The climate makes Murcia a perfect winter destination for lovers of the great outdoors including golfers, divers, water sports, rambling and cycling

The Region of Murcia is far from being just a summer destination, and the range of sporting activities available all year round – including during the winter – continues to make it an attractive destination for active outdoor tourism throughout the cooler months of the year.

For many people sport is a kind of personal therapy, and the following are just some of the activities on offer in the natural environment of the Costa Cálida during the first few months of the year!

Golf in the Costa Cálida

There are 22 golf courses in the Region of Murcia, offering a wide range of opportunities to enjoy the journey from tee to green in the friendly climate, which boasts sunshine on over 300 days of the year as well as an average annual temperature of 19ºC.

Most of the courses are relatively close to the coasts of the Mediterranean and the Mar Menor, with a fair number dotted around the city of Murcia, and one of the best places to be based is probably Real Golf La Manga Club. The prestigious resort includes three 18-hole courses, one of which is widely acclaimed as being among the best in Spain, and at the end of a long day on the course there are few more agreeable sights than the sunset over the Mar Menor.

Other prestigious courses include the Nicklaus Signature course of Condado de Alhama and the long and testing holes of Hacienda del Álamo, while the remainder offer a great variety of challenges to all levels of player!

Sailing in the Costa Cálida

For fans of water sports Murcia is a must-visit destination, with incredible locations and facilities throughout the year making it a privileged place to sail and enjoy the challenges of kitesurfing and other disciplines.

Particularly in the Mar Menor, the largest saltwater lagoon in Europe, the local climate makes 365-days-a-year sailing a genuine possibility, with 170 square kilometres of warm, shallow and generally calm water. This is the perfect place to enjoy paddle surf, windsurfing, sailing, canoeing and the like, and leave behind the stress of daily life as you make your way around the lagoon.

For slightly stiffer challenges, the recommendation is to head further south-west to Águilas and Mazarrón. Here the Mediterranean charm of the seaside towns will win you over right from the off, with the water sports perfectly complemented by the local gastronomy and spectacular landscape!

Winter diving in the Costa Cálida

Adventurous divers will already know that the Region of Murcia is considered one of the best diving areas in Europe, with the friendly climate offset by some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean. Along the Costa Cálida there are 17 official dive centres, offering everything from initial dive “baptisms” to courses designed by and for professionals, allowing you to develop as a diver while at the same time discovering some of the most fascinating sights and features of the underwater coastline.

The Region also boasts two protected marine reserves, Cabo Tiñosos and Cabo de Palos - Islas Hormigas, both of them being areas of outstanding natural beauty and bound to leave you anxious to learn more about Murcia. In fact, this is one of the areas with the highest concentrations of shipwrecks in the Mediterranean: find out about the, see them for yourself and you’ll be as happy as a fish in water as you explore the Posidonia seagrass meadows…

Download the regional tourist board’s diving guide here…

Get active in the Region of Murcia

If you’re one of those who find themselves caught between the attractions of land, water and fresh air, don’t worry: the Region of Murcia can offer you the best of all three worlds!

You can forget about the stress of the daily routine in pure natural surroundings, with a host of outdoor activities both on the coast and inland. There are as many as 22 protected nature reserves in the Region, so what are you waiting for? Get out there and explore them!

For cycling in the mountains, probably your favourite venue will be the Regional Park of Sierra Espuña, where deep ravines and canyons and a wide range of cycling routes are hidden beneath the foliage of the largest forest in the Region of Murcia. Two-wheeled exploration could hardly be more exhilarating!

Or maybe you prefer rambling and walking? Well, combine this with a visit to the Regional Park of Calblanque and enjoy a memorable sunset over the wild beaches in this unspoilt stretch of the Mediterranean coastline!

Or you could even get a bird’s eye view of the Region of Murcia by climbing up to spots such as the Cresta del Gallo, in the park of El Valle just outside the city of Murcia: the highest point is 523 metres above sea level, almost half a kilometre above the regional capital, and the views are a phenomenal reminder of how easy it is to take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life.

 

These are just a few of the experiences you can enjoy in the Region of Murcia as you enjoy physical exercise all year round, even in the coolest months of the year!

Source: Regional tourist board of the Region of Murcia (ITREM)

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