Puerto de Mazarron is a harbour town on the Costa Cálida to the west of Cartagena in the province of Murcia. It is a well-kept secret of travellers who are ‘in the know’ and expats looking for pristine, warm waters.

Puerto de Mazarron developed as the harbour for the inland town of Mazarron. The Romans first used it and then in the 19th century miners relied on it for shipping mineral extracts. These days it doubles as a busy fishing port for tuna boats. When tourism hit Spain in the 1960’s, Puerto de Mazarron grew to meet the needs of travellers seeking the long, dry summers of the Murcia region. However, the development concentrated around the Marina, so the coastline remains unspoilt; the World Health Organisation named it the cleanest spot in Spain (with the lowest rates of industrial pollution) in the mid 1980’s. The area continues to garner this reputation especially with the continued careful maintenance of its Blue Flag beaches.

This area typically gets over 300 days of sunshine over the year, which is great for both sunbathing and swimming – with water temperatures reaching a balmy 20ºc in the height of summer. With no less than 6 beaches within its boundaries, Puerto de Mazarron has plenty to offer. From the family friendly, shallow waters of Playa de la Isla, to the buzzing atmosphere of the Playa de Bolnuevo. Beach Soccer is a major draw, with matches being played late into the evening on the Playa de la Reya. Water sports enthusiasts will find everything from scuba diving to kayaking.

Inland Mazarron is a traditional Spanish town, well known for its architectural and archaeological heritage. In nearby Bolnuevo there are remarkable natural formations in the rock known as the Gredas de Bolnuevo erosions. The Mirador del Cabezo del Gavilan coastal boardwalk offers views sweeping the Mediterranean and a Roman villa and a salt-fish sauce factory turned museum sits behind the fishing port. The largest fiesta is the Virgen del Carmen where fishing boats take the Virgin out to sea.