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By now most of us are familiar with the Blue Flags denoting quality of water, services and cleanliness at many of the beaches in the Costa Cálida, but with as many as 33 holding the distinction in 2026 there is perhaps a danger that the accolade begins to lose its significance!
None of which, of course, diminishes the quality on offer among beach destinations in Murcia! But to help sift through them, what follows is an overview of eight of the most attractive, emblematic and enjoyable beach experiences to be found along the Mediterranean coastline:
Las Salinas, San Pedro del Pinatar
The Playa de Las Salinas lies within the limits of a regional park, in this case that of the salt flats and sand dunes of San Pedro del Pinatar. It faces out eastwards onto the Mediterranean, and its long stretch of sand is separated from the spectacular salt flats only by the bank of dunes behind.
Such a picturesque setting is enhanced still further by the plentiful bird life in the salt flats, including flamingos, stilts and other water birds, and you can enjoy an hour or two strolling around and perhaps using the observation hides – an especially attractive proposition in the early morning and evening.
Playa de Levante, Cabo de Palos
This is the southern-most of the east-facing beaches in the Region of Murcia, just before the coastline “turns a corner” at Cabo de Palos and becomes more south-facing as you head west. It is a wide swathe of sand with the lighthouse of Cabo de Palos standing over it to the south and views along the strip of La Manga del Mar Menor to the north, and the water is generally very clear in the whole of the area.
If you head very slightly south, towards the headland, there are plenty of coves for snorkellers, divers and paddle boarders to explore, while a walk into the town of Cabo de Palos is a great little excursion to finish the day or punctuate it with a long caldero lunch!
Calblanque, Cartagena
Like the beach of Las Salinas, Calblanque is located in a regional park, in the case the one consisting of Calblanque, Monte de las Cenizas y Peña del Águila, and this is unquestionably one of the cleanest and least spoilt Blue Flag destinations you can find anywhere in Spain.
There is absolutely no building development permitted in the park, with the only structures nearby being the visitors’ centre, in summer, the lifeguard post. For this reason, the golden sand is complemented by a completely natural backdrop of mountains and vegetation, and the peace and quiet is to be treasured all year round.
The only drawback? During the summer, as visitor numbers rise, access is limited to a bus shuttle service operating to and from the car park – so plan on an extra few minutes to get there. But once there, it’s most definitely worth the slight extra effort!
Cala Cortina, Cartagena
There is hardly any beach to speak of in the historic city of Cartagena, the port occupying most of the seafront in the natural harbour, but just a few kilometres to the east is the large cove of Cala Cortina.
Hemmed in by rocky headlands on either side, the cove is blessed with a perfect sandy beach, providing a beautiful view out to sea, and on the higher ground there are also some of the historic fortifications and gun batteries which protected Cartagena at various points in its long history.
This is another great place to go along with your snorkel, mask and flippers, and the plentiful shaded areas and beach bar/restaurant make it a great way to spend a summer day with the family!
El Cuartel, La Azohía (Cartagena)
Many people visiting La Azohía stop off at the beach of San Ginés, the largest in the village and also the first to be reached when approaching by road, but a little further along the shore, where it curves around to the fishing jetty, the church and the old watchtower of Santa Elena, the mainly stony beach of El Cuartel, beneath the imposing headland of Cabo Tiñoso, is also a popular destination.
The surface makes it inappropriate for beach football, sandcastles and certain other popular activities, but on the other hand the protection afforded by for headland means that the water is almost always calm and clear and therefore perfect for paddle boarding, snorkelling and even scuba diving: La Azohía is acclaimed as one of the finest diving destinations in Spain.
To complete your day at the beach, there are great beach bars and seafront restaurants within a couple of minutes’ walk, and it’s only a short stroll up the hill (although it can be quite strenuous on a hot day) to the tower and some superb views!
Playa de Bahía-La Reya, Puerto de Mazarrón
The Playa de Bahía is not only a beautiful spot for a dip and extremely safe for children due to its protected location, it is also one of considerable historical significance as it is here that the ancient Phoenician shipwrecks of Mazarrón were discovered in the late 20th century.
The rock formations not far offshore give the beach added character and help to define the safe bathing area, while the seafront is dotted with restaurants and other facilities in the centre of Puerto de Mazarrón.
Playa de Calnegre, Lorca
Calnegre is a tiny village on the short stretch of coastline which belongs to the municipality of Lorca, and while many flock to the “main” beach and its restaurants (where you literally walk outside directly onto the sand) a short drive along a well-used dirt track takes you to the even more attractive setting of the Playa de Calnegre.
The fine sand is slightly grey in colour and backed up by a car park and, it’s nice to report, plenty of native vegetation – this is a real “off the beaten track” experience but with good services to boot!
La Carolina, Águilas
Just a few metres from the boundary between Murcia and the province of Almería in Andalucía, La Carolina is one of the many gems along the varied coastline of Águilas. Being outside the town centre it is not surrounded by urban development, and the headland which stands at the western end of the beach frames it perfectly as well as providing large sand dunes on its landward side and great snorkelling just offshore!
It’s worth taking a little time to enjoy the view back along the coast to Águilas, with the headlands jutting into view all the way to Cabo Cope.
Images: ITREM, Murcia Today, Turismo Águilas
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