Day Out Mar Menor Mud Baths
The villages of San Pedro del Pinatar and Lo Pagan are situated on the north shore of the Mar Menor and have gradually merged together to become one big town. It is easy to spend an action packed day out here.
San Pedro has a really informative visitors centre where you can learn all about the regional park that is made up of the sand dunes and salt marshes. A stop at the marina is a must before visiting the mud baths at nearby Lo Pagan.
The mud baths are free to use, which is great news if you have a large family to keep occupied. Everyone can try the mud baths, but only the truly hardy indulge during the winter months. Simply walk down the steps, cover yourself with the therapeutic mud, said to be good for all types of skin complaints, aches and pain, dry off in the sun, then re-enter the water to wash it all off!
The salt marshes and mud baths form a fantastic circular 12 kilometre cycling or walking route. Start at the visitors centre and walk to the mud baths, then follow the path out into the Mar Menor towards the buildings on the La Manga Strip. Keep to the raised path or the beach as it curves around to the marina at San Pedro and finally past the salt lakes back to the visitors centre.
Places to stop during a day out Mar Menor Mud Baths
- San Pedro Visitors Centre: for interesting facts about the nature reserve including its fauna and flora as well as being the starting point of the walking and cycling route.
- San Pedro Marina: relax at the cafes overlooking the boats.
- San Pedro Salt Marshes and Sand Dunes: take a walk or cycle along anyone of the marked trails that lead through this nature reserve.
- Lo Pagan Mud Baths: treat your skin!
- Walking & Cycling Route: a circular 12 kilometre route.
Places of Interest
1 San Pedro Visitors Centre
N37°50.071 W0°46.713Parking: is in the car park and is free.
From here: the centre is right beside the car park.
Places of interest and things to do at the Visitors Centre
-
Visitors Centre: visit the centre for information about the regional park and to see its various exhibits and collect a map and leaflet. Entrance is free and it is open all year Tuesday-Sunday 10.00-14.00 and 15.00-18.00.
-
Start of Walking and Cycling Route: park on the road to start your 12 kilometre walk or cycle.
-
2 San Pedro Marina
N37°49.195 W0°45.469Parking: is in the car park and is free.
From here: walk to the marina and the beach.
Places of interest and things to do at the Marina
-
Marina: walk through the arch with the sign Plaza Ocio for the cafes which overlook the boats and enjoy a well deserved drink or meal!
- Beach: walk to the end of the car park and then along the road for the beach.
-
3 San Pedro Salt Marshes and Sand Dunes
N37°49.398 W0°45.630Parking: is in any of the car parking areas that you pass on the road going to the marina, it gets very busy during high season, so get here early in the morning.
From here: walk or cycle along any of the marked trails.
Places of interest and things to do at the Salt Marshes and Sand Dunes
- Salt Marshes and San Dunes: these make up the regional park. They have many walking and cycling paths running through them, great for exploring!
4 Lo Pagan Mud Baths
N37°49.236 W0°46.581Parking: is in the car parking spaces alongside the road and is free, it gets very busy during high season, so you might have to park further away and walk or get here early in the morning.
From here: starting from the windmill go along the elevated walking and cycling route passing the wooden steps into the mud baths are on the left.
Places of interest and things to do at the Mud Baths
-
Wooden Platforms: walk down into the mud baths and collect some of the therapeutic mud, rub it onto your skin, let it dry and then go back down the wooden steps to wash it!
-
5 Walking & Cycling Route
N37°50.071 W0°46.713Parking: is on the road and is free. Do not use the car park as the gates are locked during siesta and at the end of the day.
From here: the start of the 12 kilometre walking and cycling route.
Places of interest and things to do along the Walking and Cycling Route
-
Visitors Centre: start here and walk or cycle along the road to Lo Pagan, when you reach the windmill turn left and use the elevated salinas walking and cycling route out to sea.
-
Mud Baths: you'll pass lots of wooden platforms on the left which give access to the water and more importantly the therapeutic mud, you can stop and give it a go too!! Continue out into the Mar Menor, you'll feel like you can almost touch the hotels on the La Manga Strip.
- Sand Dunes & Beach: either head straight for the beach and walk or cycle along this, or follow any of the trails through the sand dunes, there are no right or wrong routes and the terrain changes between hard ground, dried mud and sand so you need to be a bit adventurous!
-
Marina: follow the route all the way to the marina in San Pedro del Pinatar
-
Salt Marshes: the last part, past these back to the visitors centre.
-
