Living at Mar Menor Golf Resort puts you within easy reach of some of the best — and most varied — coastline in southeast Spain: calm lagoon water on your doorstep, wild protected coves, golden Blue Flag sand, and even a one-of-a-kind black beach. Here’s the full picture, including sand type and any access rules, so you know exactly what to expect before you drive out.

Los Alcázares — the quick dip (10–15 min)

Sand type: fine, soft golden sand.
The closest option, and the one most residents use for an after-work swim. Los Alcázares sits directly on the Mar Menor lagoon, so the water is shallow, calm, and noticeably warmer than the open sea — ideal for families with young kids or anyone who isn’t a fan of waves. The town has a long seafront promenade lined with chiringuitos, ice cream shops, and restaurants, plus plenty of parking near the beach.

La Manga del Mar Menor — best of both seas (30–35 min)

Sand type: fine golden sand on both sides.
La Manga is the famous 21-km sand spit that separates the Mar Menor from the open Mediterranean — which means you can choose your beach depending on your mood. On the lagoon side you get calm, shallow water; cross to the Mediterranean side and you get proper waves, clearer blue water, and a livelier beach-club atmosphere. Playa del Pedruchillo and Playa Galúa are good starting points if you’ve never been. Parking can get tight in peak summer, so an early start pays off.

Cabo Roig & La Zenia (Orihuela Costa) — worth the drive (40–45 min)

Sand type: fine sand with a few small rocky coves.
Just over the border into Alicante province, this stretch of coast has some of the cleanest, Blue Flag–rated beaches in the region. Cabo Roig itself is a small, sheltered cove with a scenic seafront path, while La Zenia next door has a longer sandy beach and the well-known La Zenia Boulevard shopping centre right behind it — handy if you want to turn the trip into a full day out with lunch and shopping included.

Mazarrón & Bolnuevo — dramatic scenery, fewer crowds (35–40 min)

Sand type: soft sand, with the wind-sculpted sandstone cliffs of “Las Gredas” as a backdrop.
Heading the other direction along the Costa Cálida, Mazarrón’s beaches feel less touristy than La Manga or Orihuela Costa. Playa de Bolnuevo is the standout: a long stretch of sand backed by dramatic, almost lunar rock formations. Playa de la Isla, with its small rocky island just offshore, is another good option and sits close to an important underwater archaeological site.

Calblanque Regional Park — wild and protected (30–35 min)

Sand type: fine golden sand, undeveloped and dune-backed.
One of the last untouched stretches of coastline in the Region of Murcia, Calblanque is a protected natural park with no beach bars, sunbeds, or built-up promenade — just dunes, pine-backed hills, and turquoise water. It’s the pick for anyone who wants a proper “wild beach” day. Bear in mind the access rules below before you go.

Cala Reona (Cabo de Palos) — small, scenic cove (30 min)

Sand type: fine golden sand, around 200 metres of beach.
Right on the edge of Calblanque near Cabo de Palos, Cala Reona is a compact, picturesque cove popular with swimmers and divers thanks to its clear water and rocky surroundings. It also marks the start of one of the coastal hiking trails into the natural park.

Playa de Portmán — the black beach (35–40 min)

Sand type: black/dark grey sand — genuinely unlike anywhere else on this list.
Portmán’s beach owes its striking black colour to decades of mining waste dumped into the bay between 1957 and 1990, which pushed the shoreline out several hundred metres and left it rich in iron oxide. It’s a curiosity worth seeing at least once, and the bay has been under a long-term environmental clean-up and recovery project in recent years. It’s a fascinating stop for photos and a walk, but see the note below before planning to swim there.

Restrictions & practical notes

  • Calblanque Regional Park: private vehicle access is restricted in summer (roughly June–September), typically closing to cars around 9am. A shuttle bus service runs from the park entrance during the day for a small fee. Plan to arrive early or use the bus.
  • Playa de Portmán: due to the site’s mining history, water and sediment quality have historically been affected by heavy metal contamination, and clean-up work has been ongoing. Treat it primarily as a sightseeing/photo stop rather than a swimming beach, and check current local advisories before entering the water.
  • Parking: La Manga and Cabo Roig/La Zenia get very busy in July–August; arrive before mid-morning in high season.
  • Blue Flag beaches: several beaches in Orihuela Costa and La Manga carry Blue Flag status, meaning lifeguards and facilities are provided in season (roughly June–September) — outside those dates, services are reduced or unavailable.
  • Drive times: all estimates above assume normal traffic; allow extra time on summer weekends.

Have a favourite beach near the resort we didn’t mention? Let us know via the Community Chat or Contacts page.