Places with character
Places to visit in La Manga and Cabo de Palos
Lighthouses, coves, viewpoints, salt flats and a nature park close by. Everything worth a visit in La Manga and Cabo de Palos, from one end to the other.
At a glance
The essentials are at the two ends. In the south, Cabo de Palos has the lighthouse, the port, the coves and the Islas Hormigas marine reserve, with Calblanque a few minutes away. In the north, past the Puente del Estacio, are the Faro del Estacio, Veneziola and the Encañizadas salt flats. In between, from the Mirador de Monteblanco you can see both seas at once. Almost everything is free and can be covered in a couple of days.
01Cabo de Palos, its lighthouse and port
Faro de Cabo de Palos
El Faro de Cabo de Palos has crowned the cape since 1865. You can visit the inside, but only on a guided tour booked in advance.
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Cruz Memorial Victimas del Sirio
The Cruz Memorial Víctimas del Sirio, in Cala Túnez (Cabo de Palos), remembers the victims of the wreck of the steamship Sirio, which sank off this coast in 1906. In August 2026, on the 120th anniversary, a tribute was held beside the restored cross.
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Puerto de Cabo de Palos
The Puerto de Cabo de Palos is the village's marina and fishing port, right in the town centre, with fishing boats, restaurants all around and diving centre trips to the marine reserve.
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Paseo Playa de Levante - Faro de Cabo de Palos
The walk from Levante beach to the lighthouse is the route on foot that links Levante beach in Cabo de Palos with the lighthouse, passing small rocky coves such as Cala de la Galera, opposite the Isla del Pato.
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Cabo de Palos Playa de Levante
The Playa de Levante in Cabo de Palos is a semi-urban beach of about 200 metres with a Blue Flag, near the lighthouse and the Cabo de Palos and Islas Hormigas Marine Reserve.
View listing02The coves of Cabo de Palos
Cala Roja
Cala Roja is a cove of grey sand and rocks near the Cabo de Palos lighthouse, about 70 metres long, with stone steps down.
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Cala de la Galera
Cala de la Galera is a small rocky cove in Cabo de Palos, between Levante beach and the lighthouse, opposite the islet of Isla del Pato. You go down to the water by steps.
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Playa del Cura
The Playa del Cura is a small cove in Cabo de Palos, east of La Barra beach, in the village itself.
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Cala Botella
Cala Botella, also called Cala Mayor, is a rocky cove in the south of Cabo de Palos, between Playa del Cura and Canto Colorado, with difficult access between cliffs.
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Mirador de Cala Medina
Small viewpoint on the rocks between Cala Medina and Cala Flores, at the end of Calle Adelfas, in Cabo de Palos. Free access.
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Cala Reona
Cove of sand and pebbles on the Mediterráneo, in Cabo de Palos, at the gateway to Calblanque Regional Park.
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Sendero Cabo Palos a Cala Reona
The Cabo Palos to Cala Reona trail follows the rocky coastline of the cape on foot, past several coves, until it reaches Cala Reona beside Calblanque.
View listing03Calblanque and Las Amoladeras
Las Amoladeras
Las Amoladeras is a protected natural area at the entrance to La Manga, between Cabo de Palos and the first buildings on the Gran Vía, with dunes, a beach and an Eneolithic site.
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Parque Regional de Calblanque, Monte de las Cenizas y Peña del Águila
The Calblanque Regional Park is a protected natural area spanning the municipalities of Cartagena and La Unión, with dunes, cliffs, unspoilt beaches and several waymarked trails, including the GR-92 and three PR routes.
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Mirador de Playa Larga
El Mirador de Playa Larga is on the GR-92 trail, in the Calblanque Regional Park, next to Playa Larga.
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Mirador de Punta Negra
El Mirador de Punta Negra, within Calblanque, offers views over several coves and the park's plain, with fossil dunes and the Salinas del Rasall along the way.
View listing04The entrance to La Manga
Museo Fundación Boyer Tresaco
The Museo Fundación Boyer Tresaco is a contemporary art museum at the entrance to La Manga, showing the work of the artist Boyer Tresaco. The foundation's holdings include a collection of original works by Andy Warhol.
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Salinas de Marchamalo
Las Salinas de Marchamalo are former salt works at the southern end of La Manga, next to Cabo de Palos, known for their flamingos and other waterbirds.
