical Spanish
village. Located about 10km inland between San Javier and
Murcia. An almost perfectly strait road takes you directly
to Sucina which burst into view in front of mountains with
its church tower in its middle. With a new urbanisation being
built within walking distance of its centre and a new golf
course planned for 2005 in the vicinity, this village promises
to become a major centre for ex-pats. Despite its small size,
it boasts a few banks, a pharmacy, a post office, a couple
of supermarkets, restaurants etc.
LOS ALCAZARES
Largest settlement on the
Mar Menor. Mile long promenade, large marina, and beautiful
beaches. A larger centre than other towns on the coast, with
many shops, restaurants, bars, and a new shopping mall with
a Cinema are being built in the northern side of town.
LOS NIETOS
Small seaside resort also
with a promenade, safe beaches, and a small marina. Several
developments under construction.
PLAYA HONDA
New town. Major developments
and low prices have resulted in a large influx of foreigners.
Flat, safe beaches. Sea front promenade planned.
CABO DE PALOS
Ancient fishing port and
marina, with famous lighthouse. Many gourmet restaurants.
Now becoming very popular with expatriates. The marine reserve
of the Hormigas Isles lies a few miles offshore. Although
located at the southernmost tip of the almost non stop developments
starting in Torrevieja, one could scarcely tell. Cabo de Palos
has every aspect of a small, isolated Mediterranean fishing
village. Its small pedestrian streets and quaint shops belie
a strong dependence on tourism. Unlike La Manga however, Cabo
de Palos has an all-year-round economy and a most singular
feature would be the Aussie Bar near the Marina.
CARTAGENA
Ancient seaport and naval
dockyard, where the first submarine was built in 1900 and
where they are still built today. Large shopping centre, with
a Corte Ingles department store due to open in 2004. Unlike
Murcia which has no direct route from Torrevieja, and Alicante
which is linked only by busy roads, Cartagena is easy of access
and a growing commercial centre. It is the ideal centre for
the Costa Calida Developments between Puerto de Mazzaron and
San Pedro del Pinatar.
PUERTO de MAZARRON
Busy fishing town with
port and marina. Increasingly popular with ex-pats. Very pleasant
surroundings. It will not become another Torrevieja or Benidorm
mainly because of the lack of space for developments in it's
immediate vicinity. It does, nevertheless, have a lot of potential
for limited growth and will eventually become the commercial
heart of the Southern Costa Calida.
AGUILAS
Much as Los Nietos, Playa
Honda, etc.
LA MANGA
The 30km peninsula is
now about 80% developed, mostly with apartment blocks. The
Mediterranean and Mar Menor coasts are mostly sandy, and
it boasts three marinas. Formerly a ‘summertime only’
resorts it is becoming increasing popular as a residential
area.
Nearby is the renowned
La Manga golf complex, consisting of three 18-hole golf
courses of international standard
Local Markets……………
Monday: San Pedro del
Pinatar.
Tuesday: La Unión,
Los Belones y Los Alcázares.
Wednesday: Santiago de
la Ribera, Cartagena y El Mirador (in the afternoon).
Thursday: San Javier
y LosUrrutias.
Friday : El Algar y Torrevieja.
Saturday: Los Narejos
y Torre Pacheco.
Sunday: Cabo de Palos
,Los Nietos y Autocine Mar Menor.
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