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.
Mar Menor's first oyster reef takes shape to help clean the lagoonNative oysters could help clean the lagoon’s waters as scientists warn of dangerously low oxygen levels The Mar Menor’s first oyster reef has been launched in a bid to help clean the polluted lagoon, just as scientists warn it is once.. 21/10/2025
Los Alcázares Town Council sets up information and advice point for those affected by storm Alice and the drinking water cutThe aim is to support residents, businesses and homeowners' associations affected by Storm Alice and the water supply interruption, helping them access available aid and report any damage Los Alcázares Town Council has opened an information.. 21/10/2025
Water for flushing toilets returns to Mar Menor, but drinking water may not be available until this ThursdayWater restrictions remain in place across Mar Menor towns after the contamination from DANA storm Alice, and authorities are now saying that drinking water may not be restored until midweek After more than a week of disruption following the.. 20/10/2025
Could this finally be the end of Daylight Savings Time? No more clock changes, says Spanish PMPedro Sánchez is ready to present a formal proposition to the EU to scrap the biannual time change altogether As the clocks prepare to fall back once again this weekend, Spain’s Prime Minister and President Pedro Sánchez has announced.. 20/10/2025
Gordon Strachan and Kenny Dalglish confirmed for European Senior Masters golf tournament at La Manga Club in association with Equals MoneyAn even bigger line-up of golfing greats and sporting legends has been confirmed for November 2025 Golf fans in the Region of Murcia are in for an unforgettable experience this autumn as the European Senior Masters, in association with Equals.. 20/10/2025
Thousands of homes in the Region of Murcia without drinking water after Dana AliceAround 100,000 people have been told the tap water in their homes is undrinkable following the floods at the weekend Dana Alice has left more than flooded roads for residents of Campo de Cartagena and further afield after tearing through the Region.. 17/10/2025
Los Alcázares requests compensation as water crisis enters its fifth dayThousands of Mar Menor residents and businesses were left without safe drinking water following DANA Alice flooding Several municipalities around the Mar Menor are entering their fifth day without safe drinking water following the devastating DANA.. 17/10/2025
Mar Menor experts partly blame farmers for contaminating water supplyThe Taibilla Canal Association believes that land "modification" caused a "mud tsunami" in San Javier A question has been circulating among residents in several municipalities of the Mar Menor ever since Dana Alice forced the authorities.. 16/10/2025
What does a lifetime health insurance policy involve? When considering health insurance, it is essential to understand the different types of coverage available, as this will help ensure personal wellbeing both in the short and long term. One of the most important aspects is lifetime coverage, which means.. 16/10/2025
Curry's Los Alcázares plans spectacular New Year's Eve celebration with live music, a set menu and fireworksThe Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice award-winning restaurant is laying on the party of the year for just €75 per person If you're looking for somewhere special to ring in 2026, Curry's Nepali and Indian Restaurant in Los Alcá.. 15/10/2025
Water restored to parts of the Mar Menor, but it's still not drinkableEfforts to fully restore water supply in San Javier, San Pedro and Los Alcázares are still underway Residents in parts of the Mar Menor have seen a partial restoration of their water supply following the severe flooding caused by Dana Alice.. 15/10/2025
Water completely cut in these Mar Menor towns on Tuesday October 14The Taibilla Canal Association has interrupted water supply to several municipalities in the Mar Menor following the passage of DANA Alice The town councils of San Pedro del Pinatar, Los Alcázares and San Javier have announced that the.. 14/10/2025
Half-price water and waste bills for pensioners and large families in Los AlcázaresAyuntamiento launches new discount scheme for essential services, with applications open until Wednesday December 31 Residents in Los Alcázares who are pensioners or part of large families could see their water, sewage, and rubbish collection bills.. 10/10/2025
Famous low-price Primaprix supermarket opens its first store in MurciaKnown for unbeatable brand discounts, the outlet chain expands to the Region of Murcia Murcia is welcoming its very first Primaprix supermarket, a store famous across Spain for offering top brands at incredibly low prices. Known beyond just a supermarket.. 09/10/2025
November 27 Free original version screening of Chaplin’s City Lights in Cartagena94 years after its release this Chaplin classic returns to Cartagena The Filmoteca Regional La Filmoteca Regional de Murcia is holding a new season of free screenings of classic movies in Cartagena this autumn, all at the Fundación Mediterráneo..
A huge variety of courses at the San Javier time bank 2025-16From Macrame to Spanish for foreigners, from yoga to ballroom dancing, broaden your horizons at the Banco del Tiempo in San Javier! The ever-popular “time bank” returns to the municipality of San Javier in November for its 21st season, an initiative..
