{"ROOT":{"type":{"resolvedName":"RootElement"},"isCanvas":true,"props":{},"displayName":"Editing area","custom":{},"hidden":false,"nodes":["WctZ4YJjof","VqI31PFWIm","r7RvDfoIfw","LSMFLpsI_m","sFmF6YmbE8"],"linkedNodes":{}},"WctZ4YJjof":{"type":{"resolvedName":"PageHeadingSectionElement"},"isCanvas":false,"props":{"desktopImageId":"f981e6a0-4c06-11f1-9dc5-275dfb7d542f","mobileImageId":"fb28b8f0-4c06-11f1-b1bc-9399f52954b9","darkening":"hard"},"displayName":"Page heading","custom":{},"parent":"ROOT","hidden":false,"nodes":[],"linkedNodes":{"page_heading_element_title":"J2ova6FzUs","page_heading_element_subtitle":"j4S_RbH8rR"}},"J2ova6FzUs":{"type":{"resolvedName":"PageHeadingTextElement"},"isCanvas":false,"props":{"text":{"en-US":"Golden shores of the Mar Menor","he-IL":"Enter some default title here..."},"color":"primary.contrastText","variant":"h1","component":"h1","align":"center"},"displayName":"Text","custom":{},"parent":"WctZ4YJjof","hidden":false,"nodes":[],"linkedNodes":{}},"j4S_RbH8rR":{"type":{"resolvedName":"PageHeadingTextElement"},"isCanvas":false,"props":{"text":{"en-US":"beaches you must visit","he-IL":"Enter some default subtitle here..."},"color":"primary.contrastText","variant":"h4","component":"h2","align":"center"},"displayName":"Text","custom":{},"parent":"WctZ4YJjof","hidden":false,"nodes":[],"linkedNodes":{}},"VqI31PFWIm":{"type":{"resolvedName":"SpacerElement"},"isCanvas":false,"props":{"ySpacing":5},"displayName":"Spacer","custom":{},"parent":"ROOT","hidden":false,"nodes":[],"linkedNodes":{}},"r7RvDfoIfw":{"type":{"resolvedName":"ContainerElement"},"isCanvas":true,"props":{"maxWidth":"lg"},"displayName":"Container","custom":{},"parent":"ROOT","hidden":false,"nodes":["Kqc0rr_wWD"],"linkedNodes":{}},"Kqc0rr_wWD":{"type":{"resolvedName":"RichTextElement"},"isCanvas":false,"props":{"text":{"en-US":"

A guide to the best beaches along the Mar Menor - from Playa Honda to La Manga. Where to swim, where to eat after, and which spots locals keep to themselves.

The Mar Menor is one of Europe's largest saltwater lagoons - a calm, shallow stretch of warm water separated from the open Mediterranean by a narrow strip of land called La Manga. The result is two coastlines side by side: the gentle, family-friendly lagoon on one side, and the open sea on the other. Within a fifteen-minute walk you can swim in both.

Here are the beaches worth knowing.

Playa Honda - calm water, easy access

Playa Honda sits on the Mar Menor side, with shallow, warm water and almost no waves. The sand is golden and soft, the bottom slopes gently for tens of metres before it gets deep, and the wind is usually mild.

This is the kind of beach where you can leave your towel in the morning and come back to it three hours later. Families with small children land here for a reason.

Eat after: the chiringuitos along the seafront serve fresh fish and rice dishes. Walk one street back for the local-priced versions.

La Manga - two seas, one beach strip

La Manga del Mar Menor is a 21-kilometre sandbar with the lagoon on one side and the open Mediterranean on the other. The beaches on the Mediterranean side have proper waves and deeper water; the lagoon side stays calm. Most visitors don't realise how easy it is to switch - many spots have less than 100 metres between the two.

The southern end of La Manga is more developed. The northern end is quieter, with wider beaches and fewer crowds.

Local tip: drive to the northern third of La Manga for the best balance of facilities and calm.

Playa de Levante - San Pedro del Pinatar

In San Pedro del Pinatar, Playa de Levante offers a wider, less developed stretch of beach next to the natural park. Pine trees behind, dunes in front, and the famous mud baths (Las Charcas) a short walk away - the warm therapeutic mud has drawn visitors for over a century.

This is also where the lagoon meets the open sea, so you get both kinds of water within minutes of each other.

Eat after: San Pedro is known for its salt-cured fish and local seafood. The town centre has several family-run restaurants worth the short drive.

Los Alcázares - shallow water, family pace

Los Alcázares sits on the western shore of the Mar Menor, with one of the longest, gentlest beaches on the lagoon. The water here is so shallow that children can wade out for fifty metres and still touch the bottom. The promenade runs the full length of the town, lined with restaurants, ice cream shops, and small bars.

This is the family base of the Mar Menor. Quieter than La Manga, more developed than Playa Honda, with a real Spanish town centre that doesn't shut down out of season.

Cala del Pino - the local secret

A small, semi-hidden beach on the La Manga side that locals tend to keep quiet about. Smaller, calmer, with rocky edges that make it good for snorkelling. No big facilities - bring your own water and umbrella.

If you find it, you'll understand why people don't post about it.

When to go

The Mar Menor's water warms up faster than the open Mediterranean - swimming is comfortable from May through October, and even into November in a warm year. Peak season is July and August; September is the insider's choice for warm water without the crowds.

How OYOOSTAYS fits in

We manage a curated set of properties along the Costa Blanca and Costa Cálida - including stays in the Mar Menor area. Every property is hand-picked, fully managed, and bookable directly through our site.

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