Along the Los Alcázares shore you can walk from one beach to the next without ever leaving sand behind you. They all face the lagoon, so they all share the same unusual qualities: shallow, warm, and almost completely still.
Read the water
The beaches differ mainly in how sheltered they are. The most enclosed corners, like the small curve at El Espejo, hold water so still that it barely ripples, which is why they are first choice for small children. The more open stretches, further along towards Manzanares, catch the afternoon breeze and draw the windsurfers.
Read the time of day
In the morning, the western shore is in soft light and the water is at its calmest. By mid-afternoon the breeze picks up and the surface becomes livelier. In August, the sensible pattern is early swim, long lunch indoors, and a return in the evening when the light softens again.
A coast that changes character
Because the lagoon is enclosed, the beaches here have none of the drama of the open Mediterranean. There are no big waves to watch and no surf to fight. What you get instead is something rarer: water you can walk into slowly, and stay in for an hour.
If you want the other coast — the rocky headlands, the deep water and the bigger seas — Cabo de Palos and Calblanque are a day trip away, and they feel like a different country.
Where to stay
Casa Brisa Marina
Casa Brisa Marina is an apartment for six in Los Alcázares, with a terrace, a balcony and shared use of the pool.
