Welcome to the CostaCalida - or the Warm Coast

       “The Warm Coast” is the meaning of Costa Cálida, this is due to the very special micro climate of the area, which makes it a few degrees hotter than everywhere else in Spain,
thus creating  a  somewhat arid micro climate, with less than 340 mm of rain annually: in fact, it is the hottest coast in the Mediterranean Sea.
      This is great news for everyone looking for quality bathing time year-round, and only a handful of rainy days.

Nonetheless, great weather is not the only thing that makes CostaCálida one of the most attractive Costas for tourists.

There are , which are recognized by the EU to have the perfect environment for visitors to enjoy, like being litter-free, having clear water, and adequate facilities to house tourists comfortably.
These beaches are spread through out the 250 km (155 miles) that make up this beautiful Costa, it spans from El Mojón, very nearby Alicante, to Cuatro Calas, in Águilas, and is located in the Region of Murcia,right in between the gigantic Andalucía and the well-known Comunidadde Valencia, bordering with Castilla-león to the north, and to the south, 250 km of open Mediterranean Sea.

There are also very famous maritime routes that go to the BalearicIslands, like Ibiza and Mallorca.You can rent a small ship and go there by yourself, making for an unforgettable experience of a lifetime. If you are not too experienced in sailing, you can goon a Cruise Ship,which will have everything you might need, like warm beds, restaurants, and maybe even nightclubs and bars, if you are willing to pay the price, of course.

However, Costa Cálida is especially known for the  natural landmark known as Mar Menor, or “Smaller Sea” in English, it’s a 22 km (13 miles)long stretch of sand that ranges from 100 to 1000 meters wide. This creates a natural salty lake with crystal clear waters, that are also very shallow, which makes it ideal for families with children, though, not that ideal for those interested in water sports like surfing or windsurfing.

But for them, Costa Cálida has other locations that might be more exciting, like some areas near shipwrecks where you can snorkel and deep dive. There are also trekking and mountain biking routes more towards the inland that is simply described as awe-inspiring.

There are, as well, some of the most important and famous golf courses in Europe, like the Lorca Resort, Condado Alhama, Hacienda Alamo and La Serena, all of which are very highly rated by golfers.

But the potential locations for ecotourism don’t end there, Murcia,and specifically, the lands surrounding Costa Cálida are full to the brim with natural parks, like Cabo de Gata-Níjar, Parque Natural De Torrevieja, Sierra de Huétor, Sierra Helada, and Parque Natural de la Serra de Mariola.

And if natural wonders are not that important to you, the rich history and culture might be just as enjoyable, as there are a multitude of medieval fortress, castles and interesting museums, with exhibitions that date back 3000 years.

There are, as well, more modern instances, especially in architecture,remarkable structures such as The Palace of Benifayó Baron, The Episcopal Palace of Murcia,the military fortress Solde Lorca and the Castle of San Juan de Águilas are spread throughout the lands.

    In addition to the various monuments,Murcia’s history has made it into a crossroads for many different cultures,like the Iberians that first populated the lands, the Romans that conquered them, the      Phoenicians and the Byzantines,who came later, in addition to the hundreds of years of Arabic control of the lands.

All these very different cultures brought new flavours and traditions to the area, and in conjunction with the especially rich fields that offered an enormous variety of ingredients, it’s no wonder why Murcia is one of the top locations on any tourists’ list loving gastronomy.

Among the most interesting activities,there are a variety of wine tastings, that also combine with city tours to give you the best experience, and restaurants that offer special dishes for tourists that combine the most famous local recipes, with a mixture of seafood, local vegetables and meat prepared in the same way they were prepared hundreds of years ago by the first inhabitants.

You might also want to visit the four main urban attraction points, the capital, Murcia, which is great for those who love nightclubs, drinks on a terrace and visiting some museums.There is Cartagena, not to be confused with the city by the same name in Colombia, which is the first place the Romans ever got to in the Iberic peninsula, it has more than3.000 years of history and its one of the best examples of a contemporary city.

Next up is Lorca, the best place to see monuments, the medieval, renaissance and baroque styles come together in the old town, making for a delightful experience, especially when the Easter Parades are going through.

And at last, Caravaca, one of the five Holy Cities in the world, it’s one of the most common destinations for pilgrims and for those interested in the deep Templar history, there are few other places with such a charm.