NativeSpain.com Free Guide to Murcia's Beaches …nativespain.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/murcia-beaches-2014.pdfNativeSpain.com Free Guide to Murcia's Beaches Revealed - 2014 Location

NativeSpain.com Free Guide to Murcia's Beaches Revealed - 2014

CreditsAll photos copyright Marcus Jenkins – MarcusJenkins.com

This is a Special Report from NativeSpain.com.

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© Copyright 2014 Debbie Jenkins and Marcus Jenkins

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BeachesThere are more than 150 beaches along the Murcia, Costa Cálida coastline.

In 2014 30 of these beaches were denoted Blue Flag (http://www.blueflag.org/) indicating that Murcia provided sustainable development of their beaches through strict criteria dealing with water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management and safety. Two ports were also denoted blue flag.

So you can be assured that not only will you enjoy yourself, you’ll also be safe and healthy.

Here are some of our favourite beaches, along with an indication of which ones are blue flag and a map to help you find them.

Enjoy

Debbie Jenkins

www.NativeSpain.com

The Blue Flag Beaches OverviewSan Pedro del Pinatar:La Puntica y Villananitos.

San Javier:Castillico, Paseo de Colón y Mistral.

Los Alcázares: La Concha, El Espejo, Las Palmeras y Los Narejos.

Cartagena:Cala del Pino, Islas Menores (playa de Levante), Poniente (Islas Menores), Mar de Cristal, Cala Cortina, San Ginés, Playa Paraíso, Levante (Cabo de Palos), Isla Plana y Playa Honda.

Mazarrón:Rihuete, Puerto, Bahía/La Reya, Nares, Grande-Castellar y Alamillo.

Águilas: Delicias, Levante, La Colonia, Poniente y Calarreona.



http://www.NativeSpain.com/





Location 1 – Santiago de la Ribera & Lo PaganLa Puntica (Lo Pagan) – Restaurant, snack bar, showers, toilets, telephones, beach cleaning. Red Cross station, lifeguards and patrolled by the local Police. A grey, sandy blue flag beach, with calm waters which can be very crowded in peak

season. 500m, urban, high occupancy, calm waters, dark sand, SOS, rescue, Red Cross, local police, parking, bus, toilet, showers, umbrellas / deckchairs, anchoring area, disabled access, sailing, windsurfing, surfing, kite-surf, catamaran. Club Náutico de Lo Pagán 200 meters.

El Castillico, Santiago de la Ribera – Popular (previous blue flag winner) beach in an urban setting. Sandy, with calm bathing.

Location 2 – San Pedro del PinatarVillananitos, San Pedro del Pinatar – near the mud baths of San Pedro del Pinatar, with various sporting facilities such as wind surfing, volley ball, kayaking and waterskiing. This is a busy beach with many facilities: snack bars, restaurants,

accommodation, toilets, showers, telephones, beach cleaning, supervised parking, water sports equipment rental. Calm water and a sandy beach.

La Llana-Las Salinas – long, sandy, (previously blue flag) beach, with foot showers during the main season. Mild water, with some waves in parts. Las Salinas regional park nearby. 1,000m, in the La Hita Protected area, semi-urban, average occupancy, dark sand, moderate waves, anchoring area, SOS, Red Cross, local police, parking, bus, toilet, showers, umbrellas / deckchairs, anchoring area, Club Náutico de Los Alcázares 3km.

El Mojón – Fine sandy (former blue flag) beach near Las Salinas Regional Park on the Mediterranean side.

Nearby is the regional park of Las Salinas, which is home to a variety of protected birds and wild life. On the salt flats you’ll find flamingos and herons in particular, and if you’re very lucky a flock will fly overhead while you’re bathing on the long sandy beaches.







Location 3 –Los AlcázaresEl Espejo – sandy beach on the Mar Menor with wind surfing, volley ball and kayaking. Calm waters. 800m, urban, high occupancy, calm waters, dark sand, SOS, rescue, Red Cross, local police, parking, bus, toilet, showers, umbrellas /

deckchairs, anchoring area, disabled access, Club Náutico of Alcázares 1km.

Los Narejos - next to Las Palmeras Beach, in a residential area. 1,000m, urban, high occupancy, calm waters, dark sand, SOS, rescue, Red Cross, local police, parking, bus, toilet, showers, umbrellas / deckchairs, anchoring area, disabled

access, Puerto Deportivo Tomás Maestre 2km.

