What to see and visit in La Manga

This is a fishing village in the south of La Manga that is famous for its marine area, as they form part of the Marine Reserve of Cabo de Palos and Islas Hormigas. The lighthouse located here is over 50 metres high and 150 years old and it can be seen from various points in La Manga. Close to the lighthouse, visitors can take impressive photos of La Manga, the Mar Menor lagoon and the Mediterranean.

This is a Copper Age village that dates back to 2850 B.C. During your visit you can see the objects and remains that have been preserved for thousands of years, as many tools and beads from that age have been discovered. Nowadays the area is a protected dunes area.

This lighthouse overlooks the inlet of the canal that connects the Mar Menor lagoon and the Mediterranean Sea, the Estacio canal. This is a spot that, thanks to its location on the breakwater, allows visitors to enjoy some magnificent views of Isla Grosa and of the boats that use the canal to enter and leave Mar Menor.

To the north of La Manga, where the motorway ends, there is a most peculiar area: Veneciola.

Here there is a network of canals with a large islet in the centre that, together with the surrounding buildings, are reminiscent of the city of Venice (hence the name of the area). Its peaceful beaches make the area the perfect place for a quiet swim.

There is also a small semi-circular Venetian bridge that connects the northernmost area to the rest of La Manga, the ancient buildings of “La Encañizada” and the old windmill that contrasts with the rest of the setting and that is part of this area’s history.

Passing the Venetian bridge, to the north of La Manga, we find this natural area. This area is a large (up to 900 metres wide) natural inlet that allows the exchange of water between Mar Menor and the Mediterranean. Visitors can admire various species of birds that live amongst the dunes that form the area.

In Arabian times, people began to practice a type of fishing called “encañizada”, hence the name of this area, and even today visitors can see these structures that were once used for the collection of fish.

The Calblanque Regional Park is located 4km to the south of La Manga. This is an ecosystem made up of protected dunes, cliffs and salt mines in a natural setting where visitors can also sunbathe on its unique beaches (frequented by naturists).

Because it is a protected area, the places where visitors can go are limited and are signposted. Visitors can admire various species of birds, plants and fish that are unique to the Mediterranean.

This is the only one of the islands close to Mar Menor that is located in the Mediterranean. Considered a natural park, this volcanic island is located approximately 2km from the closest point of La Manga.

One of its features is a rock that emerges very close to the surface and that caused the sinking of Phoenician boats for many years in ancient times. All of the remains of these vessels are now exhibited at the National Museum of Marine Archaeology in Cartagena.

The high archaeological value of the waters has led to a project that is now underway, making it the first marine museum in Spain.

Although it is not possible to visit the island due to the protection of its ecosystem, visitors can dive in its waters, and it is an dive site of great interest for scuba divers, or visitors can sail close to the island with companies that offer sailing excursions.