La Manga del Mar Menor is a wonderful Mediterranean spot (in spite of the building speculation, which has rather spoiled the place) to take some vacations or to retire here, if you reached the age (or the feeling) to do it.

La Manga is located 30 Km. North Cartagena (Mediterranean Sea coast, Southeast Spain) in the Autonomous Community of Murcia (Autonomous Community = some politically and administratively organized land space in Spain, similar to a Federal State in USA or a Lander in Germany).

One of La Manga's official slogan is La Manga is a paradise between two Seas (Mediterranean and Mar Menor, a very salty water lake, West of the narrow stripe of land that goes along the "two seas" for about 20 or 30 Km.).

However, when the wind blows here (which is good for the windsurfers, they love the place) it is a very windy paradise.

Another slogan is "If you like the Sea, we have Two".

However, one of them it is just a nice and very salty lake.

An initial advice, if you like to visit and enjoy La Manga, is that you come here avoiding the months of July and August. This, of course, unless you like crowds, activity and noise, better than quietness and relaxation.

La Manga has many things difficult to find in Continental Europe: the clean air, the healthy Mar Menor water (very salty, therefore good for rheumatic diseases and skin problems), the fall and winter weather (from early March to middle November the good weather is almost guaranteed and, even during those "could" months, you will find many days with good and sunny weather) and the beautiful sunsets in Mar Menor.

It is true, however, that if you get some days of bad weather (and there are some), you could feel coulder than if living in the North Pole, particularly if your Hotel or (which happens more often) your rented Apartment is not appropriately prepared.

Therefore, if you come to La Manga del Mar Menor during the winter season it would be advisable that you knew the orientation of the apartment you wish to rent, as it is important that the house receives a good amount of sun along the day. Check also that the apartment has the sufficient radiators (normally electrical) to heat it properly.

A short description of this place is as follows:

The four or six initial Kilometres of Gran Via de la Manga (the main Avenue that runs 18,5 Km. along La Manga urbanizations) go through "Wide" La Manga (the distance between Mar Menor lake and Mediterranean Sea is about 1 - 1,5 Km.). Here you find the elder buildings and developments (though you have many of them very well preserved and you have, also, new modern developments). In this area the building density is high.

Then you have the "Narrow" La Manga (where the distance between the Mar Menor lake and the Mediterranean Sea is shorter, generally speaking). In this area the building density is more acceptable, although you have, also, some good examples of gigantic buildings.

Finally, when La Manga inhabit ends in Veneziola area (after the 18,5 Km. of Gran Via de la Manga Avenue and all the buildings), the "Wild" La Manga starts. It is the Nature Reserve San Pedro del Pinatar Saltworks and Sand Spots Regional Park (about 2.000 acres of wild land, North of urbanized La Manga).

(You can visit, also, Calblanque -volcanic clifts over isolated sand beaches- the other Nature Reserve South La Manga, between La Manga Club and Cabo de Palos:
Calblanque Park, how to visit it)

An initial advice is that you should visit La Manga driving your own car or (if you come here flying) renting a car. You can, also, rent a bike, a scooter or a bicycle in local La Manga rental places.

There is a public bus service in La Manga and Cabo de Palos but, specially Winter time, it is no good.

Other advice is that you visit the Mercadillo de Cabo de Palos when you are in La Manga on Sunday morning (every Sunday morning along the year). It is a sort of flye market and takes place in an open space located in Cabo de Palos, next to the old road Cabo de Palos-La Manga-Cartagena (See Cabo de Palos Map, please). It has thousands of visitors, so you can find it very easily just following the crowds. In the Mercadillo you have fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers from the famous Murcia and Cartagena plantations and, also, wearing apparel, shoeware, gifts, etc. Prices are much better than the ones you find in the regular shops or supermarkets.

Other "Mercadillos" take place along the week in surrounding villages:

Monday: San Pedro del Pinatar - Tuesday: La Unión, Los Alcázares and Los Belones - Wednesday: Santiago de la Ribera - Thursday: San Javier - Friday: El Algar - Saturday: Los Narejos and Torrepacheco.
(see villages location in La Manga map 0)

Finally (for the moment), if you have a health problem while your stay in La Manga and you need to find the nearest medical center to ask for help, this is the information provided by the Consejería de Sanidad y Consumo de la Región de Murcia (Region's equivalent to the Ministry of Health and Consumption of the Central Spanish Government), listing the Primary Medical Care Centers (Centros de Salud) and Hospitals in Area 2, the Eastern part of the Region, where we are:

To get all these informatios and more, check the links in bar at the left side of the page, please.