HOME > MURCIA MAR MENOR & CARTAGENA > LOS ALCÁZARES
Introduction to Los Alcázares
Los Alcázares lies on the inland shore of the Mar Menor, surrounded by the sea and the municipalities of San Javier, Torre Pacheco and Cartagena, with a permanent population of around 19,000 inhabitants.
Its main activity is tourism and the hotel of La Encarnación is one of the oldest in the Region of Murcia. It was built on the shore of the Mar Menor, Europe´s largest saltwater lagoon, which multiplies the population in summer with holidaymakers attracted by kilometres of soft sand, warm, safe and shallow water and the opportunities to enjoy the superb watersports facilities.
The Mar Menor is renowned for its safe sailing and afternoon thermal winds, with kitesurfers and windsurfers taking advantage of the clean run from shore to shore and learners enjoying the safety of an enclosed lagoon whilst more experienced sailors can head out into the Mediterranean or charter yachts to explore the Murcia coastline.
Los Alcázares is also the location of the only surviving Balneario or bathing station, which is still in use today as a restaurant, a vestige from the days when bathers wished to maintain a level of decorum by descending into the waters from the privacy of a bathing hut rather than baring all on the beach. This part of the beach is also the focal point for one of the most important gastronomic traditions of the region: the preparation of the fish-based rice dish of caldero, the staple diet of the fishing population who fished from these shores before the onset of tourism.
Los Alcázares has been the chosen destination of Murcianos from the regional capital for many decades and celebrates the annual migration with its vibrant and colourful Semana de la Huerta y El Mar, filling the town with the scent of tapas, the colourful costumes of folk dancers and a selection of artisan crafts from across the Region.
Los Alcázares also hosts one of the best medieval markets in the region when it celebrates its Berber fiestas, commemorating the raids by Berber Pirates which were such a feature of its history during the 16th and 17th centuries.
The town is home to an established ex-pat community with a wealth of social activities and organisations for the English-speaking population, and offers residential properties in established urban locations, as well as in newer urbanisations.
The town is around half an hour's drive from the Region of Murcia International Airport in Corvera, with good connections along the Mar Menor to the road network of the rest of Spain.
EU confirms start date for non-Schengen travellers Entry-Exit System as ETIAS fee nearly triplesUK visitors to the EU will face biometric checks starting from October 2025, followed by a new visa-waiver scheme with a higher fee British travellers heading to the EU will face significant changes at borders starting from this October, as the long-awaited..
Street closures in Los Alcázares 25-29 JulyRoad traffic is disrupted in Los Narejos over the weekend during the Fan Futura festival The Town Hall of Los Alcázares has issued the following statement regarding streets which are to be closed to motor traffic over the weekend during the Fan.. 25/07/2025
Powerful rainstorms bring a drop in temperatures: Murcia weekend weather forecast July 24-27This Thursday night is forecast to be very stormy, windy and rainy, but the rest of the weekend should be nice Murcia weather forecast, Thursday July 24 Brace yourselves for a full day of stormy weather and heavy rain as the State Meteorological.. 24/07/2025
Airport Buses wants your feedback: What new stops do you want to see?These are all the current stops along the way on Airport Buses’s three routes... but now they’re looking to add more! Since the Airport Buses private coach transfer service to and from Murcia Airport launched in May 2025, hundreds of passengers.. 21/07/2025
Boy, 9, one of two in ICU after boat propeller accident in La MangaThe child and his aunt were seriously injured while swimming near Ensenada del Esparto A 9-year-old boy is in a serious condition in the paediatric intensive care unit at the Virgen de La Arrixaca Hospital in Murcia after being struck by the propeller.. 21/07/2025
Corvera Airport continues the upgrades with new toilets for ostomy patientsThe Region of Murcia International Airport has put in brand-new loos adapted for people with ostomy bags Regional travel hub the Murcia International Airport in Corvera now has toilets adapted for people with an ostomy bag to change in an effort to.. 17/07/2025
Is it true that solar panels produce less energy in summer?It might seem counter-intuitive, but heat and other factors can actually affect solar panel performance in the warmer months Have you ever noticed or been told that solar panels can produce less energy during summer? At first glance, this sounds counter.. 16/07/2025
More arrests and unrest in Torre Pacheco as disturbances continueThe street violence is still ongoing in the Mar Menor town, albeit on a smaller scale now The situation continues to be tense in Torre Pacheco, where far-right agitators are still travelling to the normally quiet Mar Menor town to – in their.. 16/07/2025
San Javier homeowners need to pay their IBI nowProperty owners in San Javier can pay their IBI property tax at the Town Hall from April 21 to October 20, 2025 Property owners in the town of San Javier are reminded that the 2025 IBI Council Tax (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles) can be paid.. 15/07/2025
An uneasy calm returns to Torre Pacheco as the Murcia town becomes Spain's epicentre of the migration debateArrests have been made of agitators and the three people accused of the assault that ignited the disturbances Torre Pacheco, a town of over just 40,000 residents in Murcia’s Mar Menor area, remains tense yet outwardly calm following several.. 15/07/2025
Understanding the importance of wills and estate planning for foreigners in SpainWhat British expats in Spain need to know to protect their families and assets For British nationals living in Spain, having a comprehensive estate plan is essential to protect loved ones and ensure that personal wishes are carried out without unnecessary.. 15/07/2025
Major earthquake off Almería-Murcia coast felt across southern SpainThe tremors originating in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea were felt in Murcia, Andalucía and beyond It was about 7am when the windows began to rattle in their frames and the crockery in the kitchen clinked. Those who were awake already.. 14/07/2025
Tourism booms in Los Alcázares with best June in more than a decadeA packed cultural and sports calendar, plus the return of the international air show, helped bring more than 60,000 extra visitors to Los Alcázares Los Alcázares has registered its highest number of visitors in the month of June.. 14/07/2025
Brits in Spain urged to make this change to avoid passport control headacheA new update on the UK government website urges British residents in Spain to swap their green certificate for a TIE card They highlight the risk of airport delays for those without the biometric residency card The UK government has updated the..
What are the pros and cons of voting to ban tourist rentals in my community?Communities across Spain are holding EGMs to decide whether or not to continue allowing tourist rentals in their buildings, resorts and urbanisations, which has left many people wondering: “What way should I vote?” Skip..
Nuclear closures in Spain and electricity prices: Can renewables bridge the gap?As Spain moves away from nuclear power, the role of green energy becomes more crucial than ever One of the more contentious questions surrounding Spain’s planned phase-out of nuclear energy is its potential impact on electricity prices. &.. 10/07/2025
