Cartagena beaches: Los Nietos

A long stretch of sand in Los Nietos at the southern end of the Mar Menor

The soft, naturally sandy beach of Los Nietos on the western shore of the Mar Menor stretches for 2.7 kilometres in front of the urban area of Los Nietos, averaging 15 metres in width.

Due to its position in front of the main residential area of this outlying district of the Cartagena municipality, it enjoys high occupation during the summer months, although winter visitors can enjoy virtual silence as many of the properties here are owned by residents of the cities of Murcia and Cartagena or further afield, who enjoy the area for their summer holidays.

This is a Mar Menor beach, enclosed within the protective circle of what is, essentially, Europe's largest saltwater lake, although it's often difficult to think of this as a lake as it is fed by the Mediterranean, and is on the Mediterranean coastline.

The Mar Menor is totally unique, its geographical peculiarities creating some of the best conditions in Spain for those learning watersports, particularly windsurfing and sailing.

Murcia is the warmest mainland region in Spain, and has an average temperature of 18 degrees, which makes it perfect for year-round watersports activity and bathers can enjoy the waters of the Mar Menor for most of the year. The water in the Mar Menor is not tidal and has no currents or waves, so is perfect for family bathing.

It has shallow fringes, which slope gently, and is only 7 metres deep in the centre, so the water temperature is warmer than that of the Mediterranean, particularly around the edges where it is possible to wade out 50 metres from the shore and still only be waist deep.

All of the beaches listed as Mar Menor beaches are inside the circle of the Mar Menor, which covers a surface area of nearly 170 square kilometres, with 70 kilometres of internal coastline, separated from the Mediterranean by a 22km long strip of land (the La Manga Strip as it's often referred to by foreign visitors, or La Manga del Mar Menor), which is connected to the Mediterranean via a canal channel, so sailing boats can sail between the Mar Menor and Mediterranean and the water retain its salinity.

The entire length of the beach is in the built-up area of Los Nietos, making it easy to find parking spaces outside the months of July and August. At the height of summer, though, the streets are as crowded as the beach itself, and it can be necessary to park some way from the sand. 

Behind the front line of residential properties are the shops, bars, restaurants and other amenities of the town, all of them within easy walking distance of the central part of the beach, close to the marina. 

In terms of facilities the beach of Los Nietos is fairly well served. Wooden walkways make access onto the sand easier, a lifeguard is on duty throughout the summer season, there is drinking water available, toilets, footwashes, bins, telephone, children's play area, and showers are also in operation throughout the summer.

Those with limited mobility will find wooden walkways a help, there are parking spaces reserved for those with disabilities, specially adapted changing rooms and toilets are available and volunteers are on hand to offer assisted bathing via an adapted bathing seat during peak months.

Sporting and sailing equipment is offered for hire, there is also leisure equipment available such as padeloes, and diving tuition can be contracted from here.

Access onto the beach is good, with no change in level and a pleasant promenade runs behind the beach.

For those approaching from elsewhere in the Region of Murcia the best route to Los Nietos is via the exit at kilometre 6 of the RM-12 motorway to La Manga, where it is clearly signposted: for further details see map.

Click for further information about Los Nietos.

Safety precautions for bathers
This is a Mar Menor beach and it is advisable to observe the following safety precautions when bathing:

Most of the Mar Menor beaches have very gently sloping shelves, meaning that bathers can walk a  considerable distance from the shore and still only be waist high in the water. These shore fringes are also very warm, heating up more than the deeper waters, or the Mediterranean coastline, particularly during the hot summer months.

Many beaches are also protected by netting to exclude jellyfish.

This creates safe bathing areas for families but also leads to a situation which can be life threatening, as the safety of the beaches results in many elderly bathers bathing alone.This in itself is not life threatening, but every year there are unnecessary deaths when bathers suffer a heart attack, stroke, faint or have a dizzy spell of some sort whilst bathing alone, slipping into the water without anybody else being aware that this has happened.

The transition from hot beach to cold water can shock the body, causing dizziness or fainting, so it is advisable to splash the body with water to cool down before wading out into the Mar Menor or Mediterranean.

Even though there are lifeguards, accidents happen and every year there are unnecessary fatalities, the simple rule being if you have a medical condition, are taking medication, or are of advanced age, don´t bathe alone, no matter how shallow and calm the water is.

And for all ages, a red flag means do not bathe, particularly on the Mediterranean beaches.

Click for introduction to the Cartagena beaches

Click for more information about the Cartagena municipality