Touristic Routes

Going around the Mar Menor by bike or trekking along routes, paths or even an old cattle track, always following the sea line, is always a good way to discover this piece of coast.
Unfortunately - or maybe not - the perimeter of the Mar Menor is not even. In the Encañizadas area, to the north of La Manga, there are several water canals that cut across the coast line, and therefore cannot be crossed by bike.

Length: 56.4 kilometres

Difficulty: the whole track goes along flat areas and well-marked roads which are not at all difficult. Only those who wish to cover the whole route must gather the energy to stand its length.

Duration: the whole route can be completed in about seven hours.

Recommendations: in the north of the lagoon, between La Puntica and Los Alcázares there are no alternative paths and you will have to go along the road: take care and always walk in line and along the edge.

Description of the route: the trip has been divided into sections, going counter-clockwise and starting from the La Ezequiela mill, at the end of La Mota beach. The distances in kilometres between the main areas are marked so you can make up your own route as you wish.

0.00- La Calcetera windmill. Here begins a good path dividing the salt flats and the Mar Menor.
2.5- You will reach the tarmacked roads.
2.7- Quintín windmill. We will enter Villananitos.
During the next few kilometres there will be cars circulating along the road. Be careful.
4.2- Lo Pagán city centre. Continue along the promenade.
6.9- La Ribera city centre. Continue along the promenade.
7.3- Once we have reached the square, turn right into San Javier street.
7.8- Crossroads. Turn left along the road to the airport.
10.3- Enter Murcia - San Javier airport. Go straight.
13.2- Los Narejos.
15.2- Los Alcázares. Along the promenade you will be able to cross the town without going along tarmac.
19.0- Crossroads. Turn left towards Los Urrutias.
23.2- Los Urrutias city centre. The promenade crosses the village. At the end, next to the marina there is a path on a cattle track that goes along the southern side of the Mar Menor.
25.2- Estrella de Mar estate. The road goes through blackish clay paths formed by the materials dragged by the streams and other watercourses from the mines in La Unión.
30.0- Los Nietos. The entrance leads to the promenade that crosses the village.
31.6- Menores Islands.
32.6- Mar de Cristal. Once you have reached the end of the promenade, go up the first tarmacked street and make a left turn. The next leads again to a path that goes straight ahead.
34.5- After a lovely area with halophilous vegetation that stands well salty soils and reedbeds, you will find the Villas Caravanning campsite.
35.4- Playa Honda city centre. Crossed by the promenade, which leads to a path.
36.4- Marchamalo salt flats.
37.1- The road leads to a wall that is virtually right on the edge of the coast. You have to go round it by pushing your bike along the sand. Cross El Vivero estate and take a sandy path that goes along the coast towards a pier.
38.7- Puerto Bello. Here you will enter La Manga. Take the tarmacked road on the right.
39.2- Enter the road to La Manga. Take the left along the bike lane.
41.3- Alto de Monteblanco height.
45.3- Casino. End of the bike lane.
51.3- Estacio rotating bridge.
56.2- Veneciola estate.
56.4- End of the tarmacked paths and the route. The Canals along the barricades will not let you cross the area by bike.