|
Natural parks
|
La Muela y Cabo Ti?oso -Natural Park (Rambla del Ca?ar y Pe?as Rubias) |
|
El Ca?ar, Tallante, the PR-15. The route between Tallante and Isla Plana is classed as the PR-15, and is around 7km, in total (10km if you park in Tallante itself and walk from there to the start. Some prefer to park at the entrance to the Ca?ar, walk as far as they want and then turn right around and return to their car. A good idea may be to leave a car from your party at each end and then you can decide to walk or drive back! The focal point of this walk is the Rambla del Ca?ar, a waterway which runs through the centre of a valley, with the steep walls of the Lomas de las Carrascas (the Pe?as Blancas) towering over the surrounding landscape. It certainly provides a dramatic atmosphere to the walk. |
|
|
Leer más...
|
|
Sierra de las Moreras - Natural Park |
|
The Sierra de las Moreras is a conservation area, located near Mazarron (less than an hour drive from La Manga) and is known for having many protected habitats. The scope of protection was extended in 2006 to the area of mulberry trees, because of the presence of the white headed and golden brown ducks. These species are in danger of extinction in Spain and they breed in the ponds of this area. In the town of Bolnuevo you can see a characteristic eroded hill, which is a very famous landscape and a favourite for photographers and sightseeers. Other wildlife to be seen include the tortoise, peregrine falcon, owl and eagle.
|
|
|
A little known gem of the Murcia region is the area just a few kilometres from Murcia city centre, known as the Parque Natural El Valle. The park covers 16,724 hectares and is a vast area to which thousands of Murcians escape to on weekends. They go to enjoy its wide open space, stunning views and interesting walks. We say it is a "little known gem" because overseas tourists tend to stay within close proximity of the capital and miss out on this beautiful natural park area. |
|
|
Leer más...
|
|
Sierra Espu?a - Natural Park |
|
The Sierra Espu?a is a pine forested respite from the heat of Summer and a glorious place to enjoy a walk at any time of year. It has a vast range of activities and walking routes for those looking for an enjoyable day out in the region of Murcia. This national park covers 25,000 hectares and is a maze of walks and routes, with recreation, picnic and barbecue areas, cafes and restaurants catering for the visitors who flock to the park every weekend. Information about the park is available in the tourist offices of the various municipalities that share management: Alhama de Murcia, Totana, Mula and Aledo and the visitor centre of Ricardo Codorniu. A little known fact is that much of the forested areas here were only planted from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th. It was an initiative led by a remarkable man, Ricardo Codorniu y Starico, an early conservationist. He was born in Cartagena and had a passion for the environment He studied forestry engineering in Madrid and visited the Sierra Espu?a in 1889, expressing his horror at the devastation that was evident there.
|
|
|
Leer más...
|
|
Cabezo Gordo - Protected Area |
|
The Cabezo Gordo itself is a mountain of marble, which towers above the plains of Torre Pacheco (less than an hour drive from La Manga) and was mined extensively for both stone and minerals until 1917. |
|
|
Leer más...
|
|
The Beach of La Hita - Protected Area |
|
Leaving from the Playa del Castillico in Santiago de la Ribera, towards Los Alcázares, the route passes in front of the Jardin del Atalayón. From here can be seen the recognisable view of the Ribera from the sea, with its spa baths , the palm trees of the Paseo Marítimo and the Yacht Club. You will then arrive at the Academia General del Aire (a training academy for airforce pilots) where for military security reasons, you will have to keep your distance from the shore. |
|
|
Leer más...
|
|
Cabo de Palos and Islas Hormigas - Marine Reserve |
|
This area was designated a Marine Reserve, to protect and preserve the exceptional beauty of the seabed here. There are several small islands that protrude from the sea near the pretty port of Cabo de Palos. Amongst them are: Isla Hormiga, El Bajo del Mosquito, El Hormigón and La Losa. Diving afficionados agree that this is one of the best places in the whole of Spain to dive and explore. It has a great bio-diversity and the conditions are perfect to investigate the rocky coral formations of the sea bed and the abundance and variety of fish. This area is a refuge, nursery and breeding area for species such as Perch, Milt, Moray eels, Loggerhead turtles, Moon fish and Bream, to name just a few. The correct training and qualifications are essential before Diving in these waters, but there are plenty of opportunities in the La Manga area to obtain training with fully qualified Diving instructors. You can even have a "sample dive" in shallower water that will still show you the great beauty of this underwater location and whet your appetite for more! |
|
|
Leer más...
|
|
Salt Marshes and Banks of San Pedro del Pinatar - Regional Park |
|
San Pedro del Pinatar saltworks are the most significant marshland area of the Murcia region. They were classified as a Nature Reserve Regional Park in 1985. Flamingos and other migratory birds flock to nest here every year, using this reserve as a stop en route to their migration between Europe and Africa. San Pedro del Pinatar Saltworks Nature Reserve is a truly unique coastal spot on the Mediterranean. It is relatively small in area (about 1.800 acres) but here you can see land formations such as saltworks, dunes, salt marshes, reedbeds, large sandy (but wild) beaches and pine trees growing in the sand. There are still "enca?izadas" (a traditional fishing system of sticks and reeds). They work by capturing fish that swim through small natural channels from the Mediterranean sea to the Mar Menor. The fish are forced to pass across a complex labyrinth built with reeds and sticks, where they are trapped and kept (alive) until ready for sale. |
|
|
Leer más...
|
|
Mar Menor Islands - Protected Area |
|
Explore the five islands of the Mar Menor inland sea: Barón, Redonda, Sujeto, Ciervo and Perdiguera. In a canoe, Kayak, or under sail, it will allow you to experience the Mar Menor in the most natural way possible. Enjoy the the flora and fauna of the islands and the wonderful landscape created here by mother nature. |
|
|
Calblanque - Regional Park |
|
A protected Natural Area since 1987 and Nature Reserve from 1992, Calblanque is an area that combines sandy banks and beaches, hills, cliffs and salt flats, all of which have great ecological value. It represents one of the last untouched areas of the Mediterranean coastline. Take the motorway from Cartagena towards La Manga, and just after the exit for Los Belones, take the next signposted exit for Calblanque. There are car parks, an information centre, a camping area and a list of recommended walks. |
|
|
Leer más...
|
|
|
|
|
|
