Everyone knows La Manga is a great holiday destination for golf, deservedly being named the European Golf Resort of the Year multiple times. But what is there outside of golf?
Beaches, the Ocean, Water-sports
√ Over 15 beaches along the La Manga Strip
√ Sea Temperature never below 180C
√ Largest Lagoon in Europe (Mar Menor)
√ Water Sports
√ Boat Trips
If staying still and relaxing on the beach is not your style, there are plenty of water sports to get involved in. The La Manga Club arranges activities including jet-skiing & water-skiing but there is also a Water-sports company, Aqua Adicta, who offer windsurfing, kayaking, surfing or paddle boarding on the Mar Menor.
And if you want to venture further out into the Ocean, then the Solaz Lines boat trips are a MUST. Experienced guides provide an extensive boat tour around Mar Menor and out into the Mediterranean Sea to explore Grosa Island and Bay of Mazarron.
It’s not just a sitting and listening boat trip, however, as there are possible snorkeling and diving locations if you wanted to submerge into the water. Or if you wanted to take it up a notch and experience a boat party then you can hire the Solaz Lines for a private party boat which will include music, kayaks, paddle boards, snorkeling, and , of course…a bar.
Nearby Town…Los Belones
For those wanting to venture out of the La Manga strip, the nearest town is Los Belones which is only 15 minutes away. Here you can expand your evening choices as Los Belones has a host of delicious restaurants. Namely the Via Romana if you’re fancying a delicious Italian cuisine or if you want some extra spice then there is the highly rated Bollywood Bar & Restaurant serving the finest Indian dishes.
But if you are not quite sure what flavours you would like to try then there is the highly varied El Toro restaurant in Los Belones, cooking everything from chicken kebabs, steak, prawns to Spanish tapas.
Los Belones is not only an evening town, however, as they are not short of day-time activities either with a weekly street fruit market on Tuesdays if you wanted to explore some more local food or there is Rec2Tec Diving who will take you on experienced dives into local areas.
Adventure, Exploration & Sight-seeing
If you like being around the Ocean and enjoying a nice calm sea breeze whilst taking in the scenery, then the La Manga strip has some ideal spots for you.
- A perfect day out could be a leisurely stroll down the 21km La Manga Strip to take in the scenery and visit some local seaside shops, then finishing at the Puente de la Risa bridge at the end of the strip. This is an iconic landmark that features a steep climb to the middle of the bridge and offers expansive views of the Mediterranean Sea. Also, you can laugh and judge other drivers as they attempt to drive over it seeing nothing but sky.
- Then why not spend your afternoon/evening visiting the Tomas Maestre Marina along the strip and see some extravagant yachts whilst enjoying some local seafood.
- Or you could visit Cabo de Palos, South of La Manga Club on the edge of the strip. The main attraction here is El Faro de Cabo de Palos which is a picturesque lighthouse and restaurant that overlooks the Southern coast. Stunning views and food whilst set on a rocky outcrop, no better photo opportunity for a holiday pic!
- For further exploration then head to the Cartagena Port, which is an old city only 30 minutes drive away. Here you can visit some historic sites including a Roman Theatre (Carthago Nova), a 17th century fort (Lorca Taller del Tiempo) and some Spanish Civil War Air Raid Shelters. If you happen to get a day off golf and can pull yourself away from relaxation at the pools and beaches, then I’d definitely recommend a day trip to Cartagena.
Restaurants
In terms of eating away from La Manga, a good policy is if it starts with an ‘R’ it’s bound to be good…
Big favourites outside La Manga include:
- Restaurant Rosario – Dinner on an Island! Just a short ferry away to Perdiguera Island in the centre of Mar Menor is one of La Manga’s special sea-food restaurants. MUST try dishes have got to be the ‘Perdigeuro’ rice and baked fish.
- Run – South East Asian Cuisine just 15 minutes away in Los Belones.
- Rierpi – Local Favourite! We all know the restaurant the locals enjoy is the best…after all they live there. A Tasteful Spanish cuisine.
