HIKING IN CALBLANQUE REGIONAL PARK SPAIN
HIKING IN CALBLANQUE REGIONAL PARK SPAIN

INTRODUCTION
If you are looking for some great hiking trails with varying degrees of difficulty, with beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea, then the trails in Calblanque Regional Park Spain are for you. The coastline here has both rugged mountainous sections and long stretches of beach and sand dunes, all within a short drive from Cartagena. This park is a great destination for those looking for day trip ideas.
Walking this part of the Mediterranean coast is like walking backward through time. Established in 1987, the area has successfully evaded all commercial development along its coastline. This is one of the few places where you can see the Mediterranean coastline in its natural state. (For helpful tips and ideas see related posts: Mediterranean Travel Guide and Guide to the Mediterranean Coast of Spain)
HIKING IN CALBLANQUE
Location
The park is located in the Sierra Minera mountain chain, located about 20km east of Cartagena Spain. It borders the Mediterranean along its southern shore, with the Mar Menor immediately to its north. There coastline has rocky sections with beautiful sand beaches with crystal clear waters, dunes, salt flats, and a rocky desert-like landscape. Here and there you can see old stone foundations left over from the area’s mining past. For the most part, however, nature has reclaimed almost the entire area.

Cabo de Palos
There are over a dozen trails set up in the park of varying difficulty and different starting points. My preferred trail is the Geominera Path which starts at Cala Reona (Reona beach) in Cabo de Palos. You can start and end the hike at the very western end of the town at Reona Beach where there is parking and a beach bar (this detail becomes important later when completing the walk).

Getting Started
The hiking trail does have a few rough spots and there is a lot of loose gravel for most of its path. I highly recommend some sturdy shoes (not sandals), a good pair of running shoes should do. I highly recommend a day pack with water, a snack, a towel and swimsuit, sun tan lotion, sunglasses, and probably most importantly a camera. There are tons of photo-worthy shots to be taken on this trail.
The hiking trail starts immediately beside the beach bar and rises relatively steeply almost immediately. After about 10 minutes, however, the trail starts to level off and from this point, it hugs the contour of the rocky coastline at roughly the same elevation for the remainder of its course. The path is wide and flat for most of its run with a few rough stretches here and there. At one point there are even some ropes set up to hold on to in order to cross a narrow rocky patch near the 2 km mark. This is the one area that is a little dangerous and you will want to be careful here.

Old Mines
However, after this rough patch, it’s downhill from this point. Here, you will notice remnants of the old mines across the hillside, a reminder of another time. Take your time on the trail here as there are a lot of loose rocks and steep sections. Once you reach the bottom of the trail, you will be rewarded with a secluded sand beach called Cala Dorada.
Sand Beaches
From here there is a short climb over the next small hill and the last 400 meters to Calblanque which represents one of the few places on the Mediterranean coast that is relatively untouched by the encroachment of civilization. Note that this is a popular beach and there is road access and bus service in the summer to reach this location so you will likely not find it abandoned. However, the beach is about 300 meters long so you should be able to find a spot. If you come outside of the high season on the other hand you will have the beach mostly to yourself and can enjoy the solitude.

Once you’ve reached the beach, take a break, pick a spot, have a snack, and enjoy the scenery. This is the perfect opportunity to take a swim, cool off and relax. For the return walk, just head back the way you came There are over a dozen marked hiking trails through park with varying difficulty levels and different starting points. From my home, it’s just a quick bike ride to Reona beach which makes this my preferred starting point. That and the fact that I can have a cool refreshing beer immediately after my hike and soak in the beauty of the Mediterranean coast. Cheers!
Regional Park Regulations and General Information
Since this is a Regional Park there are some rules and regulations to follow so that everybody can enjoy the park, keep it clean, protect the wild habitat, and leave the park in the same condition that you found it:
- -motor vehicle access to the beach at night is not allowed
- -no dogs allowed on the beach
- -special permits or authorization are required for fishing, bus access, and horseback riding
- -free access to the beaches for those walking or cycling
- -deposit garbage in the trash bins provided
- -note there is no cell phone coverage at the beach
- -use caution at the beach, there is the possibility of currents in the water and there can be jellyfish. Civil protection post at Playa Calblanque (bus line 2)
- -there are no food and water sales points inside the regional park
- -if you are a smoker, bring your own ashtray from home
- -the regional park lands are private property-
- there is a daily maximum of allowed vehicles in the park. Once the maximum is reached access will be denied.
Summer Info
- -parking is open from 8 am until 8:30 pm, access to vehicles in the park is restricted
- -Beach access by bus service, with paid ticket
- -Outside these hours, you can only access the public parking of El Atochar (next to Playa Larga) between 8 am to 9 am.-Outside these hours, you can only access the public parking of El Atochar (next to Playa Larga) between 8 am to 9 am.
FINAL THOUGHTS: HIKING IN CALBLANQUE REGIONAL PARK SPAIN
This is a beautiful park and as mentioned above, is one of the few remaining places on the Mediterranean that is not commercially developed and that remains in its original natural state. This makes it a great park to visit with several trails with varying degrees of difficulty and a beautiful coastline. Calblanque is a great option for a family weekend outing any time of year, whether you live here locally or are traveling and just need a break from the normal hectic tourist hot spots.
Reg Auge
Reg holds an MBA, is a former Captain in the Canadian military and has worked as a consultant in industry for over 20 years. From his home in Spain, he has spent the last 10 years traveling throughout the Mediterranean, exploring the various countries and regions. He also regularly runs, windsurfs, and kite surfs, maintaining a healthy and active way of life. Captivated by this Mediterranean lifestyle, he began a Blog last year to inspire like-minded souls to learn about and discover this unique region for themselves.