Translating as the “Warm Coast”, the Costa Calida is a roughly 250-kilometre stretch of Mediterranean coastline in the Spanish province of Murcia. It encompasses the historic naval city of Cartagena and the port of Mazarron, as well as Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon, the Mar Menor.
Marvel at the beautifully restored Roman theatre of Carthago Nova in Cartagena, then learn about one of Spain’s most tumultuous periods in modern history at the Civil War Shelter Museum. To the west lies the Sierra de la Muela, Cabo Tiñoso y Roldán, a coastal nature reserve that provides important habitat for native and migratory birdlife.
Keen golfers can take advantage of Costa Calida’s PGA championship golf courses, such as El Valle, La Manga and the Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort. If you want to play a round on Spain’s longest golf course, head to the Hacienda del Alamo, which was designed by Dave Thomas across 6,724 metres.
Getting there
Region de Murcia International Airport is the main aviation gateway to Costa Calida and has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Buses connect major towns and villages along the coastline while renting a car will give you greater freedom to explore.