La Manzana Guidebook
Food scene
Bar los tres Pacos
14 C. Don Florencio FlorencianoFantastic tapas, friendly staff, great prices
Bar PORTUS MAGNUS
9 P.º Miguel Santana-PortmanBeautiful Views of the park, great tapas, good prices, friendly staff
Amazing Rice dishes, people travel from distances to visit, friendly staff, great food
CASA CEGARRA E HIJOS
17 Paseo de ColonAmazing Rice dishes, people travel from distances to visit, friendly staff, great food
El Cubano Portman
Fantastic freshly caught fish and seafood, amazing views
20 minutes from Portman is Playa Cortina beach cove, with stunning white sands and a restaurant called Mares Bravas, which serves locally caught sea food at very reasonable prices, you can dine and watch the sunset and the waves crashing on the rugged rocks, only 5 minutes’ drive from the city of Cartagena.
21 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Wild Sea Resaturant
20 minutes from Portman is Playa Cortina beach cove, with stunning white sands and a restaurant called Mares Bravas, which serves locally caught sea food at very reasonable prices, you can dine and watch the sunset and the waves crashing on the rugged rocks, only 5 minutes’ drive from the city of Cartagena.
Neighborhoods
Cartagena is a 15 minute drive from the apartment, this city is steeped with Roman History, with yachts of all values and sizes, it’s a popular place for the Mediterranean cruise ships to dock for the day for a cosmopolitan shopping experience. A wonderful place for various museums, and for an array of restaurants and bars, you can meander through the city centre on the beautiful marble tiled floors and marvel at the architecture.
360 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cartagena
Cartagena is a 15 minute drive from the apartment, this city is steeped with Roman History, with yachts of all values and sizes, it’s a popular place for the Mediterranean cruise ships to dock for the day for a cosmopolitan shopping experience. A wonderful place for various museums, and for an array of restaurants and bars, you can meander through the city centre on the beautiful marble tiled floors and marvel at the architecture.
Twenty minutes from the apartment you will find the beautiful harbour town of Cabo de Palos, with its stunning marina surrounded by sea food restaurants and bars, you can sit at any of the bars and restaurants and watch the most amazing sunset. The most outstanding landmark in the town is the lighthouse, which came into service in 1865 at the top of the promontory and is a must for anyone visiting Cabo de Palos. The sea bed is of an extraordinary beauty in which someone can undertake shallow and simple dives, ideal for scuba diving and snorkelling. The weekly market is held at Centro Comercial Las Dunas every Sunday morning 8.30 until 2 pm.
Calle Cabo de Palos
Calle Cabo de PalosTwenty minutes from the apartment you will find the beautiful harbour town of Cabo de Palos, with its stunning marina surrounded by sea food restaurants and bars, you can sit at any of the bars and restaurants and watch the most amazing sunset. The most outstanding landmark in the town is the lighthouse, which came into service in 1865 at the top of the promontory and is a must for anyone visiting Cabo de Palos. The sea bed is of an extraordinary beauty in which someone can undertake shallow and simple dives, ideal for scuba diving and snorkelling. The weekly market is held at Centro Comercial Las Dunas every Sunday morning 8.30 until 2 pm.
Los Alcazares is located on the shores of the Mar Menor; the Mar Menor is a huge coastal lagoon which is 170 km2 of warm salt water, separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a stretch of land 24 km long called The La Manga Strip, famous for its many bars and restaurants. The Mar Menor is the perfect inland sea for safe bathing and warm waters, with an 8 km stretch of sandy beaches. Los Alcazares is a walker’s paradise with a beautiful promenade stretching from the south to the north of the resort. Within that promenade walk is the famous La Encarnacion restaurant/Hotel built in 1904, this was the first Mediterranean resort to be built in the Mar Menor, a must visit restaurant, the hotel has 37 historic rooms, and the original spa baths which can be viewed, beautiful sea views from the restaurant, also part of the same hotel you will see, just across the beach a unique dining experience called “San Antonio – Floor over the Sea” restaurant, this serves seafood from 9am until 9pm every day, during the summer open later in the evening. The 525 plaza is famous for its nightlife, with bars, restaurants and nightlife. Within the area of Los Alcazares and the Mar Menor are some notable beaches and promenade bays worth a visit, including, Santiago de la Ribera, Lo Pagan, Estrella de Mar and Mar de Cristal.
56 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Los Alcázares
Los Alcazares is located on the shores of the Mar Menor; the Mar Menor is a huge coastal lagoon which is 170 km2 of warm salt water, separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a stretch of land 24 km long called The La Manga Strip, famous for its many bars and restaurants. The Mar Menor is the perfect inland sea for safe bathing and warm waters, with an 8 km stretch of sandy beaches. Los Alcazares is a walker’s paradise with a beautiful promenade stretching from the south to the north of the resort. Within that promenade walk is the famous La Encarnacion restaurant/Hotel built in 1904, this was the first Mediterranean resort to be built in the Mar Menor, a must visit restaurant, the hotel has 37 historic rooms, and the original spa baths which can be viewed, beautiful sea views from the restaurant, also part of the same hotel you will see, just across the beach a unique dining experience called “San Antonio – Floor over the Sea” restaurant, this serves seafood from 9am until 9pm every day, during the summer open later in the evening. The 525 plaza is famous for its nightlife, with bars, restaurants and nightlife. Within the area of Los Alcazares and the Mar Menor are some notable beaches and promenade bays worth a visit, including, Santiago de la Ribera, Lo Pagan, Estrella de Mar and Mar de Cristal.
