Day Out La Manga Strip
The La Manga Strip is a piece of land that separates the Mediterranean Sea from the Mar Menor. La Manga is Spanish for sleeve and aptly describes this 21 kilometre long, 300 metre wide spit. A day out to the La Manga Strip can be enjoyed during summer when it is very busy or during winter when it is very quiet, with most establishments being closed.
The strip encloses the Mar Menor which directly translates as the small sea, although it is the largest lagoon in Europe. It has a surface area of 130 square kilometres 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.
All along the Strip on both sides, there are beautiful beaches with white sands, rocky outcrops, marinas and plenty of watersport schools. A great selection of bars, cafes, restaurants, hotels and tourist shops amongst other facilities line the road.
Places to stop during a day out at the La Manga Strip
- Start your day with a stop at Punta Brava for a morning coffee. Soak up the amazing vistas from its viewpoint across the lagoon towards the Strip and behind to the mountains of the Sierra Mineras.
- Have a day exploring!! You can easily spend the whole day driving, cycling or walking along the La Manga Strip, stopping wherever you like to really get to know this unique and interesting place.
- After a relaxing coffee on the Strip take the 40 minute ferry journey from the Tomas Maestre Marina across the Mar Menor to Santiago de la Ribera, spend some time exploring or have a bit of lunch before catching the ferry back again. Of course you can do the same day, but the other way round by taking the ferry from Santiago to the Strip.
Places of Interest
1 Punta Brava
N37°41.376 W0°50.443Parking: is on the road and is free.
From here: either follow the marked walking route around the hill and enjoy the views from the top, or for the less energetic park further up the road and admire the views from here.
Places of interest and things to do in Punta Brava
- Beach: long with lovely sand.
- Promenade: beach front and long.
- Viewpoint: stand, admire and photograph.
- Walking Route: around the hill to the top for more amazing vistas.
2 Tourist Office
N37°38.135 W0°42.472Parking: is in the car park and is free.
From here: the office is beside the car park.
Places of interest and things to do at the Tourist Office
- Tourist Office: enter the tourist office to collect information about the surrounding area.
3 High Street
N37°39.318 W0°43.251Parking: is on the road and is free, it gets very busy during the high season, so take any space you can find!
From here: this is the start of the Strip, so there are shops and eateries on both sides, take your pick!
Places of interest and things to do on the High Street
- Comercial Zones: there are many ‘commercial zones’ on both sides all along the Strip, so explore at your leisure, as there is only one road along the Strip you really can’t get lost!!
4 Beaches
N37°39.318 W0°43.251Parking: is on the road and is free, it gets very busy during the high season, so take any space you can find!
From here: there is a beach on either side of the Strip here.
Places of interest and things to do at the Beach
- Beaches: there are over 15 beaches along the length of the Strip, so stop anywhere you see a sign for ‘playa’.
- Sea: the sea is a lot warmer on the Mar Menor side than the Mediterranean side of the Strip.
5 Marina Tomas Maestre
N37°44.571 W0°44.487Parking: is in the marina and is free.
From here: find a parking space and enjoy.
Places of interest and things to do at the Tomas Maestre Marina
- Boat Trips: the B&F ferries frequently depart from here across to Santiago de la Ribera on the other side of the Mar Menor.
- Clubhouse: when at the roundabout just after the entrance arches turn right for the clubhouse and continue to the very end of the car park.
- Cafes, Bars & Restaurants: there are two 'parades' of places to eat and drink. When at the roundabout just after the entrance arches turn right for modern parade of eateries with views of the marina, or turn left for a more ramshackle parade of restaurants with views to the Mar Menor.
6 Boat Trip
N37°44.571 W0°44.487Parking: is in the marina and is free.
From here: at the roundabout just after the entrance arches turn right and park as close to the clubhouse at the end as you can, walk past the clubhouse and to the small jetty to catch the ferry.
Places of interest and things to do at the Tomas Maestre Marina from where the boat trips depart
- Boat Trips to Santiago de la Ribera: the B&F Ferry departs from the little jetty. During the summer it runs seven days a week from morning until midnight, but has a restricted service out of season. There is normally a notice board with the current timetable beside the jetty. The trip will take about 40 minutes and costs 4€ each way, under 7 years are free, it is an extra 1€ for a bicycle.
