Guide to La Manga del Mar Menor
The beautiful country of Spain has a vast coastline and one of the more picturesque areas is La Manga its official title is La Manga del Mar Menor. La Manga is located in the Murcia region of Spain and this lovely area is very popular for the holiday makers who want a sunny climate in beautiful surroundings and it is referred to as the “paradise between two seas.” La Manga is unique and this adds to its charm it is a strip of 21 km long and 100 metres wide it separates the Mediterranean Sea from the Mar Menor Lagoon from Cabo de Palos to the Punta del Mojón. La Manga is one of the most cosmopolitan areas in Murcia today; it’s nestled in the Costa Calida and has been a hot spot for many years due to its fine sandy white beaches, clear blue waters and its lively atmosphere. When tourists visit La Manga they often feel they are on a small island because they are standing on a strip between two seas plus there are a staggering 40 km of beaches.
Before it became a tourist resort La Manga was once a bay which was open to the Mediterranean at either end of the strip. Volcanic reefs over time held back the sand and sediment that was dragged along by the sea currents to form a sandy column of dunes and rock vegetation and long beaches in contact with two seas: the Mediterranean and the Menor. Today La Manga is lined with luxury hotels, sailing ports, cafes, bars and restaurants and it is also a popular winter destination. The golf courses in La Manga have been described as some of the best in the world, situated at the north, south and west of the “strip” with fabulous courses packed with excellent facilities. This is the where the golf enthusiasts visits time and time again it’s a haven for keen golfers.
The nearest airport to La Manga is Murcia (San Javier) which is 25 km (14 miles). In the summer temperatures reach an average of 25°C and rarely drop below 15°C it’s a super Mediterranean climate for sunbathing and sightseeing.
La Manga actually translates from Spanish meaning “The Sleeve” this is due to its layout almost resembling a strip. It identifies the region and the coast of Murcia, The La Manga “strip” is 21 km long and 100 metres wide from Cabo de Palos to the Punta del Mojón. It was during the 16th century the islands started to merge together, remains of wooden cottages and clay and mud houses were found dating them to the Neolithic age. The Romans and Greeks amongst other settled there due to its fishing and mineral conditions. Wrecks containing gold and silver have been discovered in the depths of Mar Menor history buffs will revel in the historic rich findings. Good transport links means getting around is easy, the main bus service in La Manga takes you to a vast range of different areas, the nearest large town is Murcia and from there, the rest of Spain is just a bus ride away.
Related Area Guides in Spain
- Javea, Spain
- Alicante, Spain
- Villamartin, Spain
- Marbella, Spain
- Ibiza, Spain
- Altea, Spain
- Valencia, Spain
- Elche, Spain
- Mil Palmeras, Spain
- Guardamar, Spain
- Mijas, Spain
- Cumbre del Sol, Spain
- Finestrat, Spain
- Ciudad Quesada, Spain
- La Manga del Mar Menor, Spain
- Costa Blanca, Spain
- Costa Calida, Spain
- Costa Del Sol, Spain
- Balearic Islands, Spain
- Murcia, Spain
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La Manga offers typically Mediterranean dishes in excellent upmarket restaurants. The Tomas Maestre Marina comes alive at night with its plethora of bars and restaurants where you can sample the locally caught fresh fish and shellfish, or the famous Spanish Paella. International menus are available including Greek, Indian, Chinese or Mexican to name just a few. The south of the strip offers an upbeat and vibrant night out at clubs where you can throw some shapes on the dance floor.
