Located in the province of Murcia, on the southeastern Mediterranean coast, with approximately 250 km of sandy, white beaches, some of which have sand dunes and are backed by pine forests. The Costa Calida is typically less developed than other areas in Spain and is characterized by small, quintessentially traditional Spanish seaside resort towns. Some areas are of course more developed than others, such as the popular La Manga strip with the 5 star La Manga Club, 18-hole golf courses, tennis courts and luxury accommodation. Perhaps the least developed is the beautiful Calblanque National Park, which is situated close to La Manga. Most beaches are well equipped with good facilities, bars and restaurants and offer activities such as water-sports including as sailing, windsurfing, kite-surfing, diving, kayaking and fishing. A large portion of the coastline contains the Mar Menor, or small sea, which is actually the largest area of enclosed and protected sea in Europe, making for a perfect temperature and calm waters. Cartagena is a historic port town, with plenty of museums and monuments to visit including Roman ruins and artifacts. Although not a renowned tourist destination it is worth visiting, particularly for a day trip. Murcia is the capital of the region and the 7th largest city in Spain. Activities within Muricia include shopping, admiring the impressive architecture and visiting the museums and monuments, which include a stunning cathedral. The typical diet is Mediterranean, with seafood, rabbit and lamb featuring prominently. For dessert, donβt miss out on the delicious local Jijona (nougat) ice cream, made with almonds from the region. The climate is mild and pleasant with around 315 days of sunshine a year, making it an incredible popular destination for tourists from all over the world. The Costa Calida is easily accessible from Alicante Airport as well as Murcia airport. It is perhaps worth hiring a car, although there is public transport by means of local busses and taxi services. Most resorts will offer airport transfers.
