La Manga holidays

This stunning spit of land in southern Spain has everything you need for a great sunshine break. ...

Holidays in La Manga are something special. La Manga del Mar Menor (to give it its full title), or ‘The Sandbar of the Minor Sea', is a coastal spit in the region of Murcia on the sun-drenched Costa Calida, which is close to the Costa Blanca. Its long and narrow mass has been steadily developed over the years to become a destination crammed with high-rise hotels, top restaurants and holiday amenities. Wherever you stay, you shouldn't have a problem getting a sea-view room in La Manga: the strip boasts cream and gold Mediterranean Sea beaches on both sides.

La Manga holidays can be taken in one of the hotels on the spit or amid the lush hills that look down upon this unique seascape. Inland hotels offer easy access to the golf courses that attract so many sporty types to the area. The famous La Manga Club Resort is a sporting mecca for amateurs and professionals, while there are also lots of other activities, especially water-based sports, on offer around La Manga del Mar Menor.

Those taking La Manga breaks will usually fly into Murcia Airport or Alicante Airport, with transfers to their hotel of choice. Consider booking car hire, with collection at the airport, to save money on the cost of transfers and to get about with ease. The ancient Roman city of Cartagena is just half an hour by road from La Manga, while beautiful Murcia can be reached in 45 minutes. These two cities alone make car hire worthwhile for exciting day trips, though you'll also want to delve into the local beach scene when you have four wheels at your disposal.

Stay in one of the many self-catering apartments on the spit or opt for a hotel that provides breakfast. Half-board and all-inclusive stays are popular here too. La Manga all-inclusive hotels usually offer high levels of service and luxurious facilities for guests who want their holidays neatly packaged under one roof.

Use TravelSupermarket to search for La Manga breaks and you can compare prices on a wide range of holiday deals - all you have to do is choose. Using our search tool can also assist you in finding cheap car-hire deals or low prices on extras such as airport parking and travel insurance.

Read our La Manga climate guide to figure out when to book your next Spanish break

It's no surprise that sporty types book winter training here in La Manga, as mild weather prevails from November to March (daytime temperatures range from 16-20C) with little rainfall.

From May onwards, the mercury rises beyond 20C, with summer peaks in July and August of around 30C.

Lounge by the pool or on the sands if you wish, but there are plenty of things to see in La Manga when you fancy a change of pace

Kids and teens: Mar Menor is the largest salty lagoon in Europe and its water can be accessed from almost anywhere in La Manga. The water temperature remains higher in the lagoon than it does in the sea on the other side of the spit, so families can splash about all day, especially in summer and autumn, without feeling the chill.

Relaxing: Towards the northern end of the spit is swanky Tomas Maestre Marina. Find a suitably chic bar, take a seat, and witness the majesty of the sun setting over Mar Menor.

Active types: The calm waters of Mar Menor are ideal for beginners having a go at windsurfing, water skiing, sailing, canoeing or one of the many other activities available.

What's on in La Manga

From games on the football field to bloody battles from the past, attend any of these annual events to get a feel for southern Spain

La Manga Cup; February: Footballing nations with a summer season, such as the United States and Sweden, send teams to this long-running tournament. Matches are held at La Manga Stadium - a training base for the hugely successful Spanish national side.

L Fest Del Mar; May-June: Beach parties and live music are the mainstays of this event, which is the Spanish sidekick to the UK's L Fest – the annual Lesbian Music, Arts and Comedy Festival.

Festival of Carthaginians and Romans in Cartagena; September: Find out more about the history of the age-old city of Cartagena at this annual banquet of re-enactments. From bloody battles to weddings and marches, you'll get a snapshot of history in just a few fun-filled hours. This city by the sea is less than half an hour by road from La Manga.