Costa Cálida

The Costa Cálida stretches over about 250 kilometres of long white sandy beaches alternated with rocks that rise very steep out of the sea and sheltered bays. Inland we find small mountains with forested valleys. The Costa Cálida goes from El Mojón till Águilas, with its Capital Murcia. This Costa knows 2 different seas; The Mar Menor, the biggest nature bath in the world and a true paradise for all kinds of water sports, and the Mediterranean Sea. This Costa is nominated as one of the healthiest areas in the world by the World Health Organisation

The Costa Cálida begins in the Northern situated place of El Mojón, a former fishermen village with a beautiful sandy beach and fields of reeds. The cities San Pedro del Pinatar and Lo Pagán are located within a stone’s throw and form, together with El Mojón, the nature park Parque Regional de las Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar. One can find the best therapeutically outdoor mud baths, which are recommended for all sorts of skin diseases and forms of rheumatism in Lo Pagán. It’s recommended to combine these mud baths with salt baths, which one can take in the Mar Menor. The Mar Menor  is a shallow nearly enclosed sea, with crystal clear water with an important therapeutically value and kilometres long white sandy beaches. This sea is separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a narrow tongue of land of 22 kilometres named La Manga (an exclusive piece of paradise between 2 seas). One can see the Mar Menor as an outdoor spa due to the high concentration of salt + iodine and the influence of the sunshine, which creates a very healthy climate. This area is also known by the water sport fanatics due to the little waves that flow into the Mar Menor. It’s also very save for children because the Mar Menor is very quiet and shallow (max. 7 meters deep). We find Los Alcázares right at the coast of the Mar Menor. This idyllic place is known for its bath houses with long footbridges that go into the sea and because it is usually chosen by Arabic kings for their holidays. From Los Alcázares one can make trips to the different islands in the Mar Menor.

South of the Mar Menor and at the end of La Manga we find Cabo de Palos, a fishermen village with a pleasant harbour. From the hill, where the lighthouse is situated, you can enjoy a spectacular view over the whole of La Manga.  Also, from the watchtower Cabezo de la Fuente in Los Correlanos you have a magnificent view over the Mar Menor. Southwards, along the Regional Park of Calblanque (this park is one of the few nature reserves where the original natural beauty is still almost untouched), we arrive into the city of Cartagena. The harbour of this city was labelled as the most secured of the Mediterranean Sea due to the sea wall that runs along the harbour and protects the cosy old city centre. The remains of a rich history and the leftover architecture can be seen throughout the city. Then we come, along the coast, to Mazarrón, a touristic centre with excellent facilities and animated nightlife. Here you can admire the Ciudad Encantada (enchanted city), Ciudad Encantada is a remarkable landscape of sandstone sculptured throug time by the wind. Right before the boundary of Costa de Almería, we find Águilas. A former Roman fishermen harbour and an important mining place in the past, still visible in the wharf of El Hornillo. This fishermen village has kilometres of deserted beaches with crystal clear water, which makes it one of the best underwater sport areas. Finally we come to the Capital Murcia. This Capital has all the facilities and a rich history that still reflects in the cultural and artistic charisma. One can feel the beating heart of the city life around the main street where shops, restaurants, banks etc. are situated.

SPORT

This Costa is, thanks to the Mar Menor, the several water sport centres and the unique offer of water sport tourism, an excellent region to practise water sports. The variation in sea ground, transparent and clear waters make this coast one of the best places for its practice. Hiking- and nature lovers can also enjoy the routes through the magnificent nature in the several Nature Parks. One can also ride a horse, play golf and ride a mountain bike while enjoying the surroundings.

FLORA AND FAUNA

The whole area around the Mar Menor can be considered a nature park. Especially the Parque Regional de las Salinas de San Pedro, consisting of a complex network of pools and basins where a lot of birds hide out, is the nature area of the northern half of the Costa Cálida. In this park as well as in the southern situated Parque Regional de Calblanque, one can walk for hours over plank bridges paths while enjoying the several species of birds, among them flamingos, which look for food in the Salinas (Salt lakes)

PLACES TO GO OUT

In the Costa Cálida one can enjoy a health- and rest cure in the magnificently situated health resort of Balneario de Archena or take a nice bath in a hot water well in, for example, Balneario de Fortuna. One can go to the centre of the cities for night entertainment where it is possible to find numerous bars, discotheques, theatres and restaurants.

FOLKLORE AND CELEBRATIONS

They celebrate Carnival a lot in this Costa, with spectacular parades and parties in Águilas, Lorca and Cartagena. Easter week is also extensively celebrated with represantations of scenes out the old Testament and parades in Murcia, Lorca and in the whole area of the Mar Menor. There are also celebrations to the virgin Mary in July, where tied together ships go along the Mar Menor with the holy virgin of the Sea. The most important celebration takes place in Cartagena, where they reenact the battle between the Romans and the local inhabitants in the form of battles and parades. This celebrations last for 15 days.

GASTRONOMY

The calderos (rice courses with different kinds of fish and paprika), mojama (salted tuna), pastel cierva (pie filled with pigeon, rabbit or chicken and eggs) are typical courses in the Costa Cálida. They usually take melon, figs, grapes from Cartagena or goat cheese as dessert. They drink asiático (coffee with cinnamon, milk, liqueur and coffee beans) after their meals.