Three blues that come together in the unique palette that is Cala Cortina
Leaving the city behind Cartagena, its amphitheater and a promenade scented with sea and rice, the south of Murcia it contracts in different curves that, at some point, reveal a paradise for the senses: curtain cove, elevated with your votes to the second position in the contest The Best Beach in Spain organized every summer by Condé Nast Traveler Spain.
This result consolidates, once again, the potential of that secret Spain where to find places as pristine as recommended in order to squeeze the summer in an enviable environment. From the possibilities diving in Cabo de Palos to the ecological environment of the Calblanque Natural Park, the Costa Cálida de Murcia, with its more than 250 kilometres, reveals itself as the Mediterranean oasis that we came to look for, with Cala Cortina being the jewel in the crown.
A little hidden paradise in Cartagena
CALA CORTINA, THE SECOND BEST BEACH IN SPAIN
Enclosed between ancient echoes and marine aromas, the commercial port of Cartagena is flanked by the contours of a bay whose curves invite you to stop and take a portion of michirones but, especially, to get to its best beach. And it will be there, specifically just over 7 kilometers south of the ancient Carthago Nova, where the last curve reveals a blue tongue that we could well confuse with a mirage.
Considered as the most beautiful whim of the bay of Cartagena, Cala Cortina is a beach 210 meters long nestled within a protected area and ideal for a vacation in which to combine history and relaxation.
Access for tourism enabled in 1988, today Cala Cortina is a place where the consequent tourist influx is balanced by the tranquility of this corner precious to the inhabitants of Cartagena. Of coarse sand and three blues that come together in a single palette, Cala Cortina has a small islet in front of its sands, In addition to different services such as footbaths and litter bins, adapted bathrooms, a first aid and lifeguard area and a children's play area.
The most beautiful whim of the bay of Cartagena
But if there is a compelling reason to drop by this beach, that is without a doubt its many options in water sports such as diving. In the same port of Cartagena you can book different excursions through diving centers that include dives in some of the main secrets of Cala Cortina. From their Posidonia fields to octopus and eels come together in the depths of the beach, where there is also the possibility of tours and scuba dives at dusk.
If in your case, you prefer to finish before dinner, when you return to the surface the Mediterranean sky will be waiting for you with its sunsets but, especially, the exquisite atmosphere that is breathed in the beach bar restaurant in Cala Cortina, the already mythical Mares Bravas. famous for its squid tapas and seafood rice, this restaurant offers a terrace with privileged views from which to contemplate the best panoramic view of Cabo Tiñoso. The best way to include all the Murcias in a single stage.
WHERE TO SLEEP
Being a protected area, Cala Cortina does not have accommodation located on the beach itself. In any case, the nearby city of Cartagena It is the best base camp from which to connect with the cove.
Different hotels, pensions and tourist apartments unfold from the outskirts to the old town, inviting you to discover its main charms and book a day (or several) of rest in Cala Cortina.
HOW TO GET
They say that there are routes that are better than the destination, and although we do not risk confirming it, we can assure you that the route between Cartagena and Cala Cortina is spectacular, especially if we get around the old route through the tunnel.
In order to capture the best panoramas, we leave by car from the very center of the city, not far from the port, and we border the cultural heart formed by the Naval Museum and the Museum of Aquatic Archaeology. From here, we cross the seaside neighborhood of Santa Lucía and drive along the eastern end of the port until we reach Curra Lighthouse, which interrupts the bay.
From here, the port widens and we understand the reason for its strategic character in ancient times. Arid mountains covered with Mediterranean scrub reveal the presence of the famous Cape Tiñoso and the Fort of Christmas, enabled tourism through different routes. On reaching the Battery of Santa Florentina, fortress dating from the 18th century, the panoramic view of the port is the last impulse to ascend and there, when descending, discover the wonderful Cala Cortina.
On the outskirts is the car park and a few meters away, the stairs that lead to a beach where, we bet, the different cultures that reached ancient Cartagena stopped for a few hours to catch a first string of squid. Or, at least, to dip your weary feet in these dreamy waters.
Posidonia fields, octopus, eels... Beautiful on the outside and incredible on the inside