Family Holiday
For those on a family holiday to La Manga, there are also plenty of fun activities for the kids! Local to La Manga Club is Peke Park, which is a children’s playground fully equipped with ball pits, slides and even go-karting. Just let the kids run wild in this playground extravaganza!
Then to follow this up, for a more child friendly evening whilst still enjoying a pint or watching some sport, there is the Si Bar in La Manga resort. Adults can enjoy a drink whilst watching sport on the TV’s or listening to live music after 10pm and the children can get involved in a variety of activities including mini-golf, table-tennis, pool tables and an Astroturf garden for a kick-about. The perfect family mix!
Nightlife
I’m sure you are wondering how many bars there are? Or what is the price of a pint? Is there a good nightlife scene?
Well the answer is, €2.50-3 on average for a pint and sports bars galore towards the Los Belones town area as well as within the La Manga resort.
For close convenience, there is the La Manga ‘local’ called Mulligan’s which offers a fantastic choice of whiskies and draught beer within a pub atmosphere. Also with giant screens for sport as well as pool and darts, Mulligan’s is any pub goers dream.
But for a more musical vibe, visitors also have the option of Spike’s Live Music Bar at La Manga Club. With the best live dance music varying from Latin to chilled piano to a resident DJ, Spike’s is one of the most popular nights around.
But for a night where the party really gets started and if you want to go out-out, then you want to be at Yesterday’s nightclub in La Manga. Be sure to travel during the summer to enjoy this, however, as it is only open seasonally.
And if you are in your early 20s then Cabo de Palos is the place to go. There are a few nightclubs in the area, with Trips Summer Club (Discoteca Trips) being the standout night. Here you can really get the drinks flowing, forget your bad golf and dance the night away until 7am! Try to avoid an early tee time the following day after this night.
The Resort Itself
If all these options feel too far way or you didn’t want to a hire a car, then of course there is still a wealth of leisure choices on La Manga Resort.
- 28 Tennis Courts
- 8 Football Pitches, including a 5-a side pitch
- Spa – over 50 different treatments, a sauna, a steam room, an indoor pool & a gym
- Summer Pool Parties
- La Manga Stadium – 800 capacity, Spain and England have trained here
- Summer Parties! Be sure to check La Manga Club’s upcoming events so you don’t miss out on some incredible parties like the White Nights at La Cala this summer just gone – a beach party where the guests dress in White and enjoy a buffet dinner, open bar & live music.
And if you don’t want to drive to eat-out or if you want to enjoy that one extra glass of wine with your meal, the La Manga Club has a whole variety of tasteful cuisines to dig into:
- Andale Restaurant– A spicy Mexican overlooking the tennis centre
- Asia Restaurant – An outside terrace at Las Sabinas on La Manga
- Amapola Restaurant – Mediterranean Cuisine with golf course views
- Dharma Restaurant – Indian Cuisine with spectacular Mar Menor views
- El- Bistro Restaurant – Value for money, family friendly, open terrace
- La Bodega – Spanish Wines and Tapas in La Plaza
- La Cala Restaurant – Fish & Seafood, overlooking the sea on La Manga Club Beach
- Luigi’s – Italian Pizzas & Pasta’s
- Uncle Sam’s Restaurant – 50’s style Ribs, Chicken, Burgers & steaks
- Bar No.37 – North/South Course Clubhouse. Open for breakfast and lunch to enjoy golf views and see La Manga’s golf history
- Mr Chans – This is where I ate my 1st ever Chinese! Definitely recommend the duck!
- Tom’s Pizza – Just off Bellaluz Square for the ‘Biggest Pizza in La Manga’
- La Finca Restaurant – Fine dining and luxurious surroundings at La Finca
- Si! Wine Bar-Cafe Bistro – A Lively atmosphere with sport showing on the bigscreen TV’s
- La Cala del Barco – Watch the sunset from a rocky outcrop overlooking the Southern Coast whilst indulging into some seafood
Overall, La Manga has so much to offer which makes it the perfect holiday! There’s something for everyone…golfers, sun-bathers, water-sports enthusiasts, alcohol enthusiasts, adventurers and families.
So check out our La Manga Holidays Now!