Calblanque is one of the biggest natural gems the Region of Murcia has to offer. A unique place along the Mediterranean coast where nature and remnants of the region’s history intertwine. Its ecosystem is one of the most valuable in the Spanish East, where warm waters, salt pans, semi-arid mountains and fossil dunes coexist. Along with an equally surprising wildlife which includes flamingos, black-winged stilts and Fartets, a small type of carnivorous fish in danger of extinction.
Yet, the geography of the Calblanque Regional Park is also one of its major attractions. This mountainous territory was once a mining area dating back to the Carthaginian and Roman occupation era and was one of the main activities in the area until the mid-20th century. An activity that has left evidence on its calcareous cliffs and can still be seen today on the hiking trails of Calblanque.
We must not overlook the fact that Calblanque boasts some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean. So, you must include it in your next vacation since visiting it is one of the best activities for children in La Manga del Mar Menor.
What to do in Calblanque
One of the best leisure options that Calblanque Regional Park has to offer is, undoubtedly, visiting one of its many coves to take a dip in its clear waters. Immersed in its coasts, at the Cabo de Palos-Islas Hormigas Marine Reserve, not only is it possible to find an incredible marine fauna and Posidonia seagrass meadows but also shipwrecks dating back centuries.
Indeed, if you are looking for what to see in Calblanque, it is also the starting point for numerous hiking routes that will allow you to thoroughly discover all its secrets. There are routes where you can traverse its dunes and old salt mines, or encounter remnants of the area’s geominer past.
You’ll only need to head to the Las Cobaticas visitor center to find out everything you can do in the area, as well as visit its interpretation rooms, multimedia facilities and workshops.
Best routes in Calblanque
If you are spending your vacation at a resort in La Manga and want to visit Calblanque Regional Park, the best option is to head to the Las Cobaticas Visitor Centre, where you can conveniently park your car and stroll to the beaches of the park, or start one of the many hiking routes that depart from there.
Route from Long Beach to Punta Negra viewpoint
The route from Long Beach to Punta Negra viewpoint is one of the easiest and most comfortable routes you can take in Calblanque, making it perfect if you’ve decided to visit La Manga with the whole family. The paths of this route are wide and well-signposted, in fact, it is part of the GR-92 (long distance) trail.
The route begins at the Long Beach parking lot heading east, leaving the Mediterranean always to the right, towards the Punta Negra viewpoint. Along this route, you can see the famous Rasall salt pans, where numerous water birds such as flamingos or stilts can be seen, and also a vast fossil dune that shows the uniqueness of this landscape.
Upon arriving at the Punta Negra viewpoint, named for the color of the land, you can take the opportunity to visit Arturo, del Magre and los Déntoles coves for a swim before starting your return journey along the same route.
Circular trail to Cabezo de la Fuente
The circular trail to Cabezo de la Fuente begins, as the previous route does, at the Las Cobaticas Visitor Centre, so you can park your car without any problems and return comfortably to the place where you are staying. In this case, it is a short-distance trail (PR-MU1) that covers the Cabezo de la Fuente.
This route allows you to traverse what can be considered the most rural part of Calblanque Regional Park. It covers dry-land agricultural fields, a small pine forest north of Cabezo de la Fuente and a section of the coast where you can find incredible virgin beaches with fine golden sands which have made this park so famous.
On its final stretch, this trail allows you to observe some of the most unique plant species in the park such as the small forest of Cartagena cypress, also known as sabina mora, or species abundant in Calblanque like the palmetto or jar.
As its name suggests, it is a circular trail, so the return to the starting point follows the same path.
Trail from Long Beach to Raven Cove
This is another of the best signposted routes of all those you can do in Calblanque Regional Park, as part of it is located within the previously mentioned GR-92. In this case, the route starts at the Long Beach parking lot heading west onto Raven Cove, practically bordering the coast.
From the beginning of the route, the Mediterranean remains to your left, covering the beaches of Long Beach, Negrete Beach, and Parreño Beach. Moreover, it also covers the coves of Muerto, Reventón, Juncos, Mulas, and Cuervo (the endpoint) where slate type stones abound.
After this point, we must move approximately two kilometers northwest (and uphill, so save energy) along a non-signposted trail leading to the surrounding area known as Red House. At this point, the trail connects with the GR-92 and allows to keep the sea to the right.
Now, the direction of the route veers eastward, allowing for the observation of the area’s rich vegetation, featuring standout plants such as the palmetto, lavender with serrated leaves, and some endemic shrubs. At the end of this route, and very close to the starting point at Long Beach, a small forest of sabina mora or Cartagena cypress can also be found.
Bathing and beach days at Calblanque well justify a visit to the area of La Manga del Mar Menor and Cartagena, but also the natural routes to discover the flora and fauna of a place that will captivate you from the first day. Want to try it out?