Palmeras - 1100m, urban, high occupancy, calm waters, dark sand, SOS, rescue, Red Cross, local police, parking, bus, toilet, showers, cleaning, bins, parasols / sunbeds, anchoring area, disabled access, the Alcázares Yacht Club 1km. between

los Narejos beach and el Espejo beach.

Carrión - 200 m, urban, high occupancy, calm waters, dark sand, SOS, rescue, Red Cross, local police, parking, bus, toilet, showers, umbrellas / hammocks, anchoring area, disabled access, next to the Yacht Club Alcázares.

La Concha - 200m, urban, high occupancy, calm waters, dark sand, SOS, rescue, Red Cross, local police, parking, bus, toilet, showers, umbrellas / hammocks, anchoring area, disabled access, next to the Yacht Club Alcázares.

Mar de Cristal – blue flag sandy beach, in residential area, can get busy. It's separated from Los Nietos by a small river. It’s a compact and friendly little resort with three good beach areas and a new, pretty promenade with bars and

restaurants. A good sized marina adds to the charm.

Previous blue flag beaches – Manzanares & Los Alcázares - 400m, urban, high occupancy, calm waters, dark sand, SOS, rescue, Red Cross, local police, parking, bus, toilet, showers, umbrellas / deckchairs, anchorage area, disabled access, the Yacht Club Alcázares 500km.







Location 4 – La Manga StripMarchamalo, La Manga – typical beach of the La Manga stretch, sandy and pleasant with calm waters. Very crowded during peak times.

Banco del Tabal, La Manga – Fine sandy former blue flag beach, situated between Playa de Marchamalo and Playa Pedrucho on the Mediterranean side.

Cala de Pino – an urban blue flag beach, which can get very busy. Golden sands and calm water.

Location 5 – San Javier,Cabo de Palos & Los Nietos

Los Nietos – 4km long grey, sandy beach with showers, lots of restaurants and calm waters. Can get very crowded.

A group of 3 beaches, Cabo de Palos – Cala Medina / Las Melvas / Levante (Blue Flag) – small beaches, with slightly wavey water, ranging from sand to gravel to

rock, great all round beaches. There are restaurant services and some good opportunities for snorkelling.

Islas Menores – Urban beach that doesn’t get too busy, though parking can be difficult. The beach has good facilities, including the Club Náutico (Sailing Club) located at one end and a pleasant seaside boardwalk.

Playa Honda & Playa Paraiso are at the very southern end of the Mar Menor, these two beach areas have seen quite a bit of expansion in the last few years and have evolved into fully–fledged resorts. They are nestled in the hills of the

Calblanque Nature Park behind, the protected Marchamalo salt flats to the side and the whole length of the Mar Menor in front. This is also a good spot to enjoy the mud!

Playa Colón - this 1000m beach runs parallel to the Colón promenade. This sandy beach has small waves and is rocky in some areas due to the old ramblas and streams that would lead to the Mar Menor. The appearance of this beach changed

dramatically in 1987 when clean sand was brought from the bottom of the sea.

Playa Mistral – urban beach with fine sand.




Location 6 – CalblanqueCalblanque, Playa Larga Beach – a nudist beach with fine sands and no services. Uspoiled beach, not very crowded with calm water. Calblanque is a remote and almost untouched stretch of coast, just south of the Mar Menor. This designated natural park enjoys secluded bays, solitude and an abundance of wild birds and flowers. Boardwalks criss–cross the sand dunes leading down to the beaches, with paths along the coast. The area is completely protected from the uncontrolled building which has affected other coastal destinations. There’s a full article on the Calblanque beaches and nature reserve at www.NativeSpain.com





Location 7 – La Manga ClubLa Cala, La Manga Club – private, secluded beach for the La Manga club.

Location 8 – CartagenaFor more on Cartagena beaches take a look here: www.cartagenaturismo.es/ or at www.NativeSpain.com

Cala Cortina – a calm sandy beach with toilets and showers, and a life guard service. It’s a very isolated beach (near Escombreras), considering how close it is to Cartagena. Look on the www.NativeSpain.com for our personal review of this beach,

and restaurants nearby, it’s one of our favourites.

For a great guide to Cartagena City get the My Native Guide to Cartagena which covers a wide geographical area encompassing Beal and Canteras with their mining works, Cartagena City full of Roman remains and some of the best restaurants in the area, Escombreras a much-maligned fascinating industrial area, La Algameca Chica where you can still bump into the odd pirate, La Unión the heart of the mining and flamenco area, Perín with some of our favourite beaches, Portmán in the national park of Calblanque, San Antonio Abad with its Bond-like fortresses and Santa Lucía the quaint fishing village.



