Beaches in Cartagena and La Unión

The coastline of Cartagena, the longest in the Region of Murcia, is one of the least urbanized in the Spanish Mediterranean area. Cartagena has over 40 kilometers of beaches distributed in the coasts of the Mediterranean and Mar Menor. The closest beach to the city, which sits on an abrupt area, is Cala Cortina.  The municipality of Cartagena has a large bay, as well as different types of beaches and landscapes. The views, both from inland and the sea, are fantastic.

 

The West is home to the urban beaches of Isla Plana and La Azohía, next to Tiñoso Cape. The steep coastline of this cape has great beaches and solitary coves in a natural setting only accessible by trail. After Tiñoso Cape, on the way to Cartagena, there is another section of unspoilt coast known as Sierra de la Muela which together with Tiñoso Cape and Roldán, comprise a Protected Wildlife Reserve. The nudist campsite of El Portús sits in the heart of Sierra de la Muela. From the hill of Roldán, the views of the Cartagena bay and Mazarrón are gorgeous. Access to Fatares beach, Gallito cove and La Parajola beach are the most difficult in the entire coast.

 

Continuing North, after passing Cartagena on the East, there is a narrow stretch of coast belonging to La Unión in which Lastre, next to the Bay of Portmán, is the beach that stands out the most. Further North you will reach the Regional Park of Calblanque, Monte de las Cenizas and Peña del Águila Calblanque has a large variety of landscapes including small coves, large sandy beaches of pristine waters and reddish sand, dunes, fossil dunes, salt flats and rocky hills. The Park is certainly a perfect place for trekking from one end to the other.

 

On the way North you eventually find Cabo de Palos, a fishing village with excellent restaurants to eat and places for diving, such as Islas Hormigas (marine reserve) and the coves of Cala Reona, Cala del Descargador and Cala Fría (by the lighthouse). The exceptional beauty and good state of conservation of the Cabo de Palos seabed makes this area one of the most popular amongst scuba divers in Spain.

 

This route ends in kilometer 3.5 of La Manga, where there are beaches in the Mediterranean and Mar Menor coasts (Los Urrutias, Los Nietos, Mar de Cristal, etc. ). Beaches after kilometer 3.5 are no part of Cartagena, but of San Javier.
 

See all the beaches in Murcia