Experience La Manga del Mar Menor

La Manga is a narrow strip of land over 20 km long on the coast of Murcia, in south-east Spain. It separates the Mediterranean from the Mar Menor, a large saltwater lagoon, so you have two seas a short walk apart. It belongs to the municipalities of Cartagena and San Javier.

A single main road, the Gran Vía, runs the length of La Manga, and locals find everything by its kilometre marker rather than by street name. Km 0 is the entrance next to Cabo de Palos and the numbers climb as you head north towards Veneziola. Every listing on this site shows its kilometre, so you can tell at a glance how far apart two places are.

Región de Murcia International Airport (RMU), at Corvera, is the nearest, usually under an hour by car. Alicante-Elche (ALC) has more flights and is roughly an hour and a quarter away. Most visitors hire a car or book a transfer; check current bus options before you travel.

The Mar Menor is generally calm, warm and shallow, which suits families, paddle boarding and sunsets. The Mediterranean side is open sea, with deeper water, long beaches and sunrises. They are only a few minutes apart on foot, so if the wind makes one side uncomfortable, try the other.

July and August are the liveliest months, with everything open and more traffic. June and September are warm and noticeably quieter, and many regulars prefer them. Spring and autumn suit walking, sailing and diving; in winter La Manga is very quiet and many seasonal businesses close, so check opening hours on each listing.

No. Viviendo La Manga is an independent local guide and business directory. Ratings come only from reviews left on this site, and businesses can claim and update their own listing.