Calblanque Regional Park
Just 20 kilometres east of Cartagena, Calblanque is the antidote to every overcrowded Costa Cálida beach resort: 1,400 hectares of protected dunes, pine-backed coves, salt lagoons and fossil-studded cliffs where development has been banned since 1992. On a weekday in June or September, you can have a turquoise cove entirely to yourself.
The Beaches and the Water
The park's coastline runs for roughly 13 kilometres and contains a dozen named beaches, ranging from the broad sandy arc of Playa de Calblanque itself to tiny pebble coves like Cala Larga that require a 20-minute walk through scrubby Mediterranean maquis to reach. The water is crystalline — visibility of 10 metres or more is common — and the seabed is a mix of posidonia meadows and rocky reef ideal for snorkelling.
Playa de las Cañas and Playa de los Cocedores at the eastern end of the park are backed by dramatic reddish cliffs and are popular with local freedivers. Bring your own snorkel mask; there is no rental equipment in the park.
Beyond the Beach
The park interior contains a network of signed walking trails through pine forest, rosemary scrub and past the ruins of old mining infrastructure — the Sierra Minera behind the park was heavily mined for lead and zinc until the 1990s and the rusted headframes are now an eerie industrial counterpoint to the natural beauty.
The Salinas del Rasall, a small salt lagoon near the park entrance, attracts flamingos and wading birds in spring and autumn migration. Early morning visits with binoculars are rewarded with sightings of greater flamingo, avocet and little egret.
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