Paradise was in Murcia
Many places in the world belong to very specific labels that allow us to easily identify them. If we talk about India, we will think of concepts like Taj Mahal, yoga and curry. If it's about Russia, words like vodka, Anastasia or Moscow's Red Square will float. And if we think about Murcia, orchard will be the most recurring of all, but we won't always hear about virgin beaches, loggerhead turtles or surfing.
This is the great paradox of a world whose topics overshadow many other corners to discover. And in the case of the Spanish region of the michirones and the Bando Huertano, Calblanque beaches are the closest thing to a mirage that never fades.
The Calblanque beaches are the closest thing to a mirage that never fades
Thanks to a certain anonymity turned into his main ally, Calblanque Park, Monte de las Cenizas and Peña del Águila It is a protected area that belongs to the municipalities of Cartagena-La Unión, south of Murcia, and not far from the better known Mar Menor. The antithesis of this mecca of naturism, ecology and tranquility to embrace in a summer of recreation and few crowds.
MURCIA, HOW QUIET YOU WERE
In a village called The Belones , where traditional streets coexist with Hindu restaurants and old festive bars, the dilemma of any summer in Murcia arises: take the road to the left and head for La Manga del Mar Menor? Or opt for the right towards the unknown?
If you choose this last option, you will run into dirt roads that reveal an army of mountains whose silence is only interrupted by the rabbits jumping between the bushes. Here, the sky seems bluer and The old farmhouses of the village of Cobaticas invite you to a retreat that is as sustainable as it is mystical.
You keep walking the trails (or pedaling your bike), and there you are, in the middle of the Calblanque Natural Park, cornerstone of a Costa Cálida that includes up to 250 kilometers of Mediterranean coast in the Region of Murcia.
Calblanque beach, in Murcia
Jewel of biodiversity, Calblanque is divided into several beach areas: the first area, Cap Negret, is the furthest of all and invites you to start a small route between mountains and bushes to your particular refuge. Search the craters of its cliffs and the wind will guide you to the secret Parreño beach, ideal for practicing naturism, wearing new diving goggles or succumbing to a caving session.
As we follow the winding coastline, we discover Las Canas cove , another oasis camouflaged between fossil dunes, or long Beach, discovered for its yellow sand and the surfers that appear among nature with colorful boards.
Although if you travel with the little ones, the most popular (and familiar) beach in Calblanque It is the perfect starting point when starting out in this paradise to discover in different ways. For example, starting a bicycle route through the facilitated paths or enjoying a day of hiking towards its beaches and places like the Punta Negra Viewpoint or the Bird Viewpoint.
Cradle of different species of flora and fauna, in Calblanque we find mammals such as foxes, badgers and rabbits; native fish like the fartet (endangered), amphibians such as loggerhead turtle (whose first nest in 100 years was formed in 2019 in Cala Arturo) or the flocks of flamingos that stain the Rassall salt flats.
Flamingos thrive in the Rassall salt flats
Somewhat eroded given the problems to facilitate a flow that allows recovering the old artisanal salt extraction and ensuring the splendor of its wetlands, the Rassall salt flats symbolize the main objective of the inhabitants of Calblanque: turn this natural area into an ecotourism paradise.
SUSTAINABLE CABLANQUE
When it comes to one of the last pieces of virgin coast between the city of Cartagena and Cabo de Palos-La Manga, In recent years, Calblanque has hosted numerous initiatives and projects focused on promoting a more sustainable life within the park.
From the regulation of agricultural activities free of pesticides until the rehabilitation of old farmhouses, going by the blockade of motor transport, all these measures are controlled by Let's save Calblanque.
This platform born in the La Jordana-Cobaticas Neighborhood Association of the park itself is in charge of denounce any interference by the industry or mass tourism.
"There is no one better than the neighbors themselves to know the problems of Calblanque, place that we chose for its values and the tranquility that it brings next to the Mediterranean and in the middle of nature”, Carlos Herrero, owner of the rural house Las Jordanas, an icon of the park closed these days of his own free will because of the Covid, tells Traveler.es -19, an event that has also brought a new normality to the park.
“During confinement, the park was completely closed to visitors and under intense surveillance. Entry is now allowed for sports, hiking or cycling, but motor vehicle access is practically prohibited. On the access buses from Los Belones, one of the best areas to stay this summer to visit Calblanque, safety, hygiene and prevention measures will be required mandatory in public transport.
Now it's time for the most important part, becoming aware and not losing sight of the main focus. "Let's just hope it won't take long to see masks thrown away by tourists at the end of summer on the beaches of Calblanque", Charles concludes.
Mecca of naturism, ecology and tranquility