Los Alcázares beaches: Playa de Las Salinas

Playa de Las Salinas is a popular Kitesurfing corner of the Mar Menor

This long sandy beach at 1,200m in length starts from Calle Pintor Delacroix and stretches towards the back of the airport on the outskirts of Santiago de La Ribera. At 25m in width it is also one of the widest stretches of sand on this part of coastline which forms the municipality of Los Alcazares.

There are two main areas to this beach: the artificial sand area with a promenade in front of it, and a wild stretch of natural beach which is listed as a Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI) at its closest point to Santiago de La Ribera. This unique ecosystem is due to the special conditions and temperatures of the waters that form the Mar Menor. This area is a stopover for many migratory birds and if you are lucky you may see stilt, rail, warblers or heron, and rare fish such as skunk.  

To facilitate access, there are raised walkways through the reedbeds, which lead to a secluded area of beach, accessed via the campsite and road to the campsite.

Behind this beach is an area that has been party developed, but never fully completed, so there is more plentiful parking here than in other areas of Los Alcázares.

There is also a paved promenade which starts at this point and stretches all the way along the seven beaches of the municipality of Los Alcazares to Playa de las Salinas, a distance of 7km, which is very popular with walkers, joggers and cyclists throughout the year. Those intending to exercise in this way often park at this point, enjoy their exercise and then chill in the attractive beach bar here.

The beach bar is also the base for a water sports school situated on the beach where those with an interest can take part in such activities as kite surfing, wind surfing, sailing and canoeing. Kite surfing is the most popular activity in this corner of the Mar Menor, the winds and shallow waters being particularly suitable for this sport as the wind tends to blow at the right angle here. There is also beach volleyball available on this stretch of coast.

The mild year long climate in this part of Spain which is an average of 18 degrees, the warm waters of the Mar Menor, the fact that the water is not tidal and has no currents, an afternoon thermal wind and shallow depth all combine to make this area a haven for all types of water sports and activities. The Mar Menor is Europe's largest salt water lagoon covering a surface area of nearly 170 square kilometres, with 70 kilometres of internal coastline, separated from the Mediterranean by a 22km long strip of land yet is only 7 metres deep in the centre. It has shallow fringes and is safe for young families with children, due to the shallowness of the water and the lack of waves as it is not tidal, which is also why it is an excellent area for activities such as canoeing and kayaking.

The enclosed nature of the whole area makes it a safe and protected environment and the winds are also good for beginners and intermediates, with much stronger winds in the autumn and early spring.

There are also other bars further along the paseo.

Other facilities:
There are ample facilities with toilets, bins, recycling points, footwashes, wooden walkways onto the beach, disabled bathing seats, lifeguard and auxiliary medical cover as well as assisted bathing available throughout the summer period.

Safety precautions for Mar Menor beaches.
As this is a Mar Menor beach, it´s advisable to observe the following safety precautions when bathing:
Most of the Mar Menor beaches have very gently sloping shelves, meaning that bathers can walk a  considerable distance from the shore and still only be waist high in the water. These shore fringes are also very warm, heating up more than the deeper waters, or the Mediterranean coastline, particularly during the hot summer months.

Many beaches are also protected by netting to exclude jellyfish.

This creates safe bathing areas for families but also leads to a situation which can be life threatening, as the safety of the beaches results in many elderly bathers bathing alone.This in itself is not life threatening, but every year there are unnecessary deaths when bathers suffer a heart attack, stroke, faint or have a dizzy spell of some sort whilst bathing alone, slipping into the water without anybody else being aware that this has happened.

The transition from hot beach to cold water can shock the body, causing dizziness or fainting, so it is advisable to splash the body with water to cool down before wading out into the Mar Menor or Mediterranean.

Even though there are lifeguards, accidents happen and every year there are unnecessary fatalities, the simple rule being if you have a medical condition, are taking medication, or are of advanced age, don´t bathe alone, no matter how shallow and calm the water is.

Click for more information about all of the Los Alcázares beaches
For more general information about Los Alcázares, go to the dedicated Los Alcázares section, located via the map box at the bottom of every page or the town search facility at the top of every page.