Introduction to the beaches of La Unión

The municipality of La Unión has two beaches, Playa Lastre and Playa de Portmán, both of which are  on the Mediterranean coast and both in the urban area of Portmán.

Although both are attractive in their own right and are very popular with visitors, they are set to change tremendously in the coming years as the area is regenerated.

La Unión is a mining municipality, part of the Sierra Minera which was extensively mined during the Roman occupation of this area and remained an active mining area until the last few decades of the twentieth century.

Although the area is littered with remains of its mining past, much of the visible mining legacy seen today dates from the latter part of last century when open cast mining techniques left extensive scars in the countryside, one of the victims being Portmán bay, which was filled with mining waste, created by the mineral washing processes of the open cast system.

Click to read the full history of the mineral dumping in Portmán Bay

During the last few years a major campaign has been underway to regenerate the bay and in 2017  work began as the process to remove the accumulated mineral waste and regenerate the bay got under way. Once it is completed a new sporting port and marina may be built, replacing the existing facilities.

The waste in the bay is not toxic, and the area continues to attract visitors to both beaches, Portmán being particularly popular with fishermen. In the corner of Playa Lastre is an attractive little sailing port which is very popular with visitors due to the busy bar and restaurant facilities here and visitors also use this as a stop-off point for walking in the regional parkland behind the beaches, where the remnants of military batteries can still be visited. (Click La Chapa batteries and Cenizas and Negrete batteries).

Playa de Portmán

Portmán beach is a vast curving beach, 950 metres long and an average of 110 metres wide, with fine golden sand.

In the future this bay will change radically, as the deposits of mineral waste which fill the bay behind the existing shoreline are removed and the shoreline moved back to its original position, 250 metres inland.

At the moment it is a perfectly serviceable beach and is busy in the summer months.

This bay is very popular with rod fishermen, the rocks suitable for fishing throughout the day and the beach the scene of veritable fishing frenzies on the odd occasion when the nearby fish farms are sabotaged or suffer a torn net, and thousands of plump fish swarm out into this bay.

There is parking close to the shore and a bus stop next to the beach.

There are no services to speak of, although there is sometimes a beach bar in summer, but shops and bars are within easy walking distance in the village of Portmán.

Playa Lastre

Playa Lastre lies in the corner of Portmán Bay, beneath the lighthouse and is a very popular beach throughout the year in spite of being small, and fairly isolated from the majority of the region’s beaches.

This is due mainly to the sailing port and restaurant behind it, and the attractive way in which the beach has been laid out, with good access ramps, parking and landscaping.

This is a completely natural beach, 180 metres in length and 20 metres wide, with fine grey sand, and surrounded by black volcanic rock. As it is relatively small, it can become crowded in the summer, although the limited parking area helps to restrict numbers.

During the summer it is fully serviced, with a picnic area, beach bar, shaded garden and seating area, footwashes, toilet, bins, lifeguard and auxiliary medical cover.

There are two parking spaces reserved for disabled vehicles and ramps to assist those with less mobility to get down onto the sand. There is also one bathing seat available for use and during the peak summer weeks volunteers from Protección Civíl will assist those who require help using the seat.

Generally assisted bathing is available during July and August from 11.30am to 7.30pm daily.

Be aware that this beach is accessed via a slope from the parking area, so isn´t the easiest of the region’s beaches for those in a wheelchair, and although this is a lovely corner, those who use wheelchairs may find the Mar Menor beaches are easier to use, as most of them are accessed from streets on the same level, with direct access onto the sand from the paseo or kerbside.

Click for more information about Portmán.

Click for more information about the municipality of La Unión.