Calblanque is what is left of this coast before the tower blocks: a few kilometres of sand, fossil dunes and coves between Cabo de Palos and Portmán without a single building in sight. It is a stone's throw from La Manga, but a world apart, and that is precisely why it has its rules: in summer you cannot drive down to the beach, and there are no beach bars, lifeguards or bins.
If you are going, the useful thing is to know three things: which beach suits you, when you can drive in, and what you need to bring, because you will not find anything there.
Quick fact
In 2026 car access to the beach area is closed from 8:00 to 20:30 on 27 and 28 June and from 4 July to 30 August. On those days you get there on the shuttle bus that leaves from Los Belones.
Where it is and how to get there from La Manga
The Parque Regional de Calblanque, Monte de las Cenizas y Peña del Águila covers the Mediterranean coast south of Mar Menor, between the municipalities of Cartagena and La Unión. From the entrance to La Manga or from Cabo de Palos, take the RM-12 dual carriageway towards Cartagena and exit at Los Belones, where the park is signposted. It is only a few kilometres: a short drive from anywhere in the southern part of La Manga.
From Los Belones, a track leads towards the Las Cobaticas visitor centre and, from there, to the beaches. Part of it is dirt track: take it slowly, there are cyclists and walkers. You can see the park on the map and on its Calblanque Regional Park listing, with what people who have already been there say.
Car access and the summer bus (2026)
Since 2010 the regional government has regulated access in high season. For 2026 the rules are set by the order published in the BORM (regional official gazette) of 1 April 2026, and it works like this:
| When | What about the car | Getting here |
|---|---|---|
| 27 and 28 June; 4 July to 30 August | No access to the beach area from 8:00 to 20:30. From 8:00 to 9:00 you can only drive in as far as the El Atochar car park | Bus from Los Belones, stopping at the park-and-ride car park |
| Weekends and public holidays from April to October (56 days in total) | Entry until the car parks are full: 291 spaces | By car, if you get there before they fill up |
| All year round | No cars in the beach area from 20:30 to 8:00 | The gates close |
The bus is not free and tickets are bought on the official Calblanque bus service website, which lists timetables and fares for each season. Bicycles, including e-bikes, may use the public tracks even when the road is closed. Among others, holders of a disabled parking badge are exempt from the closure.
Outside those days you can drive, but in spring and in September it fills up at weekends: if the checkpoint stops you because the spaces are full, you have no choice but to turn back or wait.
Calblanque's beaches, from east to west
They're all sandy and undeveloped. What changes is the size, the wind and how far you have to walk from the car park.
The list
- 1Las Cañas: the closest to Cabo de Palos, on the Cala Reona side. Sand with some stones and plenty of posidonia on the shore depending on the season.
- 2Negrete and Larga: the park's big stretch of sand, open and with plenty of room even in August. The bus stop is Larga-Negrete.
- 3Parreño: between Larga and Calblanque, with the fossil dunes behind it. Exposed to the levante, so take care on days with big waves.
- 4Playa de Calblanque: the one that gives the park its name, the other bus stop. Golden sand and very clean water.
- 5Cala Arturo and Cala Magre: smaller and more sheltered, towards the west. You reach them on foot along a path; good for snorkelling on calm days.
If you are looking for undeveloped coves even closer, there are none in La Manga: the strip is built up from end to end. The nearest thing to the north are the Veneziola beaches; it is all in our guide to La Manga del Mar Menor beaches.
What to bring (there is nothing there)
The list
- 1Plenty of water, food and a bag to take all your rubbish back with you. There are no bins.
- 2Sunshade or awning: there is no natural shade on the sand, and in July it scorches at midday.
- 3Comfortable shoes for the path and water shoes if you are heading to the rocky coves.
- 4Insect repellent: by the dunes and salt flats there are mosquitoes, especially at dusk.
- 5Have your phone charged, but don't count on it: coverage is poor in several areas.
Dogs must be kept on a lead throughout the park all year round, and from the date the order comes into force until 30 September they are not allowed in the beach area or on the dunes, because of the nesting Kentish plover and loggerhead turtle. Sleeping on the beach (bivouacking) is also not allowed from 1 June to 30 September.
Frequently asked questions
Can you drive to Calblanque in summer?
Not to the beach area between 8:00 and 20:30 on summer-scheme days (27 and 28 June and 4 July to 30 August 2026). On those days you leave the car in Los Belones or at the park-and-ride and carry on by bus.
Are there set visiting hours for Calblanque?
The park is open to all, but no car may stay in the beach area between 20:30 and 8:00 at any time of year.
Are there lifeguards or beach bars?
No. They are natural beaches without facilities. For a day with everything to hand, the Mar Menor beaches for kids or those of La Manga itself are a better bet.