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Gola de Marchamalo
The Gola de Marchamalo is the channel linking the Mar Menor with the Mediterráneo in the south of La Manga, in the municipality of Cartagena. It is the only entirely artificial link between the two seas.
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Isla del Ciervo
The Isla del Ciervo is a small island in the Mar Menor, the southernmost of its islands, next to the southern end of La Manga. You can reach it on foot through shallow water.
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Playa las Sirenas
Playa las Sirenas is one of the three stretches of the Barco Perdido beach, around km 2,5 of La Manga: an urban beach with services and adapted access.
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Playa Galúa
Fine-sand beach on the Mediterráneo, around km 2,5 of the Gran Vía of La Manga, between the Gola de Marchamalo and Punta de la Raja.
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Cala del Pino
La Cala del Pino is a fine-sand cove on the shore of the Mar Menor, between km 3 and 4 of La Manga, surrounded by a pine grove that gives shade almost down to the water.
View listing05Monteblanco, with views of both seas
Mirador de Monteblanco
El Mirador de Monteblanco is at the very top of Monte Blanco, at km 3 of La Manga, next to the survey marker of Spain's Instituto Geográfico Nacional. From the top you can see the Mar Menor and the Mediterráneo at the same time.
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Mural de Monteblanco
The Mural de Monteblanco is a large-format painting on the walls at the start of the Monteblanco descent, at km 3 of La Manga.
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Mirador del Galúa (Plaza del Mar)
El Mirador del Galúa, also called Plaza del Mar, is at km 3 of La Manga del Mar Menor, next to the Galúa hotel, at exit 30 of the Gran Vía.
View listing06Through the centre of La Manga
Iglesia de Santa María Reina de los Apóstoles
The Iglesia de Santa María Reina de los Apóstoles is one of the two Catholic parishes of La Manga del Mar Menor, at km 5,2 of the Gran Vía.
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Playa del Estacio
Beach of fine golden sand on the Mediterráneo, at kilometre 12 of the Gran Vía of La Manga.
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Playa Mistral
Urban beach of golden sand on the Mar Menor, about 250 metres long, at km 12 of the Gran Vía of La Manga.
View listing07To the north: the Estacio, Veneziola and the Encañizadas
Faro del Estacio (pasado el Puente del Estacio)
El Faro del Estacio stands at the mouth of the Estacio channel, at km 13 of La Manga, in the municipality of San Javier, about 700 metres from the lift bridge.
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Playa Chica
Coarse-sand beach on the Mar Menor, 1,8 km long, between km 14,6 and 16,4 of the Gran Vía of La Manga.
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Playa La Veneziola
Coarse-sand beach on the Mar Menor, around km 16 of the Gran Vía of La Manga.
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Puente de la Risa
The Puente de la Risa is a steeply arched bridge in Veneziola, at the northern end of La Manga, famous for the feeling you get driving over it.
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Ecosistema Salinero (Final de la Manga. Encañizadas)
The Encañizadas salt-flat ecosystem, at the northern end of La Manga, is a protected wetland of salt pans, dunes and golas between San Javier and San Pedro del Pinatar.
View listing08On the southern shore of the Mar Menor
Playa Honda
Fine golden sand beach on the Mar Menor, on the southern shore of the Mar Menor, in the municipality of Cartagena.
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Playa Paraíso
Golden-sand beach on the south shore of the Mar Menor, in the municipality of Cartagena.
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Playa canina de Playa Paraíso (La Manga)
The dog beach at Playa Paraíso (Los Alemanes) is a dog bathing area at the entrance to La Manga. Cartagena City Council opened it in 2022, together with La Lengua de la Vaca, joining La Calera.
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Playa de Mar de Cristal
Playa de Mar de Cristal is an urban beach in Cartagena on the Mar Menor, with fine sand.
View listingFrequently asked questions
Can you climb the lighthouse at Cabo de Palos?
Yes, but only on a guided tour booked in advance, and from age 12. The esplanade and viewpoint around it are open to everyone.
What to see in La Manga in a single day?
In the morning, the lighthouse and coves of Cabo de Palos; at midday, the Mirador de Monteblanco; and in the afternoon, the Faro del Estacio to watch the sunset over the Mar Menor.
What can I do in La Manga if it rains?
Cartagena is about 25 minutes away, with its Roman theatre and museums. Without leaving La Manga, at the entrance there is the Museo Fundación Boyer Tresaco, a contemporary art museum.