El Mojón, Regional Park of Las Salinas and San Pedro del Pinatar
The Costa Cálida extends along 250 kilometers
(155 miles) from the beach of Carolina in Águilas a few
kilometers from the province of Almería, to the beach of
El Mojón on the boundary with Alicante. This stretch of
Murcian coastline, blessed with 315 days of sunshine a year and
an average temperature of 17 degrees Centigrade (63 °F), is
shared by two seas: the Mar Menor, the largest natural pool in
the world and a paradise for all types of water sports, and the
Mediterranean with its spacious beaches of fine sand and varied
landscapes.
Without leaving this coast, it is possible to learn to sail, skin
dive in one of the best areas in the country and explore a sunken
ship, wander through a lovely nature park, calm aches and pains
with a soothing mud bath, or escape to an unspoiled cove to enjoy
a tranquil afternoon swim.
The Costa Cálida begins at El Mojón, an old fishing village with a superb Mediterranean beach surrounded by reed beds, and is bounded on the north by the province of Alicante.
A short distance from El Mojón, you encounter the Regional Park of Las Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar, the most important wetlands in the region of Murcia. Flocks of pink flamingos stop over here each year on their journey to north Africa at the end of the summer. Approximately 900 hectares (over 2,000 acres), the park has a privately-owned zone for industrial use with restricted access. These saltworks, once exploited by the Romans, are a complex network of ponds or pools for salt extraction and a refuge for a large number of birds.
The area open to the public, encompassing pine trees, dunes and sandy beaches with transparent waters, such as La Llana beach, can be visited on foot or by bicycle.
A visit to the encañizadas, a traditional fishing method in this area formerly used by the Arabs, is a must. Located near the spot known as Puntas de Algas, it is one of the three points of exchange of water between the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean Sea.
Accesses:
From San Pedro del Pinatar, it is possible to reach the park by
the road to El Mojón, the one leading to the port of San
Pedro del Pinatar, or either from Lo Pagán by a road that
goes to the end of the town and continues to Molino de San Quintín.
From Las Salinas, the road by the port takes
you to San Pedro del Pinatar, where a visit to the Casa del Reloj,
located on the San Sebastián farm, is well worthwhile.
Murcia guide