San Pedro del Pinatar travel information and video

San Pedro del Pinatar

San Pedro del Pinatar is located on the Mar Menor, the natural lagoon created by the La Manga strip, on the Mediterranean Costa Calida, at the northern border of Murcia with Alicante.. The town is a fishing port, as well as a magnate for tourism.

San Pedro del Pinatar is 46 kilometres from Murcia and 87 kilometres from Alicante. The International Airport Murcia San Javier is just 15 minutes drive.

Beaches
There are some absolutely fantastic beaches in and around the town of San Pedro del Pinatar. Drive out to the dunes of Playa de la Torre Derribada and Llana beach, where there is a sports harbour and a restaurant, along with ample parking. From here the views of the distant mountains, the Mediterranean and the Mar Menor, and La Manga are excellent. Stay till the early evening to enjoy the amazing sunset.

Leisure & recreation

Water sports can be enjoyed at Mojon, and the sports harbour at Las Salinas.

The town itself has excellent sports facilities including tennis and paddle. Hire a bike and enjoy the local scenery as you peddle lazily along the flat quiet roads. Runners and walkers alike will enjoy the promenade and beaches for their chosen activity.


The Saltmill of Quintin located on the "Playa de la Mota" used to take water from the Mar Menor to the salt-works. A modern pump next to it has overtaken its function. You can see the flamingos feeding amongst the reeds on the salt flats.

Golf
Villamartin and Campoamar courses are close by for excellent, challenging, good value golf. For an exclusive treat go down to the world famous La Manga club to enjoy a round on one of the three fabulously manicured courses there.

Markets
The Mercadillo de Artesania “El Sal” is a periodic market (check with the tourist office when you are there as the days change according to season); an arts and craft (including musical instruments) market which takes place in Parque de los Reyes de España y Explanada de Lo Pagán.

The main market takes place every Monday.

Shopping
The centre of San Pedro del Pinatar has plenty of shops, boutiques, and banks. For international shopping head for Murcia.

Excursions
Take a trip to Cartagena for its history and architecture. Try Murcia for its excellent cultural offering, such as museums and live theatre.

Hire a car and lose yourselves in the alluring countryside and mountains of the region.



Nightlife
There are several of the bars in town that are lively until the early hours. There are also several discotheques for the young and young at heart.

Eating out
There are many local restaurants offering the fine cuisine of the region alongside a number of places offering international fare.

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 delicious vegetarian 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.

Many desserts and cakes, often based on the local almonds, are made here. Try the famous “Jijona” ice-creams which are still made traditionally and have genuine “Nougat” ice-cream, also made with the almonds of the region.

The fine wines from Jumilla and Yecla are known throughout Spain and beyond for their earthy, full bodied, rounded, fruity flavours.

Climate
San Pedro del Pinatar enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, with cool sea breezes in summer and protection by 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