Mar Menor

When you arrive in the region of Murcia, you will discover one of south-east Spain's best kept secrets... blessed by areas of outstanding natural beauty, more than 3000 hours of sunshine and pleasant temperatures all year round.

Two Seas
Bordered by the blue Mediterranean, the coast of the region of Murcia boasts endless sandy beaches and spectacular scenery. And then there is the Mar Menor, Europe's largest saltwater lagoon, a delight for water sports enthusiasts.

The Great Pool, the Little Sea... the so-called Mar Menor (Minor Sea) has been known by different names during the course of its history, all of which have described this singular natural phenomenon: a great coastal lagoon (originally an open bay), 170 square kilometers of warm salt water, the largest saltwater lagoon in Europe.

This setting has everything you need for water sports: great weather, a constant breeze, calm and shallow waters (less than seven meters at the deepest point), there is no wonder it is considered one of Europe's best sailing destinations. Water sports enthusiasts will be spoilt for choice with sailing, canoeing, swimming, waterskiing, jet-skiing, fly-surfing, windsurfing and every other type of nautical activity you can imagine.

The stretch of land that separates the Mar Menor from the Mediterranean, called La Manga ('the sleeve'), is 24 kilometers long and between 200 meters to 1.5 kilometers in width. La Manga del Mar Menor is located between two seas and as such boasts infinite beaches, sandy seabeds and crystalline waters. The Mar Menor beaches are popular with families with young children, because the warm shallow water offers bathing fun for all ages.

All around the Mar Menor, there are picturesque villages such as Los Alcázares and Santiago de la Ribera, with seafront promenades bordered by majestic palm trees. Each day of the week, a local street market is hosted in a different town.