Costa Calida

The Costa Calida, stretching from San Javier to Aguilas, was until recent years unknown to foreigners, and was the preferred choice of many Spanish people for their summer holidays. Now the area is opening up to foreign nationals, many of whom have come to reside permanently, bringing a cosmopolitan atmosphere to the area while retaining its traditional culture.

The region is steeped in history, with stunning beaches and secluded coves, beautiful countryside, friendly people and wonderful food, and is an ideal location for those seeking a paradise for holidays, or maybe looking for a new way of life.

It is served by Murcia San Javier airport, and the airports of Alicante and Almeria are within two hours drive. A new international airport is soon to be built at Corvera.

The Beaches

When it comes to beaches the Costa Calida cannot be beaten. The majority are sandy, and almost all have been awarded the blue flag rating for safety and cleanliness. Litter is collected regularly, and lifeguards and police patrol most popular locations. There is no overcrowding, and the area is well known for its unspoilt nature.

Wining & Dining

The cuisine is another major attraction of the area, with a wide spectrum of local and international restaurants offering good affordable food. Fresh seafood is a major delicacy, but traditional Spanish meat and rice dishes also feature prominently.

Inexpensive local wines are a match for any produced in other areas of the world. 

Weather

The Costa Calida is well known for its mild climate and enjoys in excess of 320 days sunshine per year, making it an ideal destination for holiday makers in both the summer and winter months. During the summer the temperature rarely falls below 30°C (86°F), and winters are very mild with averages around 18°C (64°F).

Humidity levels are very low, and this combined with the mild climate has led the World Health Organisation to rate this part of Spain one of the healthiest climates in the world. Even in the coldest winter frost is unknown, and snow is restricted to the mountain tops.

Entertainment

Plenty of shopping opportunities also exist; both in village markets where local goods and handicrafts are on offer, and in modern shopping centres stocking the latest fashion items.

For those seeking culture there is a mix of well maintained museums, art galleries, and sites of historical importance. The Spanish government is dedicated to the preservation of its historical & architectural heritage.

Local Area

The Coast

From Aguilas in the south to Santiago de la Ribera in the north stretch over 120 miles of unspoilt beaches, dunes and coves, interspersed with picturesque fishing villages and lively ports. The beaches of Calblanque and Calnegrea are considered to be among the finest areas of natural beauty in the Mediterranean, and the crystal waters provide the perfect setting for all kinds of marine activities, including swimming, sailing, water-skiing, windsurfing, diving, and canoeing.

Further to the north the resort of La Manga and the enclosed sea of Mar Menor provide an exciting setting for luxury hotels and resorts, with all the attendant night life and gastronomic variety.

Aguilas

The town dates back to Palaeolithic times, and traces of many civilisations remain, including those of the Phoenicians, Romans and Moors. The town is overlooked by the impressive castle of San Juan de las Águilas, and is home to Roman baths and other historic sites. The castle was built in the late 16th century for the defence of the town.

In more modern times the town was a centre for the mining of silver, iron, and lead, and British companies constructed a railway and a pier to facilitate the export of these minerals, although the town continued with the traditional occupations of fishing and agriculture.

In addition to its historic interest, Aguilas has many coves, rocky headlands, and beautiful sandy beaches, as well as two protected natural parks: Cabo Cope and Las Cuatro Calas. There are beaches close to the town centre, and nearby lies the Isle of El Fraile, whose rock slopes are popular with sports divers. In fact, the combination of rocky headlands and crystal clear, sheltered waters make this whole area of coast a haven for water sports enthusiasts. Here you can find diving and sailing clubs and schools, wind surfing, jet ski-ing, and motor boat hire.

Mazarron

Mazarron consists of a town, some 5km inland, a delightful fishing port, and a long bay with beautiful beaches and scenery. The area is listed by the World Health Organisation as having one of the healthiest climates in Europe.

The town itself is mainly agricultural, surrounded as it is by fields of oranges, lemons, olives, figs and almonds. Vegetables abound here also, especially tomatoes and asparagus. The town is the administrative capital of the area, and has all the services associated with this position.

Puerto de Mazarron is a working fishing harbour, with a charming promenade lined with cafes and restaurants. The food is excellent in the port, particularly fresh fish and the wide variety of tapas. Both towns have a very Spanish atmosphere, although they are also home to expatriates of many nations.

The Bay of Mazarron extends from Cabo Tinoso in the northeast to Cabo Cope in the southwest, and includes the lively resorts of La Azohia, Isla Plana, and Bolnuevo as well as the Puerto de Mazarron. There are more than 40 beaches on this stretch of coastline which, while being away from the major tourist spots, is easily accessible from Alicante and Murcia airports.

In addition to water sports the local area has many top class golf courses, horse riding, off-roading, bowling and go-karting, and the beautiful countryside is ideal for walking and cycling.

Cartagena

Beyond the village of La Azohía, the coast changes to cliffs, with occasional secluded beaches which can be reached only on foot, perfect for those seeking peace and quiet, or total privacy. After rounding Cabo Tiñoso, a notable viewpoint which rises to an altitude of over 400m, there is a stretch of completely unspoilt coast, overlooked by the protected area of the Sierra de la Muela. Between Cabo Tiñoso and the Port of Cartagena, the only road to the beach is at Portus, a delightful secluded cove with a sandy beach.

To the east of Cartagena is the Regional Park of Calblanque, which is home to a wide variety of fauna and flora, fossil dunes, salt flats, coves, and beaches. The area is especially interesting for divers due to the diversity of marine life which inhabits the rocky sea bed. Beyond this area lies Cabo de Palos, the headland which forms the most eastern point of the Costa Calida.

From there a huge spit of land known as La Manga stretches northwards, almost rejoining the main coast north of San Javier, and forming the large inland sea known as Mar Menor.

La Manga

The spit of land which is know as La Manga varies in width from 200 to 1500m, and stretches some 25 kilometres northwards from Cabo de Palos, terminating only a few hunderd metres from Punta de Algas, a similar feature projecting from the mainland north of San Javier. This small break in the geological structure allows sea water to pass in and out of the Mar Menor, keeping the water fresh and clean.

This narrow strip of land contains top class hotel installations, apartment complexes, sports centres, supermarkets, shops, bars, and discos. Many people live in this area the whole year round, and facilities are therfore available out of season, making this a popular winter holiday spot.

Located as it is, between two seas, La Manga is an ideal place for water sports. There are sailing and skiing schools, as well as windsurfing and catamarans. The Mediterranean can be enjoyed by those who prefer the challenge of lively sea conditions, while those who prefer calmer waters can use the tranqil waters of the mar Menor.

Mar Menor

The Mar Menor was originally an open bay, but the transformation by the forces of nature into a warm, calm, inland sea has made the area a favourite throughout history. The Iberians, the Phoenicians, the Arabs and the Romans all had extensive settlements here, attracted not only by the sheltered waters, but by the climate and the fertility of the soil.

The warm waters of the Mar Menor cover some 170 square kilometres, with a maximum depth of only 7 metres, and enjoy perfect conditions for sailing or learning to sail. There are many centres here for those wishing to learn or practice water sports while enjoying top class accommodation, restaurants and nightlife. for those who wish to remain on dry land, there is a variety golf courses (many designed by top championship golfers), tennis courts, horse riding, and keep-fit centres.

The area enjoys 320 days of sunshine per year and the average annual temperature is 19ºC.