The most beautiful beaches of South-East Spain

The most beautiful beaches of South-East Spain

Southeast Spain is popular among Dutch and Flemish people with a two house. Of course because of the good climate and the beautiful beaches. But it is also a fantastic region for a holiday. Rent a house and a car or travel with the camper from the Costa Blanca to the Costa Cálida and the Costa de Almería. Or vice versa.

The beach where Indiana Jones was filmed

The best beaches of the Cabo de Gata Natural Park on the Costa de Almería can be found near the village of San José. A bumpy road first leads you to Playa de los Genoveses. Here in 1147 a Genovese army landed to assist the Christians in their battle against the Moors. Four centuries later, the Spanish Armada with thirty thousand men left here, on its way to a naval battle with the Turks.

Now there are only ships anchored by people who want to sunbathe and stroll on the beach. Incidentally, the majority of the trees in the region had to be cut down for the construction of that Armada, and that clear-cut has unfortunately never been restored.

A little further on is the intimate Playa de Mónsul , which served as the setting for scenes from Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones (such as the fragment where Henry crashes a Nazi plane with the help of dozens of startled seagulls). The water here is crystal clear and the volcanic sand tinged black. In the summer it can get quite busy, but the rest of the year this is a true paradise.

This must have been the case in other places in Spain in the past, but musing about times gone by is pointless. Take a dip, enjoy the delicious salty taste in your mouth and the view of the cliffs around the bay. If you have parked your car in the parking lot and not next to it, you can then continue driving without a ticket (this is a nature reserve; almost un-Spanish strict checks are made for compliance with the rules!). If you have a dog, you can also bring it to these beaches.

Beautiful bays, long sandy beaches

Mazarrón is a coastal town on the Costa Cálida with beautiful sandy beaches, which attract quite a few tourists in high season. In nearby Bolnuevo lies a long stretch of pebbles and – on land – a series of sandstone formations molded by weather and wind. If you follow the road along the water, you will find a cocktail bar on your right that has survived all trends and fads. A little further on you'll see the first of a series of pretty coves (the tarmac now turns into bumpy sand; you can also park here and walk to a nice spot to take a dip in the water).

A little more to the south is Puntas de Calnegre . This peaceful former fishing village forms the beginning of a protected nature reserve and is located on a nice beach. Here you can eat excellent rice and fish dishes in Café Bar Mercedes. The beaches of Cabo Cope Natural Park can be reached by bike or car via a sandy path from Calnegre. And if you're in the mood for crowds, drive on to Águilas: long sandy beaches, fun bars and the best carnival in the region!

The best beaches in Spain

Just outside the port city of Cartagena is Cala Cortina , which was voted one of the 10 best playas in Spain by the daily newspaper El País . It is a rocky bay with palm trees, fine stone sand and clear water. At the foot of the beach is the restaurant Mares Bravas, where you can eat well on the terrace. And all this within walking distance of the harbor and guarded by the baterías de Trincabotijas , where cannons used to keep the enemy at bay!

In summer it is busy here, but in spring and autumn you can enjoy the beach and sea in peace. Before or after the playa, visit the Roman theater in Cartagena and stroll through the lively Calle Mayor. The city was founded by Hannibal's uncle (that of the elephants) and is full of history. However, do not drive east from the beach, because then you will end up in an ugly industrial area.

The Calblanque nature reserve, near La Manga, can be reached via a bumpy road (watch out for the speed bumps: they seem low, but shake your shock absorbers awake!). After a few kilometers you will see a series of beaches where there is no concrete in sight. Bend to the right and you will come to Playa Larga and Playa Negrete . Here you can surf well when the wind blows (with or without a kite), but it is also a great sun, swimming and hiking spot. Whether you want to do that with or without swimwear is entirely up to you.

A little further, along the highway, is Cabo de Palos , a fishing village with a beautiful lighthouse. In the harbor you can eat the catch of the day or an arroz caldero , the local speciality, where rice is cooked in a fresh fish stock. You get aioli with it, but first check the strength before you eat it generously… Most restaurants are good, but if I had to invite you, I took you to La Tana, halfway down the quay.

La Manga itself is a 19-kilometer-long, concrete-filled spit of land that is often crowded in the summer. In spring and autumn, however, you can drive around peacefully and slide for a calm bath in the Mar Menor : a lagoon of over 170 square kilometers, very suitable for families with small children and for kayak enthusiasts and surfers. If you want a little more swell in the water, go to the real Mediterranean Sea, on the other side of the road.

Calas & chiringuitos

Alicante is not the hippest city in Spain, but there is a beautiful sandy beach, right next to the harbor, with a sturdy castle above it. A little more to the north is the expansive Playa de San Juan . Here you really have to concentrate on sun, sea and sand, because otherwise you mainly see concrete around you.

On the north side of the Mar Menor you will find beautiful beaches with – that is – the necessary buildings. In Torre de la Horadada there are beautiful calas (coves), especially near the Pueblo Latino , with fine sand and – in the sea – rock formations that calm the highest waves. Mil Palmeras has a long, beautiful sandy beach where there are also some hip chiringuitos , such as El Pirata (drinking, dancing, strolling) and, a little more to the north, El Vikingo, where you can enjoy a drink and delicious tapas with a view of the sea.

The romantic-sounding Campoamor is the place for the Murcian jet set, where you can rent a great apartment or house for little money outside the high season. Here you will also find excellent restaurants, such as Los Angeles in the Club Náutico and La Cabaña (on the beach by the harbor).

If the sun becomes too much for you, you can take a day trip to the provincial capital of Murcia. There it is teeming with beautiful shops, but you can also stroll through the center and enjoy the cathedral, the Real Casino and the local archaeological museum, before finally sitting on a terrace in the Plaza de las Flores or the Plaza Julián Romea. going to eat.

Source: espanje.nl