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Date Published: 26/08/2026

Blue zone parking could be extended every summer in La Manga and Cabo de Palos

Cartagena City Council is considering more seasonal paid parking to tackle the huge increase in visitors during summer

Cartagena City Council is considering expanding blue-zone parking in La Manga and Cabo de Palos and making it a regular summer measure as authorities look for ways to tackle the area's chronic parking problems.

Blue-zone parking already exists in parts of the two areas, but the proposal now being studied would see regulated parking extended to additional locations during the summer season. The exact areas and conditions have yet to be decided.

The aim is to increase the turnover of available spaces, preventing cars from occupying prime parking spots for long periods during the busiest months of June, July and August.

Carlos de Haro, president of the La Manga Municipal Board, said the measure would help ensure that spaces are used by more people throughout the day.

"This measure would ensure turnover; cars park and leave, they can't stay in the paid zone for too long," he explained.

The issue has become increasingly difficult as the population of La Manga and Cabo de Palos changes dramatically during the summer. Cabo de Palos, including the Calaflores area, has around 1,800 registered residents, but the population can rise to approximately 30,000 during the summer.

La Manga sees an even more dramatic increase, with around 5,300 permanent residents across the Cartagena and San Javier sections but between 250,000 and 300,000 people visiting the area during the summer.

"The seasonal increase is enormous and the space is what it is," Mr De Haro said, pointing out that there is little scope to simply create more room for cars.

The proposed expansion of the blue zone would therefore be aimed at making existing parking spaces more accessible by encouraging vehicles to move on rather than remaining parked for much of the day.

Importantly, the proposal is for a seasonal system rather than year-round paid parking. Mr De Haro said keeping the blue zone in operation outside the summer months could ultimately harm local residents, when the pressure on parking is much lower.

The plans could also include green areas and parking spaces reserved specifically for residents, although the details of how this would work have not yet been determined.

The possibility of extending regulated parking has already been raised by businesses in La Manga. In June, local traders called for blue-zone parking to be extended into the area as they highlighted the growing pressure on parking spaces during the summer. The businesses argued that clearer parking rules could help improve turnover and make it easier for customers to find spaces.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena

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