A popular Spanish region enjoying a fine climate (it is one of the driest areas of Spain), and lying within the Murcia autonomous community, the Costa Calida has some of the best beaches in this part of the country, especially those along the Mar Menor coastline, which also enjoys a sea temperature five degrees warmer than the surrounding Mediterranean Sea. The best of the beach resorts include Los Alcazares, San Pedro del Pinatar, Lo Pagan, San Javier and Puerto Mazarron, most of these are easily accessible from Murcia (San Javier) airport which is actually located beside the Mar Menor, some distance from the city of Murcia which is some 20 kilometres inland. The Costa Calida is a fantastic area for golfers, with a huge choice of courses which you can try out, around the Mar Menor there are several fine courses including Roda Golf, the Serena Golf Resort, La Torre Golf and the Mar Menor Golf Resort, near to Los Alcazares. There are even more courses surrounding the city of Murcia,with the now troubled Polaris World developing lots of courses and residential complexes in this area.
September 17, 2010
May 18, 2010
Pilar de la Horadada Costa Blanca
Pilar de la Horadada Church
The attractive little town of Pilar de la Horadada is named after an ancient watchtower which was originally used to warn local inhabitants of pirate attacks many centuries ago. It was probably originally inhabited by the Iberians and was later settled by Romans, Moors and eventually reconquered by Christians. Pilar de la Horadada is the southernmost town in Alicante and the Costa Blanca, to the south is the Murcia region and the area known as the Costa Calida. After the Christian reconquest it marked the border between the Kingdoms of Aragon and Castile and it eventually ained its independence from the town of Orihuela in 1986. Pilar is well known as an agricultural area and grows much produce including lettuces, broccoli and celery, other products include melons, oranges and lemons, for this is citrus growing territory, it also grows numerous flower species. The nearby Rio Seco is an important protected area with some rare species of flora and fauna, in particular orchids and a species of dwarf palm tree. In recent years Pilar de la Horadada has become more developed with an increase in demand for holiday homes and properties for relocation, and the town now has a large expat community, with many Brits and North Europeans choosing to settle here permanently. Pilar has a popular beach area where many visitors enjoy the fine local weather especially during the hot summer months, it attracts both Spanish and International visitors.
December 9, 2009
Jellyfish of the Mar Menor
The Mar Menor
There have been reports suggesting that the Mar Menor jellyfish population has been significantly reduced by an ongoing campaign aided by local fishermen. Some 42 km of protective nets have been installed in this large salt lagoon on the Costa Calida, Spain, to help protect the popular beach areas and this has been mostly successful in preventing jellyfish infestation during the busy summer seasons of the last 2 years (2008 and 2009). Seventy eight tonnes of jellyfish were netted last year by local fishermen on the Mar Menor, a significant reduction compared to the 5,000 tonnes removed between 2000 and 2002. The oceanographic institute in Lo Pagan has been monitoring the jellyfish situation. The Mar Menor, formed by a narrow spit of land known as La Manga (The Sleeve) has some of the most popular seaside resorts along the Costa Calida, boasting wonderful sandy beaches and safe warm bathing waters, which are particularly renowned for their healing properties, being very high in salt content. The Mar Menor and Costa Calida are situated within the province of Murcia, in south-eastern Spain, some of its best known resorts include Los Alcazares, San Pedro del Pinatar, Santiago de la Ribera, Los Narejas, Los Urrutias, and San Javier.
November 29, 2009
Still Need Car Hire at Murcia Airport
Visitors finding it a little strange when arriving at Murcia airport and noting that the airport is actually a long way from Murcia itself, will be pleased to know that there is now a new Murcia airport being built at Corovera in the Sierra de Carrascoy, however they may not be so pleased when they realise that this airport is also going to be at least a 20 minute drive from the city itself. Of course the vast majority of arrivals at Murcia (San Javier) airport are actually heading for the coastal resorts of the northern Costa Calida and southern Costa Blanca, so San Javier, site of the existing Murcia airport, is actually better placed than the new airport for these visitors. Plans for the airport were first discussed in 2005 and despite objections to the construction, work has continued, and the new airport is due to be completed in 2010 at a cost of 266 million euros. Whether you are arriving at the existing airport or the new one when it opens, you will probably need to book car hire to get you to your resort and then around the area to make the most of your stay, other options include taxis, or a pre-booked airport transfer, in both cases once you arrive at your resort you will be somewhat confined to that immediate area if you have not booked a car hire vehicle, so you had better check that your destination accommodation is within easy reach of local facilities and beaches or you could be in for a long walk.
November 18, 2009
El Mojon Costa Blanca
El Mojon Beach
A small coastal resort located near to Pilar de la Horadada on the southern Costa Blanca, El Mojon is right on the border between the regions of Valencia and Murcia in fact some of the homes come under the control of one region, whilst other come under the auspices of the other. Situated beside the Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar (Natural Park of the Salt Lagoons), its development threatens this protected area. El Mojon has excellent beaches and its small population of around 600, increases many fold during the summer months, when many visitors arrive to enjoy the climate, beaches and sea. Quite a bit of property development has taken place in the area and many have chosen to settle in El Mojon or buy holiday homes there.
October 20, 2009
Calasparra Murcia Spain
Situated at the confluence of four rivers, the town of Calasparra is located in a rugged and mountainous part of the Murcia region of south-eastern Spain, the Sierra de Molina and Sierra de Puerto surround the town. Inhabited since prehistoric times, Calasparra has seen settlements by Iberians, Romans, Moors and Christians. Its proximity to so much water via the nearby rivers, led to its being important for the growing of rice, no a product that most would associate with the mountainous regions of Spain. Nearby places of interest include the holy town of Caravaca de la Cruz, Mula, Hellin, Moratalla and Cieza. Calasparra Map.