Costa Calida overview
Sometimes regarded as part of the Costa Blanca, the Costa Calida ("Hot Coast") refers to the seaboard of the Murcia region and includes a few small resorts East and West of the historic city of Cartagena. This region is located between the provinces of Valencia and Andalucia and the coast is a remote, thinly populated area where the mountains reach right down to the sea. The Mar Menor, a vast saltwater lagoon almost cut off from the sea, dominates the area. The narrow spit of land separating the lagoon from the Mediterranean is known as La Manga ("The Sleeve") and is the main tourist area of the region. The airport is at San Javier, 20 mls North of Cartagena.