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La Manga del Mar Menor
It is easy to see how this town got its name. The La Manga Strip measures 21 km in length and 300 meters wide on average, which gives it the appearance of a sleeve of land when seen from the air. La Manga separates the Mediterranean Sea from Mar Menor (which translates into Small Sea ).
Although the areas high real estate prices, relative to elsewhere on the Costa Blanca, make it expensive to live here, La Manga is a very popular place to visit. Here, travelers will find a host of hotels, stores, bars, nightclubs and restaurants of all descriptions. There is something for everyone here. If you are in the under-30 set, a popular spot to hang out is in the Zoco area of the town. And if you fancy yourself a golfer, theres a high-end golf course of the same name located at the end of the strip. If you are a water lover, La Manga is the right place for you, too. You’ll find more than 40 km of Blue Flag beaches, perfect for any water sport you could mention.
Even for locals living in Murcia, the Mar Menor is a favorite summer destination. When you visit you willll experience the exciting mingling of local flavor and the foreign diversity.
To get to La Manga, you have a few choices. The closest international airport is Murcia San Javier, which offers daily flights from the U.K. and elsewhere in Europe that will transport you right into the Mar Menor area. As an alternative, you could choose to fly into the Alicante airport. From there, you’ll need to drive for about an hour to get to the La Manga area.
The public transportation system in La Manga is not great, and the Alicante airport is about 85 km away from Mar Menor, so it is a wise decision to either look for a hotel that offers a shuttle service or to rent a car. And if you plan on exploring this picturesque area, you might want to opt for the car rental option.
The official entrance to the La Manga strip is marked by a lighthouse known as Cabo de Palos. Starting from that point, you drive up along the whole length of the strip. When you are almost at the end of La Manga, near the village of Veneziola, you will encounter the yacht club Tomas Maestre, near another lighthouse. If you are tired after your long journey, this is the perfect place to stop, relax and sip a coffee or a cocktail at one of the several restaurants that overlook the La Manga del Mar Menor.
Surrounding the whole Mar Menor are beautiful beaches and villages to explore, just one of which is La Manga de Mar Menor. This area, particularly the La Manga Strip should not be overlooked when planning a trip to Spain. To plan a trip to this region is to assure yourself a holiday full of many different activities and even a little relaxation thrown in the mix. |
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