We Visited Calblanque Natural Park's Wild Beaches in October

Calblanque has no lifeguards, no sunbed hire and no car park you'd call a car park. That's why it's worth the drive in October, and also why you need to plan it properly. We went to compare the park's wild beaches against the Mar Menor shore we use the rest of the year, and the difference is bigger than you'd expect for a 35-minute trip.

Getting There and What You Need to Bring

From Los Alcázares, take the AP-7 or the coast road through La Manga and head for Portmán, then follow the signs for the Parque Regional de Calblanque. Allow 35 to 45 minutes from the Roda Golf area. The last stretch is a rough track, so drive slowly and don't take a low-slung hire car at speed.

In summer the park restricts car access on busy days and runs a shuttle. In October that rarely applies, and we parked up with no fuss on a Tuesday. Check the park's visitor information before you go, as rules on weekends and holidays can change.

Bring everything. There's one seasonal chiringuito near Playa Larga that's often shut by October, so assume nothing is open. Pack:

• Two litres of water per person, minimum
• A packed lunch (the Mar Menor bakeries in Los Alcázares are good for this)
• Proper shoes, not flip-flops, for the dunes and rocky paths
• A hat and sun cream, because the October sun here still bites
• A bin bag. There are no bins, so take your rubbish home

Calblanque vs the Mar Menor Beaches

Calblanque

Pros: Golden sand, dunes, pine scrub and almost no buildings. In October you might share a whole cove with a handful of people. The Mediterranean side has proper waves and clearer water than the lagoon, and it's brilliant for a long walk. Playa Larga and Cala Arturo are the two we'd head for first.

Cons: No facilities, no shade, no lifeguards, and the sea can be rough. Currents are real here, so with children keep them in the shallows. Jellyfish are less of an issue than on the Mar Menor, but check the sea before getting in. Phone signal is patchy too.

Mar Menor (Los Alcázares, Santiago de la Ribera)

Pros: Calm, shallow, warm water well into October, a flat paseo for pushchairs and a chiringuito or tapas bar every few hundred metres. Toilets and parking are easy. For families with small children it's simply the easier day out.

Cons: It's a lagoon, so the water can be murky, and the beaches are man-made and busier. It doesn't have the wild, empty feel that makes Calblanque special.

Our Honest Verdict

If you've got young children or anyone with mobility problems, stay on the Mar Menor. It's easier, safer and you'll get a decent lunch at the end of it. Calblanque is a poor choice if you want comfort.

For couples, walkers and anyone who plays golf all week and wants a different pace, Calblanque wins easily in October. The heat is manageable, the crowds have gone and the light on the dunes in the late afternoon is excellent. We'd rank it as the best natural beach day within an hour of Roda.

Our practical advice is to go on a weekday, arrive before 11am, and leave before dusk because the track is not somewhere you want to be in the dark. Pair it with a late lunch back in Los Alcázares or a menú del día in Cartagena on the way home.

Staying nearby makes this far easier. Have a look at holiday rentals near Roda Golf if you're planning an autumn trip, and see our area guide to the Mar Menor and Costa Cálida for distances to the main beaches. If you're building a week around golf, our page on the golf courses around Roda will help you plan the rest of your days. Questions about the area? Use our contact page and we'll point you in the right direction.

One last tip: the park's weekend visitor rules and any fire-risk closures can change at short notice, so check before you set off. Nobody wants a 40-minute drive ending in a closed barrier.