Mazarrón beaches: Playa de Nares

A Blue Flag beach in the western outskirts of Puerto de Mazarrón

The Playa de Nares is an urban Mediterranean beach, one of the 33 which are to be found along the 35-kilometre coastline of Mazarrón between the municipalities of Cartagena and Lorca. 

It is a long, curving, semi-urban beach which adjoins the Playa de la Pava and at the eastern end is the headland of Punta de Nares, the location of the saltwater outlet which in the past fed the salt pans of Puerto de Mazarrón. At the other end is the headland of Cabezo de Castellar.

It is 2.6 kilometres from the centre of the Puerto de Mazarrón and is easily accessed from Avenida D. José Alarcón Palacios, which forms part of the long coastal road linking the town to Bolnuevo.

This area is lined with residential houses and apartments, with a number of small dead-end streets running off the main road down to the edge of the beach. These provide plenty of parking, although during the summer, when the population of the municipality swells from 30,000 to 150,000, space does become limited. There are also bicycle racks and some spaces allocated for disabled parking, although during the summer there’s little chance of finding one unoccupied.

There are some spaces on the road right next to the beach, but in the summer it is necessary to allow for a short walk if seeking parking. The area is also served by the urban bus on the urban Mazarrón-Murcia route. 

The beach itself forms a gentle curve and is with residential accommodation: this was one of the first areas in Mazarrón to be populated with residential holiday and second homes during the 1970’s, and many of the properties are older and more mature, with relatively low density and low level.

Being on the outskirts of Puerto de Mazarrón, the hostelries and shops thin out and urban construction is less dense. This gives the beach a comfortable and more homely feel, and the whole area has a distinctly traditional and family air.

Due to its 45-metre width the Playa de los Nares seldom feels really crowded. The sand is soft and golden, and the beach edged is fringed by several rocky outcrops, meaning spectacular shots of crashing waves in the winter and interesting spots for paddling children and snorkelers seeking marine life.

At the eastern end there is a distinctive white summer house, which marks the point at which the salt flats adjoined the sea in the past: salt water was fed into the vast pans which are now mainly buried by by the residential development behind. At the other end is the important archaeological site of Cabezo del Castellar, littered with ceramic shards from the amphorae used to transport salt fish sauces by the Phoenician traders who worked this coastline around 700 BC.

Facilities

The Playa de Nares is both a Blue Flag beach and a Q for Quality beach, which indicates that it has been recognised by both the Spanish Tourist Board and an international body set up to encourage environmentally friendly beaches, the FEE. Both flags are in recognition of the quality of the services on this beach as well as its cleanliness and the quality of the bathing water.

The beach is easily accessed from the road without the need for steps and is suitable for those with limited mobility. There are 3 reserved parking spaces for those with disabilities, but no facilities specifically for disabled bathing.

There are wooden access ramps during summer months and in peak weeks adapted toilets are provided. A children’s play area and footwashes are also available.

A beach bar or "chiringuito" is normally open during the summer months, and there are also plenty of bars and restaurants within easy walking distance as well as a wide selection of supermarkets and shops in both Puerto de Mazarrón and Bolnuevo.

For more local information go to the home page of Mazarrón Today, or click here for an overview of all 33 beaches in the municipality of Mazarrón.