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http://www.cartagenaturismo.es/






Location 9 – El PortúsEl Portús – a quiet, sandy beach with showers, difficult to reach.

Location 10 – La AzohiaEl Belonte Grande and Salitrona – a pair of short, sandy beaches only accessible by boat or on foot. Very quiet.




Location 11 – Isla PlanaLa Calera and San Ginés (blue flag) – gravel and sand beaches with calm water and reasonable facilities such as showers in places and a few restaurants and

shops.

Location 12 – Puerto de MazarrónFor more beach information around Mazarrón take a look at: www.mazarron.es or www.NativeSpain.com

El Rihuete and Puerto de Mazarrón – sandy beaches, with plenty of local shops and restaurants.

El Castellar, Puerto de Mazarrón – In a semi-urban setting near the town and harbour of Mazarron, El Castellar is a sandy beach with lovely clean, calm waters.

Although popular with families it does not get quite as crowded as some other beaches in this region. 1200m, urban, high occupancy, sand-gravel, moderate waves, parking, bus, toilet, showers, anchoring, next to Club Náutico de Mazarrón.

La Reya – Fine sandy blue flag beach. Isolated with low occupancy and good facilities. It’s located towards Bolnuevo. 350m, isolated, low occupancy, vegetation,

pebbles, waves, anchoring, parking, bus, toilet, showers, Club Náutico de Mazarrón.

El Alamillo - 110m, isolated, nudist protected area, vegetation, sand-banks, calm waters, anchoring, parking, bus, Club Náutico de Mazarrón.

Nares – This blue flag beach gets very crowded in the tourist season. It has golden sands and the water is very calm, making it ideal for children. 400m, urban, high

occupancy, golden sand, calm waters, parking, bus, toilet, showers, anchoring, next to Club Náutico de Mazarrón.



http://www.mazarron.es/






Location 13 – BolnuevoEl Cabezo de la Pelea and Las Covaticas – sand and gravel beaches which are great for snorkelling. Some of the coves in this area are frequented by nudist bathers. 1,000m, isolated, low occupancy, moderate waves, anchoring, parking, bus, Club Náutico de Mazarrón.

Bolnuevo – Excellent facilities and a well maintained former blue flag beach. Lovely golden sand and calm waters make this a good beach for families, and it doesn’t get quite as crowded as some of the other beaches.

Location 14 – CalnegreBaño de las Mujeres and El Ciscar – this pair of short beaches offer great fishing as well as swimming and snorkelling. They can get busy.

Calnegre beach – can get very crowded, golden sand with calm water. 200m, a protected area in the Regional Park of Lomo de Bas, isolated, average occupancy, golden sand and calm water, parking, bus, cleaning, Club Náutico de Mazarrón and Águilas 16km.

Location 15 – CalabardinaFor more beach information near Águilas take a look here: www.aguilas.es or at www.NativeSpain.com

Abejerro and Las Pulgas – sand and gravel beaches, quiet, with no facilities.

Calabardina, Águilas – This beach can get quite crowded in high season. It is sandy, and the water is a little more choppy than some of the beaches in the region. Diving around this area is great too. 100m, urban, high occupancy, golden sand,

moderate waves, parking, bus, toilet, showers, anchorage area, disabled access, next to the Club Náutico de Águilas.



http://www.aguilas.es/






Location 16 – ÁguilasFor more beach information in Águilas take a look here: www.aguilas.es or at www.NativeSpain.com

Punta del Fraile – only accessible by foot, with good clear water for snorkelling.

Las Delicias, Águilas – Can get very crowded in high season as it is a in a populated area. This blue flag beach is sand and pebbles with calm water, which is good for water sports.

Levante, Águilas – Popular blue flag beach, sandy, with calm waters ideal for children. It can get crowded.

La Colonia, Águilas – Popular blue flag beach, sandy, with calm waters ideal for children. It has a Sea Interpretation centre.

Calarreona, Águilas – Semi-urban beach, that gets very busy in Summer. 270M long with golden sand, calm waters, parking, bus, toilet, showers, anchoring area, disabled access, Club Náutico de Águilas 5km away.

Poniente, Águilas – Popular urban beach, sandy, with calm waters ideal for children. Gets very busy. Close to the port which also has a blue flag.

