-Mar Menor & La Manga-
Within the province of Murcia lies the Mar Menor, Europe 's largest salt water lake which has over 170 sq kms of warm shallow water and is also rich in iodine. It is separated from the Mediterranean by a 22km peninsular of land with double beaches (East and West facing) On the Mediterranean shoreline of this peninsular there is a rugged landscape of beach cover and sheltered bays with natural sandy beaches whilst the other side is the salt lake.
Many people visit the lakes daily and apply mud from the bed of the lakes to their bodies and then wash it off in the Mar Menor this process is believed to relieve aches and pains and is especially popular with those who suffer from arthritis and muscular problems. The lakes abound with wildlife and many thousands of flamingos stop there during their Autumn migration. Some of the most important villages are San Pedro del Pinatar, Los Alcazares, Los Narejos, Islas Menores, Mar de Cristal and Playa Honda.
La Manga is the most important tourist centre in the region and stretches between the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean . It consists of a narrow, sandy spit of land with 22km of double beaches and between 100 and 800m in width. Here lies the world famous La Manga Club Resort which is cocooned by the pine-covered Murcian hills set amongst the lemon groves and thousands of plam trees. It is an area the size of Monaco and features 3 golf courses, one of Europe 's finest tennis centres and many other excellent sporting and recreational facilities. At the heart of the resort lies the stunning Hyatt Regency Hotel resort, whilst small ‘village' clusters of villas and apartments populate the surrounding hillsides.
The Costa Calida is just 25 kilometres from Murcia (San Javier) Airport and 120 kilometres from Alicante with the provinces of Alicante and Valencia to the north and Almeria and Granada to the west. The best way to explore the region is by hire car, giving you the freedom to come and go as you please. Hot Properties in Spain have 19 years successful experience of finding the very best bargain Spanish properties for sale in the region