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Cabo de Palos,Cartagena Mar Menor , Med side offers secluded coves and volcanic rock
Mar Menor beaches, Levante beach is fine and sandy with lifeguard facilities, Med side, wild and rocky
Cabo de Palos is a small peninsula which juts out into the Mediterranean sea, stretching out along unspoilt coastline towards Cartagena on one side, and on the other fusing with the spit of land known as the spit, or strip , which encloses the Mar Menor.
The peninsula itself was formed during volcanic eruptions, as were the islands which surround it, and as a result, many of the beaches have characteristic black lava rock formations which give drama to the scenery, contrasting sharply with the defined layers of striking red rocks in other locations.
Looking at Cabo de Palos from an aerial map, fine lines of rocks can clearly be seen linking the islands out into the sea, and these create a barrier which almost encloses the islands inside their own little protective wall.
This underwater protection barrier creates a unique eco-system which is the home to many species of marine life, and, together with the islands, this area has been declared a wildlife reserve. ( Reserva marina Cabo de Palos Islas Hormigas)It is one of the best spots for diving along the coastline, and many dive schools use bays on Cabo de Palos for training purposes, then dive deeper as the divers gain in confidence, and there are also some famous wreck dives off the Cabo de Palos coastline. There are parts of this coastline which are superb for snorkelling exploration and a large number of the beaches are fringed by rocky outcrops which hold interesting marine life.
There are some sandy beaches and bays on the Mar Menor ( Levante)side of Cabo de Palos, but along the Mediterranean front, small coves cut out of the jagged volcanic coastline present more natural environments with pebbled beaches and startlingly contrasting rock formations. Most of them are easily accessible, but all require a trek down steps, so are not suitable for those with limited mobility. They also lack lifeguard or medical facilities, so bear this in mind when selecting one.
The main access road driving into Cabo de Palos from the MU312 begins when turning right at the roundabout which has been decorated with a stunning tiled sculpture of a gecko, fusing native stone with recycled products and natural water-efficient planting in a manner which is both environmentally sustainable, practical and extremely attractive.
This main road heads straight down the "spine " of the peninsula with the light house at one end, dominating the surrounding countryside and giving fantastic views, and the marina on the right hand side is an attractive place to while away an hour or two watching the sports boats and fishermen as they come and go.
.There are plenty of restaurants and bars in Cabo de Palos offering a range of eating options, and shops selling basic everyday items.
The Marina and lower coastline
To both the left and the right hand side of the marina, older Spanish built holiday urbanizations fringe the coastline up to the edge of Cala Reona and the start of the Calblanque regional park. Turn off at any point between the roundabout and lighthouse, and youll be in the midst of the urbanizations, with all roads eventually leading to the coast. All along the edge of here are small rocky coves, accessed via steps from the streets, but which are virtually deserted all year around, apart from the busy July-August weeks and sunny weekends when their mainly Spanish owners arrive. There are some lovely little bays down this stretch, with black jagged rocks, and small stony beaches, fringed with wild plants.
Sadly the town hall plans to build yet more housing at the Cala Reona corner which is a real tragedy as most of these urbanizations are crumbling away now through lack of maintenance , and theres not exactly a shortage of holiday homes should anyone wish to purchase one.
Just before the lighthouse are a couple of bays which are extremely popular with local dive schools. The bays are sandy and shallow, with a protective fringe of rocks which make them a sheltered and safe place for novice divers to practice and acclimatize to the underwater conditions. The rocks around the edge of this beach offer superb facilities for those who wish to snorkel and the beaches have the added advantage of good access, and plenty of parking at the foot of the lighthouse.
Cabo de Palos, Cartagena Spain, The Mar Menor side, Playa del Levante
Lifeguard and First aid post open 15th June-15th September, open from 11am-7pm
Basic footwashing and disabled toilets available
Running down from the lighthouse towards La Manga, the coastline flattens off and the beaches change completely to a narrower, sandy strip with a shallow fringe which makes them a more attractive option for many who prefer easier access and a place to sunbathe, and give attractive views out across the Med. None of the beaches would win any beauty competitions, but theyre generally quiet and windy, nice in the summer, a bit cold in the winter. Because they face onto the Med, the water temperature is lower than the Mar Menor beaches
The main beach here is the Playa Levante which is in the corner by the lighthouse, a nice, sandy beach which gets very busy during the summer.
There is parking by the lighthouse, with disabled parking spaces and a wooden ramp leads down to the beach.
During the summer months there is a lifeguard and safety protection, with first aid on site.
Cabo de Palos,Cartagena Spain, the Marina
A good place to relax and watch the boats go past. A nice selection of shops , restaurants and dive schools cluster around the marina and small beach, and off-season this a popular location for local rod fishermen, .( Licence required.)
During the summer this is busy and buzzing, with a lot of traffic coming and going as dive schools take out their boats,and day trippers and fishermen fill the shipping lane with a steady flow of boats. Off-season, there are still restaurants open and its a lovely place to eat following a visit to the lighhouse at any time of year.