Sightseeing
Fifteen minutes from La Manzana is the Experiencia 43 Factory/Museum, where you can discover all the secrets of the Number One Spanish liquor, with a guided tour available in five different languages. The tour takes approximately 90 minutes, and consists of a visit of the museum and factory, and a cocktail presentation and tasting. The entrance fee is 14€ per person, however the factory is not operational during the weekends. Visits generally are 10 am or midday. You can book via email at experiencia43@zamoracompany.com.
Experiencia 43
10 C. Silicio P.I.los CamachFifteen minutes from La Manzana is the Experiencia 43 Factory/Museum, where you can discover all the secrets of the Number One Spanish liquor, with a guided tour available in five different languages. The tour takes approximately 90 minutes, and consists of a visit of the museum and factory, and a cocktail presentation and tasting. The entrance fee is 14€ per person, however the factory is not operational during the weekends. Visits generally are 10 am or midday. You can book via email at experiencia43@zamoracompany.com.
Ten minutes away from the apartment you will find Playa Calblanque, the protected natural beach of high landscape value. This beach is located within the regional park Parque Regional de Calblanque, which is home to an abundance of unusual wildlife, one of the best preserved unspoilt natural landscapes on the coast. Its enormous natural wealth is based on its arid mountains, its long, ochre and golden-coloured beaches as well as its lovely coves, the formation of its fossil dunes, its white salt lakes and its mountain massifs, which contrast with the blue sea. This is perfect for nature lovers, hikers and beach lovers. We have visited Calblanque and it is a stunning place, a tip would be a picnic on the beach.
25 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Calblanque Beaches
Ten minutes away from the apartment you will find Playa Calblanque, the protected natural beach of high landscape value. This beach is located within the regional park Parque Regional de Calblanque, which is home to an abundance of unusual wildlife, one of the best preserved unspoilt natural landscapes on the coast. Its enormous natural wealth is based on its arid mountains, its long, ochre and golden-coloured beaches as well as its lovely coves, the formation of its fossil dunes, its white salt lakes and its mountain massifs, which contrast with the blue sea. This is perfect for nature lovers, hikers and beach lovers. We have visited Calblanque and it is a stunning place, a tip would be a picnic on the beach.
An important area north of the Mar Menor is the regional park of Las Salinas Y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar, every summer it plays home for the Pink Flamingos travelling to north Africa, they occupy the salt ponds and pine forest dunes and Saline grounds off this park, San Pedro is also famous for its salt marshes visited by thousands of tourists every year who smother themselves in salty mud from the salt march pool for the healing qualities within. There is a road leading up to the marina, and the point where the Mediterranean meets the Mar Menor, lovely dunes and beaches with plenty of restaurants and bars, one notable restaurant being the MardeSal, very up market, but reasonable prices. Also a visit to the Marina is a delight.
94 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar
An important area north of the Mar Menor is the regional park of Las Salinas Y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar, every summer it plays home for the Pink Flamingos travelling to north Africa, they occupy the salt ponds and pine forest dunes and Saline grounds off this park, San Pedro is also famous for its salt marshes visited by thousands of tourists every year who smother themselves in salty mud from the salt march pool for the healing qualities within. There is a road leading up to the marina, and the point where the Mediterranean meets the Mar Menor, lovely dunes and beaches with plenty of restaurants and bars, one notable restaurant being the MardeSal, very up market, but reasonable prices. Also a visit to the Marina is a delight.
A 50 minute drive from Portman is a lovely port village called La Azohia, with fabulous views across the bay of Puerto de Mazarron, here you will find a lovely walk around the bay lined with palm trees and bars and restaurants. La Azohia connects to Isla Plana in the same bay, Isla Plana also has many bars and restaurants overlooking the bay, stunning scenery.
Five minutes around the bay from La Azohia you will find the wonderful resort of Puerto de Mazarron, a beautiful golden sandy beach, Palm tree lined promenade taking you to the beautiful crystal clear watered Marina with shoals of fish, the marina is surrounded by world cuisine restaurants, lots of bars. Definitely worth a visit.
The gun batteries at Cabo Tinosa, La Azohia, between Mazarron and Cartagena are two battery emplacements which are well worth a visit whether you have any interest in military history or not. Offering stunning views, interesting architecture and the fabulous 20 metre great guns which overlook the sea and make wonderful holiday photographs. They were constructed between 1926 and 1933 as part of a sophisticated defense network which aimed to protect Cartagena and its important military arsenal.
37 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
La Azohia
165 RM-E35A 50 minute drive from Portman is a lovely port village called La Azohia, with fabulous views across the bay of Puerto de Mazarron, here you will find a lovely walk around the bay lined with palm trees and bars and restaurants. La Azohia connects to Isla Plana in the same bay, Isla Plana also has many bars and restaurants overlooking the bay, stunning scenery.
Five minutes around the bay from La Azohia you will find the wonderful resort of Puerto de Mazarron, a beautiful golden sandy beach, Palm tree lined promenade taking you to the beautiful crystal clear watered Marina with shoals of fish, the marina is surrounded by world cuisine restaurants, lots of bars. Definitely worth a visit.
The gun batteries at Cabo Tinosa, La Azohia, between Mazarron and Cartagena are two battery emplacements which are well worth a visit whether you have any interest in military history or not. Offering stunning views, interesting architecture and the fabulous 20 metre great guns which overlook the sea and make wonderful holiday photographs. They were constructed between 1926 and 1933 as part of a sophisticated defense network which aimed to protect Cartagena and its important military arsenal.