Club Náutico de Águilas, Águilas – One of just two ports in Murcia to get a blue flag. The marina has the usual faciliities, eletricity, fuel and water supplies, lauch ramp, 24 hour security watch, clubhouse with bar, cafeteria and restaurant, solarium

sauna and gymnasium. Sailing School. Catamaran, sailing dinghy, windsurfing, rowing, pleasure cruising. Diving trips and courses. The port is located between Punta Negra and Punta Aguilica, very close to the commercial, leisure and fishing port.



http://www.aguilas.es/






WatersportsWindsurfers will love La Mota beach, a completely natural course for speed, taking advantage of the wind without taking any risks. Throughout the year, early in the morning the Mar Menor is a mirror, where canoeing is a safe sport for any age.

La Manga, Manga Surf, 968 145331, www.mangasurf.com

Nautical Sports Clubs San Pedro, 968 182678, www.puertosanpedro.com

Nautical Sports Clubs San Pedro, 968 186969, www.clubNáuticolopagan.com

Canoeing School, 968 187260

FishingFor local fishing clubs, contacts and legislation, get in touch with the Federación de Pesca y Casting, 968 221012, www.fepyc.es

Or to join like minded Brits there’s a club, Anglers Together, that has meetings in Mazarrón and Pilar de Horadada, [email protected] or [email protected], 950 473099. They can help you with beach, boat or course fishing licenses. This is also a good reference website:

www.garysmithfishing.com.

For the umpteenth time we have to mention Armería de Carmen (not only the best gunsmith and scuba gear, but also the best fishing tackle), Calle Floridablanca, 24, 968 251152. They also have a small branch in Cartagena, Avenida de America, 8, 968 521857.

Sail ingMurcia offers a good variety of sailing, with the shallow Mar Menor being great for beginners and the Mediterranean itself for the more experienced sailor. Sailing as a sport in Murcia comes under the umbrella of the Federación de Vela de la Región de Murcia: www.fvrm.es

Águilas – Club Náutico de Águilas. Paseo de la Parra, 44, 968 411951, www.cnaguilas.com

Cartagena – Club Náutico, Puerto Maritima, 968 133355, www.rcrct.net

La Manga – Manga Surf, 968 145331, www.mangasurf.com

Mazarrón – Club de Regatas de Mazarrón, Calle Cabezo de Cebada, 968 594011, www.serconet.com/usr/chicoyij

Santiago de la Ribera – Club de Regatas Santiago de la Ribera, Paseo de Colón, 968 570250



mailto:[email protected]

http://www.fepyc.es/

http://www.mangasurf.com/

http://www.clubnauticolopagan.com/


Lo Pagán – Club Náutico Lo Pagán, 968 186969, www.clubnauticolopagan.com

Los Nietos – Club Náutico Los Nietos, 968 133300, www.cnlosnietos.com

San Pedro del Pinatar - Club Nautico Villa De San Pedro 968 182678, www.clubnauticovillasanpedro.com

For courses visit our friend (and our teacher), Santi at: www. colomerescuelanautica.es

If you want someone else to organise your children for you then get in touch with Arbolar, Cartagena, www.arbolar.com, 968 521400. They offer sailing training programs for 6 to 17 year olds in Los Urrutias on the Mar Menor. It’s a ten day camp for kids while you enjoy your golf!

If you prefer to be skippered around and to just enjoy the views then try one of the many tour boats. A good value company is Solaz, solazlines.com, based in Club Dos Mares (La Manga), 606 806 795. They run two lines, one from the quay at El Pedruchillo Promenade (La Manga), km 8, exits 80-82-83 (near the bus stop at the promenade) and also from Mazarrón, Puerto Deportivo de Mazarrón on Plaza del Muelle.

Through the summer months they have scheduled trips from both these ports taking in any of the following destinations Isla Grosa, the La Manga strip, the five Islands of the Mar Menor, Bolnuevo, Isla Cueva de Lobos, Cala Cerrada, Cala Abierto or El Arco, depending on the boat and departure time. The prices range from €8 for a 1 hour ride for the scheduled departures. You can of course hire them yourself for a private trip. One of their boats has a glass bottomed viewing area. They have refreshments onboard!

Also consider hiring a boat from The Yachtsman, 600 749 181, at the port in San Pedro del Pinatar. Or the tourist boat from Cartagena harbour (see Cartagena section).







ScubaOn the Med, all along the south coast there are Scuba clubs.

Murcia is a great place to learn and explore scuba diving. The Mar Menor’s shallow, calm and warm waters are great for beginners and the Meditterranean itself has loads of opportunities once you’ve got your certificate. The Federación de Actividades Subacuáticas de la Región de Murcia – www.fasrm.com – provides a central point of contact for most clubs in the region. Also, have a look at the PADI web site for acredited dive centres in Murcia: www.padi.com.

