Mar de Cristal
Mar de Cristal, or ‘Crystal Sea’, is a residential and holiday resort, situated a short distance from the famous La Manga Resort, in the province of Murcia. Situated on the Costa Calida, the area is known for its excellent safe beaches, crystal clear waters, excellent golf facilities and relaxed atmosphere.
Situated along the Mar Menor, a beautiful and natural salty lagoon that lies along the Mediterranean Sea, Mar de Cristal is an ideal destination for those looking for a beach, golf or simply relaxing holiday in beautiful surroundings.
The location
Mar de Cristal is situated close to the famous La Manga resort, an award winning luxury resort, offering golf, tennis, spa, fitness, gastronomy and much more. The facilities of La Manga Beach Club open to non-residents and a visit is a must. You can stay all day and enjoy their beach facilities, pool, bars and restaurants.
The La Manga coastal strip is also home to many bars and restaurants. Mar de Cristal has its own delightful promenade and marina, where you will find some delicious dining options. For more choice, both for eating out and shopping amenities, the towns of El Algar and Los Belones are close by, as is the main harbour city of Cartagena.
For some amazing seafood head to the little fishing village of Cabo de Palos, which boasts to have some of the best seafood restaurants in the Murcia region.
Beaches
Mar de Cristal is situated along some of the finest and safest beaches in Murcia. The safe and crystal clear waters of the Mar Menor are ideal for families with small children, but also for water sports enthusiasts: sailing, scuba diving, kite and windsurfing, are all available in the local area.
Places to visit
La Manga Beach Club and Golf are worth a day trip or more. Golf enthusiasts couldn’t hope for a better location, with La Manga, Villamartin, Campoamor and Las Ramblas courses all within a short drive.
Visit the old port city of Cartagena, if you want to find out a bit more about the history of the region of Murcia. The city has its own Roman Amphitheatre and lots of cultural attractions. It’s also a great place to head for a shopping trip.
If you want to get out and explore the great outdoors, then visit the Sierra de Carrascoy national park, which is just 25 minutes drive. Closer to hand is the Calblanque and Salinas bird sanctuary, which is just 5 minutes away from Mar de Cristal.
Cuisine
The plains of Murcia are incredibly fertile, and produce a vast array of fresh fruit and vegetables, which make up the base ingredients of the regions cuisine. Rice is also staple here, and finds it's way into many dishes.
The abundant and varied seafood from the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean, along with game and farmed meat from the mountains complete the picture.
Some typical dishes include: Arroz y Conejo (rice with rabbit), Arroz de Verduras (Rice and Vegetables), Arroz y Costillejas (rice and ribs), Arroz Marinero (seafood rice) and Paella Huertana, a vegetable paella.
Non-rice dishes specialities include Potaje, a rich stew dish; Menestra, a dish of sautéed vegetables; Habas con jamón" (ham and broad beans and Caldo Murciano, a local soup dish. The king prawns fished in the area are also particularly fine, and the Huevas de Mújol, a type of caviar, is also a high delicacy of the region.
Climate
Mar de Cristal enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, with cool sea breezes in summer and protection from the surrounding mountains against the cold North winds in winter. The area averages nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine each year and the average temperature easily exceeds 20 degrees.
In 1986 the World Health Organisation recommended the climate of the area as one of the most equitable in the world - neither too hot in the summer nor too cold in the winter. On average it can boast 325 sunny days each year making it an ideal all year round destination.