THING'S TO DO AND WHAT'S ON IN MURCIA

There are three main beach areas, each with their own characters. The Mar Menor beach is sandy and leads to the calm, very warm La Manga del Mar Menor lagoon. The Mediterranean side of La Manga strip is on the Eastern coast of the region, and has a sandy beach leading to the open sea. The final beach is on the Southerly coast. The landscape is different, the beach is still but many beaches are surrounded by rocky areas.

Two seas surround the coastline - the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean which has impressive cliffs and great beaches of endless white sand, lively ports and wild coves with crystal clear water. The La Manga area enjoys more than 3,000 hours of sunshine each year and mild temperatures, even during the winter, with a yearly average temperature of more than 18C. This area is known as the Costa Calida, as is the ideal place to spend some days relaxing both in winter and summer.

From the fishing town of Aguilas to the white dunes of the beach of El Mojon in San Pedro del Pinatar, stretch kilometre after kilometre of beaches and deserted coves. In addition, there are delightful picturesque fishing villages, like La Azohia or Cabo de Palos where you can lose yourself for a few days there are aslo ports like the one in Mazarron where you can spend a lively evening and enjoy its magnificent gastronomy, there are also areas of natural beauty, unique in the whole Mediterranean, at the beaches of Calblanque one of the most highly rated areas in the Mediterranean. La Manga del Mar Menor is a paradise between two seas with infinite beaches, sandy sea beds and crystalline waters, which all help to make La Manga Club one of the worlds great resorts in southern Spain and La Manga.

Water sports enthusiasts will find La Manga del mar Menor of the best places in the world for practising sailing, canoeing, swimming, water-skiing, jet skiing, windsurfing, catamaranning, kite surfing and every other type of water sport activity in its numerous clubs, ports and sailing and diving schools.

Horse riding is just one of many activities that can be done whilst at La Torre. The stable yard is in the local town of Los Belones which is no more than a few minutes drive from La Torre Golf. The name of the horse ridng stables is Rancho de la Fuente.

There are about 60 horses available for adults to ride which are mainly Andalucian horses and there are Shetland ponies available for children, although there are many breeds of horses including Donkeys, Shetland ponies and Arabian horses at the horse riding stables.

Lessons are also available for the novice rider at Rancho de la Fuente. Lessons include walking, trotting and maybe cantering if the rider feels that he or she is ready. Mountain and beach hacks are also available but they contain more intense riding so novice and less experienced riders should consider lessons in the sand based menage. All horse riding hacks are accompanied by at least 2 lead riders that are trained in the case of an emergency. Lead reign lessons and mini hacks are available for children, these would last between 15 minutes and 1/2 an hour.

The most popular hack is the mountain hack which lasts between 1 - 2 hours. For most of the way it is walking and trotting and can involve some cantering and the horses can become excited. The leaders take you up and round the beautiful Murcian mountains which provide some breathtaking views and scenery and brings you back to the yard. This can be achieved entirely off road and away from traffic and cars.

The second type of hack is the beach hack which lasts between 3 - 4 hours. This hack is not for the novice horse rider. Like the mountain hack most of the way it is walking and trotting until you reach the beach when you gallop up and down the sand 4 or 5 times. It is an amazing feeling and the horses love to swim in the sea at the end. 3 leaders go on this hack, as generally more people go on the hack. Most of the beach hacks is off road but some of it is on road as you leave and arrive back at the horse riding stables. All of the horses are completely road safe.

The beach hack is very popular and the beautiful Andalucian horses will carry you through some beautiful areas of of the beaten track, through the Calblanque National Park, through to wide and expansive beach areas which allow you to enjoy a gallop along the beach.

The best way to book hacks and horse riding lessons is to go to the yard and have a chat with the owner about what is a good time for you and she would organise everything else. The group size on each hack and lesson would depend on the demand for each hack but usually there are between 4 and 8 people on a hack, and in a lesson there are usually between 2 and 4 people or you can of course arrange private individual horse riding lessons.

La Torre Golf is the ideal location for a bowling holiday in Spain.

There are 2 bowling clubs nearby where you can play bowls in the gloriuos Spanish sun.

Country Bowls BC, recently constructed, is located in an unspoilt rural area in the province of Murcia. The nearest centres of population are Cartagena, Murcia province and Torrevieja, Alcante province. The green has 8 rinks laid by Greengauge to a very high standard. Country Bowls Murcia

La Manga Bowls Club is just one of many sporting facilities that make up La Manga Club. 5 miles from the Mar Menor (huge seawater lagoon) separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a 15 miles long sandbank now turned into a major Spanish holiday area and known here as La Manga Strip. Right on the exit from the motorway there is the village of Los Belones. The nearest town Cartagena is 25 kms away, and the capital Murcia City approx 45 miles both connected by motorways. La Manga Bowls Murcia

Murcia and the Costa Calida does not at the moment have any theme parks within the region, the nearest theme park is Terra Mitica in Benidorm, about 1 hours drive north

Terra Mitica is an excellent day out for those who like theme parks, and druing the summer months they have a waterpark open as well.

For families with young children under 5 you will find that most of the rides are not suitable for them, but there are many other events happening there throughout the day to keep them entertained.

Get there early to catch the parades, and make a day of it and wait until the end of the day for the spectacular music and fireworks display.

La Torre Golf is the ideal location for a watersports holiday in Spain.

Located 10 minutes from the spectacular Mar Menor on the Costa Calida, this salt water lagoon, the largest in Europe, offers perfect conditions for the watersport vacation lover.

A water sport holiday at La Torre offers scuba diving trips for those travelling to Spain on vacation. The beaches of the Mar Menor on the Costa Calida offer the scuba diving vacation experience that will make you want to come back again and again. Clear blue seas and calm warm water make it an ideal location for all you diving enthusiasts.

La Torre Golf is the ideal location for a Go Kart holiday in Spain.

There are 2 go kart centres nearby where you can go gokarting in the gloriuos Spanish sun.

La Manga Racing, is dedicated to the world of competition. In it, the pilots have at their disposal the greatest possible assistance and technical staff with more experienced mechanics, with numerous championships in Spain and Until karting world behind them.