Activities in the Area

 

Arts & Crafts Beaches Day Trips from Hacienda Riquelme Eating Places Family Attractions Festivals Golf Historic Ruins Links Markets & Shopping National Parks Railways Sport

Beaches

The villages around the Mar Menor have been tourist destinations for the Spanish for many years. The beautiful beaches of resorts such as Lo Pagan, Santiago de La Ribera and Los Alcazares (a resort even in Roman times) are on the crystal clear Mar Menor.

The Mar Menor is open to the sea at its northern end and is quite shallow (maximum depth of 7m), so it is excellent for children as its beaches shelve very gently. In the summer, the waters are literally like a warm bath.

On the far side of the Mar Menor can be found the La Manga Strip which is unique in Europe, having sea on both sides. The sunrises over the Mediterranean can be spectacular and the sunsets over the quieter Mar Menor are stunning. This whole area is a Mecca for lovers of watersports of all kinds, sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, jetskis, snorkelling, scuba diving or just swimming. There are many marinas in the area and several schools for these activities.

Markets & Banks

Local Markets:

Shopping Malls

Mud baths

The special weather in this area, with a high percentage of hours of sunlight a year and a high level of salinity, have led to the formation of mud in the north of the lagoon (an area known as La Puntica) that has been sedimenting into a bed and is now used as a therapeutic remedy.

Studies undertaken at the University of Murcia in 1995 show that these sediments contain a high percentage of cations, calcium, magnesium, potassium and fluorine, as well as anions, chlorine and sulphate in much higher quantities than the average levels, even in saline waters. In addition to this, medical grading in this area shows there is a considerable amount of fine sand, lime and clay, which are the real curative elements in mud. PH is an essential element and it reaches rates between 7.12 and 8.45.

The Mar Menor is an extremely salty lagoon. The characteristics of its waters are conditioned by sun exposure, winds and especially its connection with the Mediterranean through the barricades. The ion concentrations measured for some elements such as magnesium, calcium, sodium, bromine, iodine and fluorine are much higher than the levels found in the Mediterranean sea.

It has been proved that thermal treatments with this kind of saline waters have an osmotic effect on the interstitial tissues of the human body, thus activating the whole blood flow. As a result the toxic particles are eliminated and muscles relax, which is very good in cases of arthritis, rheumatism, tendon inflammation, nervous conditions and any kind of illnesses connected with the joints.

The most popular area to take mud baths is the La Puntica salt flats, in Lo Pagán, north of the lagoon, whose beds are an extraordinary collection of medicinal sediments. Salt water baths can be taken anywhere in the Mar Menor, thanks to the excellent hotel infrastructure in the area.

Museums

San Pedro del Pinatar: Sea Museum and Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum
San Javier: Museum and Parish Museum
Los Alcazares: Aeronautical Museum
Cartagena: Maritime Archaeology, Local Archaeology Museum "Enrique Escudero de Castro", Naval Museum, Battery Museum, Carmen Conde - Antonio Oliver Museum
Cabo de Palos: Centre of Information and Exhibitions

Festivals

Six National Tourism Interest festivals, and 31 Regional Tourism Interest festivals provide an idea of the Murcia region's lengthy festive calendar, of great interest to residents and visitors alike.

It all begins on the last Sunday in January, with the Cuadrillas de Barranda Festival. February is Carnival month, with famous dance troupe parades, and costume contests in communities such as Águilas, Cartagena, and Cabezo de Torres.

Holy Week is noted for the Cartagena, Lorca, Jumilla and Murcia processions. It is also the season of the Tamborradas (processions with drummers) that accompany the Mula and Moratalla celebrations, and the Murcia Spring Festivals. A highlight of the latter festivals is Bando de la Huerta Day, on which thousands of Murcians, sporting their traditional attire, accompany the cavalcade through the city. Another Holy Week festival is the Entierro de la Sardina, which is Murcia´s other major festival together with Bando. A pagan festival of mythology and fire, a must-see magical night in the city, where a striking parade of dance troupes, brass bands, entertainment groups, dragons, giants, huge-headed figures, and floats accompany an enormous sardine, which is ultimately burned in a purifying fire under a spring sky lit up by the dazzling fireworks performance.

The month of May features Moor and Christian parades in many of the region´s towns, such as Abanilla and Alhama, and the massively attended performances of the Santísima y Vera Cruz Festival in Caravaca.

The summer sees an abundance of Virgen del Carmen seafarer´s processions in many of the coastal communities. It is also the season of cultural festivals such as those of San Javier, La Unión, Los Alcázares, Lorca, and the Wine Harvest Festival in Jumilla.

In autumn Murcia prepares for the September Fair, with the Moors and Christians parades, and the Mediterranean Folklore Festival. Concurrently, legions of Romans and Carthaginians face each other on the streets of Cartagena, recalling ancient historical times. Over 10 days, key moments in the history of Spain are staged in outdoor performances: a motion picture production of the city´s refounding; the wedding of Hannibal and Princess Himilce amid mystical dances and divine invocations; the power of Rome represented by the seaborne arrival of its Legions and Circus, a live performance with four-in-hand races; Hannibal´s departure to Italy with his grand army; and the final battle staged outdoors at twilight.

September is also the month of the religious pilgrimages called Romerías, featuring Virgen de la Fuensanta, the patron of Murcia, and Virgen de la Esperanza in Calasparra.

At the end of fall, the prominence of the festivals moves to the north of the region, with the Fiestas de la Purísima in Yecla, amid the thunder of the harquebuses. The Cuadrillas de Ánimas (troupes) and the Campanas de Auroras ("Dawn Bells" music group) announce the beginning of Christmas by singing their carols along orchard roads. Also famous in the Region during these dates are the nativity scenecontests, and the big parades on Epiphany Day.

National Parks

The region of Murcia is traditionally agricultural, and grows a lot of olives, citrus fruit and vegetables. With over 100 000 hectares of vineyards, this region has a tradition of winemaking. The wines have not always been of the best quality, but thanks to new technology and techniques, the wine is rapidly improving and becoming more commercially successful. Why not sample some wine while you are there?

Nature lovers are well catered for in Murcia, and there are many nature parks that are well worth the visit. Calblanque, south of Mar Menor has been a protected natural area since 1982, and a nature reserve since 1992. This nature reserve has high dunes, sandy beaches and many species of birds and plants. Visitors can enjoy the park on foot, bike and horseback as well as by car.

San Pedro del Pinatar is home to the regional park of Salinas y Arenales, the most important wetlands in the region. Flocks of flamingos rest here each year before their journey to North Africa.

The Sierra Espuna regional park has amazing scenery including dramatic peaks, forests and many species of plants. Wild boar, goats, mountain cats and tortoises can all be found here. This park is popular with organised walking tours, and the peak of Espuna at 1579m can be seen from miles around.

Sport

The Islas Hormigas underwater preserve is a protected area that is World renown in diving circles. Several of the diving schools at the village of Cabo de Palos take trips out to this area. Cabo de Palos is a working fishing village located at the base of the strip and is well known throughout the region for its collection of fine fish restaurants.