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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.
Storm Adam floods homes and roads along the Murcia coastLa Manga and San Pedro del Pinatar among the worst-hit areas after intense rainfall leaves streets flooded and traffic unable to pass Heavy rain and thunderstorms caused flooding across the Murcia Region over the weekend, with coastal towns bearing.. 23/10/2026
Murcia fashion chain Inside opens door to rival takeover bidsPotential buyers have until November 4 to make an offer for the retailer, which already has a proposal that would protect more than 950 jobs The future of Inside, the clothing chain owned by Murcia-based Liwe Española, remains undecided.. 23/10/2026
Renfe changes the rules for Murcia train passengers from DecemberThe changes will affect regional and longer-distance trains linking Murcia and Cartagena with Alicante and Valencia, with new travel rules coming into force on December 12 Anyone who regularly travels by train between Murcia, Cartagena, Alicante.. 23/10/2026
Caravaca pig farm expansion sparks fears over Murcia’s water suppliesEnvironmental campaigners challenge plans to increase a local farm’s capacity to 6,000 pigs, calling for a regional halt to further intensive livestock developments A proposed expansion of a pig farm in Caravaca de la Cruz has prompted calls.. 23/10/2026
Murcia president warns of ‘covert closure’ of vital water transferThe suspension of water deliveries following two canal breaks threatens supplies for farms and homes across the Region The suspension of water deliveries through the Tajo-Segura transfer could cost the Region of Murcia €260 million and put.. 22/10/2026
Murcia house prices top €120,000 as Mar Menor rents climbTorre Pacheco is the region’s most expensive municipality, while Archena remains among Spain’s most affordable places to buy Buying a home in the Region of Murcia has become noticeably more expensive. The average price in its larger municipalities.. 22/10/2026
Murcia Region sees smoking fall to its lowest level as obesity rates remain highThe latest national health survey reveals a record fall in daily smoking, but the Region of Murcia has the third-highest adult obesity rate in Spain Fewer people in the Region of Murcia are smoking every day than at any point since records began.. 21/10/2026
Landslide brings down old wall on Cabo de Palos coastlineHeavy rain is blamed for the collapse of a deteriorating concrete wall along the planned Sendero Azul coastal walking route An old wall has collapsed on the Cabo de Palos coastline following heavy rain, raising questions about the condition of.. 21/10/2026
Murcia Region rental prices pass €800 a month for the first timeTenants face average monthly rents of €801 as 45 people compete for each advertised property and the number of homes available continues to fall Renting a home in the Region of Murcia has become more expensive than ever, with average monthly.. 20/10/2026
Mar Menor seahorse gets long-awaited vulnerable status after a 20-year campaignThe decision follows years of underwater surveys by Asociación Hippocampus and means the Murcia Region must draw up a plan to help protect the threatened species After nearly 20 years spent counting seahorses beneath the waters of the Mar.. 20/10/2026
Murcia coast hit by more flooding as 13 people are rescued from AP-7 tunnelHeavy rain overnight leaves streets underwater in San Pedro del Pinatar and Los Alcázares, where two schools have suspended classes Storm Adam brought more flooding to the Costa Cálida on Monday night October 19, with streets underwater.. 20/10/2026
Murcia weather forecast October 19-22: Yellow weather warnings as rain continues after weekend stormsAEMET warns of further heavy showers in parts of the Region on Monday after a weekend of flooding, with temperatures set to climb back to 26°C from Tuesday The Region of Murcia is facing another day of unsettled weather on Monday October 19.. 19/10/2026
Foreign homebuyers pull back from Spain as property prices continue to climbOverseas property purchases fell as Spain's property market cools following the end of the Golden Visa scheme Foreign buyers are purchasing fewer homes in Spain, but those who do are paying increasingly high prices. New figures from Spain.. 16/10/2026
Murcia photo of the month October 2026Here’s the October image of the month taken by the Los Alcázares Digital Camera Club (LADCC) Those of us old enough may recall that there were times when photographs were only black and white. Colour didn’t start to become..
Murcia economy to keep growing faster than the national averageThe Region of Murcia is forecast to create around 12,000 jobs a year for the next three years, with construction and services leading the way The Region of Murcia is expected to keep growing faster than the national average over the next three.. 15/10/2026
Segura water reserves fall below half capacity as autumn beginsThe basin holds 557 hm³ of water, but is in a much better position than a year ago, with heavy rain forecast this weekend Water levels in the Segura basin have fallen below half their total capacity for the first time in 2026, as the.. 15/10/2026
