The Mar Menor west shore (El Carmolí, Los Urrutias, Los Alcázares)
This is where most of our homes on the Costa Cálida are. El Carmolí and Los Urrutias are small, low-rise resorts with wooden bathing jetties over the water, and Los Belones is a few minutes inland. Los Alcázares is bigger, with a seafront promenade and more restaurants. The lagoon is shallow and warms up early in the year. Murcia airport at Corvera is around half an hour away.
Best for: Young children who need calm, shallow water
Not for you if: You want clear sea: the lagoon has had serious pollution problems, and swimming is sometimes stopped after poor test results.
San Pedro del Pinatar and Santiago de la Ribera (north Mar Menor)
At Lo Pagán, in San Pedro del Pinatar, people coat themselves in mineral mud from the lagoon edge. The Salinas y Arenales regional park, next to it, has flamingos on the salt pans and long sandy Mediterranean beaches. Santiago de la Ribera has a palm-lined promenade and sailing schools. Alicante airport is around 45 minutes to an hour away, and Murcia airport about half an hour.
Best for: Mud baths, salt flats and an easy run to Alicante
Not for you if: You want somewhere quiet in August: Spanish families pack the seafronts.
La Manga and Cabo de Palos
La Manga is a narrow strip of sand around 20 km long, with the open Mediterranean on one side and the Mar Menor on the other. At its southern end, Cabo de Palos is a fishing village with a lighthouse, harbour restaurants and boats out to the Islas Hormigas marine reserve, one of Spain's best-known dive sites. The undeveloped beaches of Calblanque are just south. Murcia airport is around 45 minutes away.
Best for: Two seas, scuba diving and fish restaurants
Not for you if: You dislike high-rise: much of La Manga is a long line of apartment towers.
Cartagena and La Azohía
Cartagena has a restored Roman theatre, a naval harbour and an old centre of Modernista buildings, with tapas bars along the Calle Mayor. La Azohía, around 30 minutes west, is a small fishing village with shingle beaches, a watchtower on the headland and very little development. Murcia airport is around half an hour from Cartagena.
Best for: Roman history in town and quiet coves to the west
Not for you if: You want a beach outside the door in the city: Cartagena is a working port.
Mazarrón, Bolnuevo and Águilas (south-west coast)
Puerto de Mazarrón is a fishing port with town beaches. At Bolnuevo, a few minutes south, wind has carved the sandstone into odd shapes known as the Gredas de Bolnuevo, and a dirt track leads to a string of small coves. Águilas, further south, has two bays either side of a castle hill and one of Spain's bigger carnivals. Murcia airport is 45 minutes to an hour from Mazarrón.
Best for: Couples and walkers who want coves and fewer crowds
Not for you if: You want a short transfer: Águilas is around an hour and a quarter from Murcia airport.
Inland Murcia (Molina de Segura, Archena, Ricote, Totana, Balsicas)
Archena has a spa built around hot springs on the Segura river, and the Ricote valley, upstream, is a strip of lemon and orange orchards between bare hills. Molina de Segura is on the edge of Murcia city. Totana is the gateway to the Sierra Espuña, with pine forest and walking trails. Balsicas is close to the Mar Menor golf resorts. Choice inland is limited.
Best for: Spa towns, orchards and mountain walks
Not for you if: You can't take heat: inland summers are fierce.