Around the whole Mar Menor region there are extensive beaches used for diving – el Mojón beach, Torre Derribada, La Llana, Las Salinas, Barraca Quemada and Punto de Algas – all in the Salinas Regional Park. The seabed offers a surprising range of attractive sands and the remains of Roman shipwrecks.

On the Med, all along the south coast there are Scuba clubs. Have a look on www.yumping.com for more details of all the clubs in the region, plus an easy contact form.

Águilas, Buceo Águilas, Calle Isaac Peral, 13, www.buceoaguilas.com, 968 493215 or 617 910973.

Águilas, Escuela de buceo ESTELA, Paseo de Parra, 38, www.escueladebuceo.com, 627 522233.

Cabo de Palos, Islas Hormigas Club, 968 145530, www.islashormigas.com.

Cabo de Palos, Planeta Azul, PADI Dive Centre, 968 564532, www.planeta-azul.com.

Cartagena, Carthago Diving, Muelle Alfonso XII, 640 113954, www.carthagodiving.com

La Azohía, Andrómeda, 968 150328.

La Azohía, Rivemar, www.rivemar.com, 968 150063.

La Manga, Mundo Activo, PADI Dive Centre, 968 337087

La Manga, Deep Impact Diving Center, PADI Dive Centre, 968 337 220

Puerto de Mazarrón, Zoea, Plaza del Mar, 20– PADI Dive Centre, 968 154006

Scuba Diving Villa de San Pedro, 676 745022, www.buceosanpedro.com

Scuba Diving Pinatar, 699 121523, www.caspinatar.com

Scuba Diving Turkana, 617 355636, www.turkana.org

For gear, there are scuba shops around in Puerto Mazarrón and La Manga. However, the best we have found is in Murcia, Armería de Carmen (yes, we know it’s a gunsmith, they also sell fishing tackle!), Calle Floridablanca, 24, 968 251152. They also have a small branch in Cartagena, Avenida de America, 8, 968 521857. www.armeriadelcarmen.es







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Praise for ‘Going Native in Murcia’The book is literally packed from cover to cover with the most incredibly well researched and pertinent, up to date and relevant information that anyone – and I mean anyone – interested in buying property in Murcia, living in the region or just travelling around Murcia will ever require.

Every scrap of information that Debbie and Marcus Jenkins have gleaned over the past four years is in this book! I love it! It makes fantastic, interesting and even entertaining reading for anyone with even just a modicum of interest in Spain!

Rhiannon Williamson – www.shelteroffshore.com

As the book is full of very relevant web–site addresses, the content is actually much larger than presented... and will remain fresher... longer!

Expat... would be expat... or just visiting Murcia for a holiday... this book is essential reading... don’t go without it!

John Mellor (Cheshire/Estrella de Mar)

We are coming back out to Murcia in April and have found your book to be an excellent starting point for the areas and things we need to be looking at. Both my wife and I both found the book very valuable in getting to know Murcia a little better.

John Wilson

We purchased your book via Amazon before Xmas and have found it a most useful guide to the area.Congratulations again on a brilliant, practical book.

Rosemary Clarke

Thanks to your book I have already started the ball rolling towards our move to Murcia and have had a meeting with an agent’s representative who happens to be here in Cowes to spend the holiday with relations.

Ken Meynell

Purchased Going Native in Murcia prior to our first visit to that region in September of this year. The book is well researched and covers a whole range of information and many excellent website addresses. A must for anybody considering visiting or purchasing in the Murcia region.

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Free - Costa Cálida Murcia mappa map – Mazarrón, Puerto de

Mazarrón, Águilas and LorcaWith 250km of coastline, the Costa Cálida (Warm Coast) is one of Spain’s little known holiday hotspots. Along with the Mar Menor the coast of the Costa Cálida is home to water sports, fishing, scuba diving, sun bathing and nature reserves. The Costa Cálida covers the area from the top of the Mar Menor right along to Águilas. Though the Mar Menor attracts the most visitors, the whole coast has lots to offer. West of Cartagena on the Golfo de Mazarrón the coast is very quiet with many unspoilt beaches and few high rise developments.



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NativeSpain.com Free Guide to Murcia's Beaches …nativespain.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/murcia-beaches-2014.pdfNativeSpain.com Free Guide to Murcia's Beaches Revealed - 2014 Location