Local
Area
The
Costa Calida (Warm Coast) area is reputed to have one of the most
pleasant climates in the world - according to the World Health
Organisation. There are so many reasons for coming to this area
and many people who come as holiday makers recognize this and
eventually return to live here.
The
Costa Calida stretches from the Mar Menor south to Almeria - where
the Costa del Sol commences. This is very much THE up and coming
area of Spain with massive investment taking place.
Climate
The Costa Calida, being in the southern region of Spain, offers
one of the most pleasant climates in Europe. With mild winters,
hot (but not oppressive) summers and an average of 320 sunny days
a year, it's not hard to see why it's such a popular Spanish tourist
destination and residential or retirement choice.
The
average hours of sunshine per day ranges from around 6 hours in
winter to a full 12 hours at the height of summer. This compares
to the London average of 1 hour in January and February to a maximum
of 7 hours in June. Rain on the Costa Calida is rare, especially
in the summer months - the total annual rainfall averages 5 to
6 cm (2 to 2½ inches) on the coastal plain, although the
inland mountainous areas are slightly wetter.
Click here
for a forecast of the weather in the region today.
Calblanque
Nature Reserve (La Manga)
Just south of La Manga, this has been a protected natural area
since 1987 and nature reserve since 1992, Calblanque is an amalgamation
of wonderful sand beaches, sandbanks, arid hills, cliff tops and
salt flats all of great ecological value. This Nature Reserve
represents one of the last untouched areas along the Mediterranean
coastline.
Cartegena
At the southern end of the Costa Blanca, this ancient naval town
is set in a magnificent sheltered bay. The best views can be obtained
from the Castle la Concepcion in the Parque Torres. Keep an eye
out for "La Linterna" an ancient lighthouse. Other interesting
sights are the Gran Hotel, the Arsenal, the Town Hall the Casa
Cervantes, the City Walls, the Palace of Pedreno and also the
Isaac Perals submarine. Several festivals are held here during
the year. The most notable of these is a Roman vs Carthaginian
re-enactment of the battles that took place here in years gone
by. Several Roman antiquities survive in this city, which is well
worth a visit.
The
Mar Menor
The Mar Menor is a 130 square km inland sea which is contained
by a narrow strip of land which separates it from the Mediterranean
Sea. The lagoon can not be circumnavigated by car as the strip
of land is broken at the northern tip. This lagoon is ideal for
all kinds of water sports and its warm, shallow water make it
an ideal place for all the family. Some of the villages on its
perimeter are, San Pedro del Pinatar, Santigo de la Ribera, San
Javier, Los Alcazares, Los Urrutia and also La Manga. La Manga
is actually built on a sand bar and is 22km long but only 200m
wide in parts.
Numerous
property developments and villages mark the extreme south of the
Mar Menor (Minor Sea): Los Urrutias, Los Nietos, Mar de Cristal
and Playa Honda. Closeby is the La Manga Club - World renowned
sports centre with three championship golf courses situated within
a world class tourist complex, with a host of recreational activities.The
protected Regional Park of Calblanque, Monte de Cenizas and Peña
de Aguila all show that Murcia has learned from its neigbours
and is actively protecting areas of natural beauty fom overdevelopmrent.
Closing the bay to the south we find Cabo de Palos, a typical,
sleepy Spanish village, situated alongside the most famous cape
on the Murcian coast. The silhouette of the lighthouse, designed
as a school for lighthouse keepers in 1865, crowns the town and
the cape. It lights the way from the coastal Mediterranean cliffs
of this fishing village to the flat expanses of La Manga.
La Manga Del Mar Menor
La Manga del Mar Menor is a wonderful Mediterranean spot located
30 Km. North of Cartagena. La Manga's official slogan is "A
paradise between two Seas". La Manga del Mar Menor itself
is a narrow wedge of land between two seas, the Mediterranean
and the Mar Menor, measuring 21 km. in length. Flats, residences,
luxurious villas, hotels, restaurants, discotheques, an important
leisure port with a blue flag and magnificent recreational installations
take up part of it, while the last few kilometers have been left
practically in its natural state.
La
Manga has a large number of beaches totaling more than 40 km.,
with, in addition, the possibility of choosing between two seas
with very different water temperatures, different degrees of salinity,
one with waves and the other practically calm all year round.
La Manga, in itself, is a magnificent tourist spot, with hotels
that makes up 50% of the regional total. In addition to a certain
cosmopolitan atmosphere, one must add the beauty of its landscape,
its special qualities for golf and water sports and an ample variety
of entertainment and leisure activities.
Murcia
Is a modern commercial city and is well worth a visit to see its
monuments and for shopping. The cathedral is a favourite as is
the Roman Theatre, the Palace Almundi, Paseo de Malecon, the Casino
Ballroom, Santa Catalina Square, the Episcopal Palace, the City
hall and last but not least the wonderful Esplanade de España.
Caravaca
De La Cruz
This is one of the World's 5 holy cities (including Jerusalem
and Rome) and is situated in the heart of the beautiful Murcian
countryside. At it's centre is the magnificent church that is
surrounded by the knights templar fortress. Caravaca is a fascinating
place to explore and is just one hour from the coast.
These
are but a few of the points of interest in our region - come and
explore them for yourself!
