Cartagena readies its beaches for Easter visitors
Footbaths, access points and beach furniture are being installed from Isla Plana to La Manga del Mar Menor
The Cartagena City Council has begun a comprehensive preparation of its beaches ahead of the busy Easter period, with improvements stretching from Isla Plana to La Manga del Mar Menor. Works include installing access points, footbaths and other beach furniture, alongside sand maintenance and vegetation clearance to improve the overall bathing experience.
These beach reconditioning efforts are an annuals occurrence, and similar efforts have already begun in Águilas, while buoys have been deployed in the waters of the Mar Menor to warn swimmers of boats and jet skis.Councillor for the Coastal Area of Cartagena, Gonzalo López, confirmed that both the municipality’s Mediterranean and Mar Menor bathing zones are being readied. This includes aerating and levelling the sand using specialist machinery, particularly in popular spots such as Los Urrutias, Punta Brava, Playa Paraíso, Islas Menores, Mar de Cristal and La Azohía.
The works, carried out by the City Council’s Coastal and Health departments, began in mid-March. In addition to sand conditioning, municipal workers have cleared reeds and shoreline vegetation, especially along the Mar Menor, where sand has also been repositioned to create better bathing zones.
A total of €100,000 has been allocated for the renewal of beach furniture. An additional €300,000 is currently being tendered for further infrastructure, including toilet cabins, changing rooms, wooden walkways, amphibious chairs, pergolas, flexi-footbridges and new footbaths.López added that “the tender for the floating pontoons is already underway”, and once the contract is approved, assemblies will begin in Los Nietos, Playa Honda and Playa del Cavanna. Beach bars are also in the final phase of licensing and will open once the relevant State Coastal Authority processes are completed.
On the south bank of the Mar Menor, 24 access points have been installed — around half the number provided during the summer season. These include wooden walkways, footbaths, shaded areas and bins. In wider areas such as La Manga, walkways have been extended to two metres in width to ease movement and improve accessibility.
On the northern shores of the Mar Menor and in La Manga, access points have been set up at Playa de Levante in Cabo de Palos, Playa del Barco Perdido, Playa del Galúa, Calnegre, Cala del Pino and Puerto Bello. The installations differ slightly between zones, with full sets in the Mar Menor and partial installations along the Mediterranean side.
To reduce litter on the sand, bins are being placed on wooden platforms near beach entrances, rather than directly on the beach itself.
In Cartagena’s western coastal area, which includes El Portús, Isla Plana and La Azohía, assemblies have taken place at Playa del Corral, Playa de La Caleta, Isla Plana, San Ginés, Playa de la Chapineta and Playa del Cuartel. As part of these improvements, seaweed and posidonia have been removed to further enhance the condition of the beaches.
Images: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena
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