La Manga lies in the region of Murcia on the Costa Calida, the least developed coastal region of Spain and as such remains truly Spanish in character. La Manga, (literally the sleeve), is a tongue of land twenty four kilometres long, varying from two hundred metres to one and a half kilometres in width. It separates the Mediterranean from the Mar Menor, a large salt water lagoon which is a haven for water sports enthusiasts. The world famous La Manga Club is here and offers five star luxury in both accommodation and facilities, which include no less than three championship golf courses.
La Manga is an upmarket resort that attracts a wide range of visitors and is particularly popular with families with small children. Water sports enthusiasts will find that the facilities and conditions at the Mar Menor are excellent. Couples looking for a relaxing holiday in an authentic Spanish atmosphere will not be disappointed.
La Manga has widespread appeal from families with small children to senior citizens. Golfers flock to La Manga drawn by the three championship golf courses.
Although La Manga is a year round holiday venue with an average temperature of seventeen, the summer months are the most popular time to go, with guaranteed sunshine and warm seas. Many visitors however, enjoy escaping from the dark dreary days of a typical British winter to La Manga’s welcoming coast.
La Manga on the Costa Calida remains unspoiled by tourism and offers visitors the opportunity to experience the authentic flavour of Spain. There are many traditional villages around Mar Menor’s seventy kilometre coastline including Los Alcazares with its pretty palm lined promenade.
The Mar Menor or little sea is a vast salt water lagoon where the water temperature is like that of a warm bath. The minerals in the water are said to have therapeutic powers helping joint and skin problems. They also aid buoyancy so the lagoon is an excellent spot to learn to swim and to practice water sports. It is a very safe beach for children as the shallow depth extends for several hundred metres. The lagoon attracts many birds including flamingos.
Alblanque, near the Mar Menor lies in a protected area and it is here that you can find isolation on the deserted beaches and in the sand dunes. It is a great area for hiking and cycling.
La Manga Club, also near the Mar Menor, has superb golf courses, dozens of tennis courts and an equestrian centre amongst its host of other facilities.
The nightlife in La Manga, with the exception of the La Manga Club is fairly understated. There are many small bars and restaurants where you can spend a pleasant evening but if you want to dance until dawn you will need to choose a different resort. The La Manga Club has a disco, a jazz bar and hotels with live music.
It also provides a casino, small by Las Vegas standards, with forty slot machines and a number of gaming tables.
La Manga has the usual array of shops icluding gift and souvenir shops on the sea front, which are sufficient for most needs. Local markets can be found in the small villages around the Mar Menor which sell amongst other items traditional baskets, pottery, ceramics and rugs.
As expected fish dishes abound in La Manga with small fried fish and shellfish being firm favourites .There are tapas bars and restaurants to suit all tastes and pockets. Local wines are both pleasing to the palate and the pocket. Children are always given a warm welcome in restaurants.
