Local Area

La Manga Strip

Dividing the Mediterranean Sea from the largest lagoon in Europe, La Manga is a unique location with a great deal to offer.

Two seas, twice the fun!

The La Manga Strip is a unique location in Europe, it is a strip of land 21 Km long and 300 metres wide (average). La Manga means ‘sleeve’ and it is a strip of land which separates the Mediterranean Sea from the Mar Menor (Small Sea). Along its coast on both sides, there are beautiful ‘Blue Flag’ beaches with white sands, ideal for family holidays. Even in the height of the season, they never get ‘packed’ and claustrophobic.

The Mar Menor is the largest lagoon in Europe and has a surface area of 130 sq km and a maximum depth of 8 metres. The crystal clear waters are warm, calm and rich in salts and minerals, in fact the temperature never falls below 18 degrees. In certain areas of the Mar Menor the therapeutic clays can be found, these are a favourite with the Spanish tourists, who cover themselves with the clay and then bake in the hot sun. It is said to be good for skin complaints, rheumatism and arthritis etc.

The area we concentrate on is the, up and coming, area around the Tomas Maestre Marina, which is on the 13 - 14 km mark of the strip and Veniciola which is on the 17 km mark.

Links that may be of interest:

• www.lamangawind.com/home.html
• www.lamangaclub.com
• Region of Murcia Tourist Portal

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Restaurants and Bars Essential for any holiday is a large variety of restaurants and bars. La Manga offers the tourists a wide range to choose from, including, Spanish, Greek, Indian, Chinese, Mexican (even a Burger King!). The Tomas Maestre Marina comes alive at night with its many bars and restaurants and you must sample the local fish and shellfish fresh from the sea, prepared on hotplates, or as ingredients in the locally famous Paella, a typical rice dish of the fisherman.

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Activities

There is a range of activities to keep the whole family amused for hours.

Beach Casino Quad bikes Go karts Kite Surfing

Cycle hire Sailing Windsurfing Jet Skis Boat trips / hire

Restaurants Shops Supermarkets Therapeutic Sands Fishing

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Scuba Diving

La Manga Dive School is a British owned and run, PADI Dive Centre. Situated in the Dársena Cero Commercial Centre at the entrance to Puerto Tomás Maestre.

Check out their web site at lamangadiveschool.co.uk for more information on scuba diving trips and courses.

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Car Hire

There are of course a number of car hire firms to choose from including big names such as Hertz and europcar. We however, recommend amigoautos.

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Golf

There is a 9 hole course and driving range opposite the apartment on the Med side within walking distance, approx 300 metres.

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Market and Shops

There is an open air market, throughout the year, every Sunday at Cabo de Palos, where you can buy luxury leather goods at ridiculous prices and ‘Rolex’ watches for a few Euros. For serious shopping you will have to go to the largest department stores in Spain, El Court Ingles, which can be found at Cartagena and Murcia – this is not to be missed.

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La Manga Club

web site: www.lamangaclub.com

This resort offers golf and tennis facilities (very expensive). The pitch and put is fun for all at an approx cost of 8 euros per round.

There is a beach for all to use with a lovely located restaurant. This is highly recommended.

The hotel has a ‘piano’ bar and club available to the public. There is a band on every night except Monday with a disco to compliment. Normally gets lively at about 11:30pm onwards.

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Access

La Manga is easily accessible from both Alicante and Murcia Airports. Taxis or Car hire are readily available at both airports. Once on the Strip, you will find the buses run every 30 minutes from Cabo de Palos to Veniciola and there are also numerous taxis. If you want to spoil yourself with a night out at the famous La Manga Golf Club, it is possible to take a taxi and enjoy a game of golf on one of it’s three courses, or a romantic dinner for two at the Indian Restaurant with spectacular views overlooking the La Manga Strip and Mar Menor.

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Development and Investment

The area is beautiful and ideal for the tourist as it is, but it is interesting to see the amount of money that is being poured into this area. It certainly makes it an ideal place to invest in property as every time a large project is announced the property prices escalate. There is very little land left to develop, so once this has been sold there will be none left and prices will inevitably go up.

2003 - the picturesque bridge at Estation del Peurte’ opened it’s large ‘arms’ to allow the first sailing yachts into the Tomas Maestre Marina. This bridge replaced the old, single lane, ‘rickety rackety’ bridge at a cost of 6,000,000€ of EC money.

• 2003 - the picturesque bridge at Estation del Peurte’ opened it’s large ‘arms’ to allow the first sailing yachts into the Tomas Maestre Marina. This bridge replaced the old, single lane, ‘rickety rackety’ bridge at a cost of 6,000,000€ of EC money.
• 2003 - the Town Hall funded a garden in Veniciola, as well as many palm trees lining the roads.
• 2004 - the shopping centre opened to about 40 shops in the Tomas Maeste Marina, shops include bike hire, hair dressers, Burger King and many more to come.
• 2004 - we also saw the development of a 9 hole, par 3 golf course at Veniciola and also plans for several 4 – 5 star hotels in this region of the La Manga Strip.
• 2004 - we also saw more beach bars, water sports, such as jet skis and inflatable's to entertains the tourists.