Find wondrous waters in the Region of Murcia
The Murcia Region’s historic architecture and influences might be the primary draw for visitors, but those who unpack the watery wonders of its Costa Cálida will find them remarkably diverse…
Embraced by 250km of Mediterranean coastline known as the Costa Cálida, the Region of Murcia in south-east Spain is a land of secluded bays, pristine salt marshes and even an inland sea…
1. Explore spectacular seas
Separated from the Mediterranean by a sandbar, Mar Menor, or ‘little sea’, is one of the Region of Murcia’s most precious jewels. It’s Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon and an area of such ecological importance that it was granted legal status as a person in 2022 so it could be better protected by the government and Murcia’s locals. Its shallow waters are an irresistible draw year-round. Visitors can canoe, kayak, windsurf, kitesurf and go stand-up paddleboarding Find wondrous waters in the Region of Murcia across the lagoon to explore its salt plains, reedbeds and islands – Barón, Redondela, Sujeto, Ciervo and Perdiguera – which together are a protected area for birdlife.
2. Embrace the diversity of the Costa Cálida
Aside from water sports, there are plenty of other ways to embrace Murcia’s Costa Cálida, from birdwatching (over 300 species have been recorded here, including avocets, black-winged stilts and cattle egrets) to hiking the craggy cliffs of Calblanque Regional Park and exploring the coves of Águilas.
3. Dive and snorkel
The beauty of the sea goes deeper than the surface and at protected marine reserves, Cabo de Palos-Islas Hormigas and Cabo Tiñoso, the clarity of the water rewards snorkellers and divers with a mesmerising world of sea life. Groupers, corvina, barracuda moray eels and countless other creatures thrive in the shallows of those thousand shades of blue, while deeper dives will take intrepid swimmers to historic shipwrecks.
4. Discover local life
Away from the water, visitors to La Azohia can enjoy the easy-paced existence of a Spanish fishing village, with the added attraction of the mountains of Sierra de las Moreras, Algarrobo, Lo Alto and Almenara as a backdrop.
5. Go wildlife watching
Mazarrón Bay is excellent for wildlife watching, where you can head out on boat trips in search of dolphins, pilot and sperm whales. The real joy of the Region of Murcia is it can be enjoyed year-round, with 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. So come winter or summer, you’ll have plenty of time to unwrap its diverse coastline…
