La Manga, Spain
Nestled between two seas, La Manga del Mar Menor (or simply La Manga) is all beaches - an alluring summertime getaway for vacationers both local and international. The warm waters of Europe's largest lagoon washing over its western shore are known for their exceptional healing properties. The strip is also renowned for its golf courses.
Population:
10,000
Currency:
1 Euro = 100 Cents
Emergency Numbers:
112
Opening Hours:
Opening hours may vary depending on the business, but most operate from 8-9am to 1-2pm, closing for an afternoon break and re-opening again at 4.30pm. Tourist-geared establishments often stay open late into the night.
Newspapers:
Murcia Today (English)
La Opinion de Murcia
La Verdad
The Strip
La Manga del Mar Menor (or simply La Manga) is essentially a very long, narrow stretch of land forming a natural border between two seas - the Mediterranean and Mar Menor (or "small sea"), Europe's largest lagoon whose waters' temperatures almost never drop far below 18 °C.
Much like other resort destinations, La Manga really comes to life in summer, when sun-kissed vacationers bring a pleasant buzz to the narrow strip. Averaging about 300 meters in width, La Manga is a land spit where one is never too far from the beach, and being a destination popular with visitors it also boasts quite some tourist infrastructure. Apart from golfing, active pursuits in the area - unsurprisingly - revolve around water. Sporting equipment is available for hire, and popular sports range from canoeing to jet skiing and kite-surfing.
The spit's two most popular areas are Zoco and Plaza Bohemia, while Cape Palos to the south is the closest field trip destination on the mainland. The sleek Tomas Maestre Marina is another unmissable spot, a departure point for boat tours and simply a pleasant location for an afternoon stroll.
Do & See
The nearly 20 kilometer strip is the place to be for beach-goers and golders (Veneziola Golf enjoys rave reviewesy), but further pursuits await on the mainland. Cape Palos, Calblanque Park and Punta Brava make for good day-trips, while the closest big city is Cartagena - a historic port settlement with plenty to explore.
Dining
Fish and seafood are the fundamental building blocks of regional cuisine - they feature prominently on restaurants' menus. Eateries abound in La Manga itself as well as the nearby Cape Palos, La Manga's slightly less tourist-geared southern neighbour. Seafront dining is, naturally, available throughout.
Cafés
Quintessential La Manga cafes are the so-called "chiringuitos" - beach huts whose specialty is grilled fish (sardines cooked on a wood spit are rather typical). Another common local meal is the "caldero" - a rice dish cooked in flavourful fish broth, leaning almost more towards being a very thick soup than a main. The more classic variety of cafes with coffee and snacks dot the strip, too.
