España, Spain, has a wonderful coastline and beaches, especially those of La Costa Blanca and La Costa Cálida, in the region of Murcia. La Manga, located on the east side of the Mar Menor, is a touristy place and home to an amazing little beach called Playa Chica. This beach stands out for its magnificent climate, sand, crystal clear waters, and incredible services. Below, we will discover the conditions that make this beach one of the most special in the region and a place that we should visit in the summer season.
Table of Contents:
- Meet Playa Chica La Manga, a Paradisiac Beach in Mar Menor!
- What Is the Playa Chica La Manga?
- Some Crucial Aspects of the Mar Menor
- Playa Chica La Manga Location
- Main Features Playa Chica La Manga
- Chiringuito Playa Chica
- Flora and Fauna of the Region
- Accessing La Playa Chica La Manga
- The Bottom Line
- Enjoy Your Private Paradise in Villa Murcia!
What Is the Playa Chica La Manga?
Playa Chica is a long, narrow beach located in La Manga, the outer face of the Mar Menor, a semi-salty lagoon on the Murcian coast. Due to the special conditions of the area, its occupancy is low in areas where there are few structures and high in areas close to services, such as showers, toilets, and restaurants.
The best time of year to visit La Manga del Mar Menor for warm-weather activities is from late June to early September. During these months, nearby establishments and the municipality provide important services, such as freshwater, bins, showers, and the rental of sun loungers, footbaths, and bicycles.
Some Crucial Aspects of the Mar Menor
All the beaches enclosed by the Mar Menor have similar characteristics, meaning calm, shallow, and salty waters fed by the Mediterranean Sea. These waters turn this internal lagoon into one of the best places in Europe to learn aquatic sports, such as sailing and windsurfing. All the beaches located on the coast of the Mar Menor are longer, wider, and susceptible to small wave conditions.
There are two administrations in La Manga. The far end, to the north, belongs to the municipality of San Javier, while the low section belongs to the municipality of Cartagena. Most of La Manga’s length is full of hotels and holiday apartments, although it also has an important residential population. Still, as the northern end is narrow, the population density is low, so beaches, such as the Playa Chica, are emptier.
Playa Chica La Manga Location
The Playa Chica is located in La Manga, a narrow piece of land that separates the Mar Menor from the Mediterranean Sea. It is at the northern end of La Manga and is administered by San Javier.
In general, all the locations in La Manga are defined by the distance between that point and the tourist information point at Cabo de Palos, which corresponds to point 0. The far end of La Manga is km 18, at the Torre de la Encañizada. La Playa Chica is at km 16,5.
As such, the Playa Chica has some of the most special locations among all the beaches of the region of Murcia, giving you the opportunity to witness both sides of the sea and enjoy a magnificent drink or seafood dish in the restaurants of the zone.
Main Features Playa Chica La Manga
Now, let’s check the main characteristics of this magnificent beach in the northern part of La Manga, Murcia.
- Beach: Playa Chica
- Type of sand: thick sand
- Water temperature: +22°C
- Wave height: 0.8 m.
- Average wind: 11.2 miles per hour
- Average air temperature: +18°C
- Swimming conditions: moderate waves
- Length: 1.800 m
- Average width: 10 m
- Sea: Mar Menor
- Occupancy rate: medium
- Degree of urban development: semi-urban
- Means of access: On foot, by car, bus, and boat
- Anchoring area: yes
- Protected area: yes
Chiringuito Playa Chica
The famous Chiringuito Playa Chica — chiringuito is a beach bar — is at the end of the beach, to the north. It is the zone of the beach where we can hire sunshades and sun loungers to rest all day while working on our tan. As such, this zone of the Playa Chica is high in occupation.
Schedule. The restaurant is open from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday through Sunday.
Address: Chiringuito Playa Chica, Gran Vía de la Manga, Km 16, 5, 30380 La Manga, Murcia.
Telephone: (+34) 968 437 903
Email: info@playachicalamanga.com
Services:
- Parking.
- Bar.
- Internet WiFi.
- Restaurant.
- Disabled wheelchair.
Flora and Fauna of the Region
The zone of Murcia and the area of the Mar Menor is a rich environment with plenty of endemic vegetable and animal species. Among the vegetation that abounds in the zone are the Salicornia (Salicornia Europaea) and the Orobal. The first is a creeping plant that grows on the coastline of La Manga.
Orobal is a bush that grows in dry and wet conditions. Pharmaceutics use this bush for medicinal purposes. It has strong narcotic and hypnotic effects.
Regarding fauna, the common lark (Galerida cristata) is a small bird that stays in the same location all year on the coastline and other parts of the region of Murcia.
The moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) is another common bird that inhabits the Mar Menor and the surroundings of Playa Chica. This bird grows in the zones of the Mar Menor with abundant vegetation.
We can also find noisy parrots (Cotorrita verdigris) near the beach. Parrots are highly adaptive to most biomes, so they multiply easily and inhabit all the zones of the Mar Menor and the region of Murcia.
Accessing La Playa Chica La Manga
There is a bus service that runs throughout La Manga, from south to north and vice versa, throughout the day. This service has several stops throughout La Manga, which will allow you easy access to the beach. The area also has several parking services, especially in urban areas. This way, you can get to the beach without problems and simply walk a few meters.
- Bus service: Gran Vía de La Manga del Mar Menor Línea 15 de Alsa City Cartagena
- Parking conditions: In the vicinity
- How to get there: Mileage point 14.6 to 16.4 Gran Vía de La Manga
The Bottom Line
Playa Chica is a small but interesting beach located in La Manga, Murcia, one of the most beautiful places on the Mediterranean coast. From this very particular area of La Manga and Spain, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean Sea and its magnificent waters, which stand out for their transparency, purity, warm temperatures, and intense blue color.
Suppose you are thinking of visiting the Murcia region. In that case, you should not forget to visit La Manga and the incredible but relaxing Playa Chica and, of course, have a refreshing drink at the beach bar or on a sun lounger. It is the perfect panorama for this coming summer, which promises high temperatures and fun times.
Enjoy Your Private Paradise in Villa Murcia!
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