La Mata on the Costa Blanca attractions and interesting facts

La Mata in Spain is a small town in the south of the country, located on the Costa Blanca coast, one of the most popular tourist destinations in this part of the country.

I must admit that I haven’t seen such beautiful sandy beaches in a long time, like the ones in sunny La Mata.

La Mata is a tourist paradise with sandy beaches

The town of La Mata is the perfect place to spend a few days, or even weeks. On the Costa Blanca coast, the sun shines on almost every day of the year, and the air and sea temperatures will satisfy even the most discerning tourists.

It’s the beaches, locally known as “playas,” that stretch for kilometres along almost the entire Costa Blanca coast, that are the hallmark of this region. There’s nothing more pleasant than taking a stroll on a wide beach with soft, light-coloured sand. The icing on the cake is the clean and warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea, which break on the wide beach with gentle waves, accompanied by a soothing murmur.

While it can get crowded on La Mata’s beaches during the peak of summer, thanks to the wide and expansive stretch of sand, there’s enough space for everyone. Additionally, if you take a short walk towards Guardamar del Segura, you have a chance to find a secluded spot on the sand where nobody will disturb you.

The largest beach in La Mata is Playa Cabo Cervera, which is a mixed rocky and sandy beach. It looks stunning, with rocks and stones protruding from the water adding to its charm.

On the other hand, Platja les Ortigues, located across from Laguna Salada de la Mata, is a sandy beach with beautiful dunes and abundant vegetation. Further, towards Alicante, you’ll find the beaches of Platja del Camp and Playa La Roqueta, which are also worth visiting.

Where to eat in La Mata and which restaurants are worth visiting?

In La Mata, the social life revolves around the beach, and that’s where you should search for a place to have lunch, dinner, or supper. During summer, the choices are vast, and the quantity and variety of cuisines and flavours can be overwhelming. You’ll find eateries representing almost every cuisine you can think of.

You can easily find Chinese, Indian, Thai, or Mexican restaurants. There are also places that serve local delicacies. Many establishments, besides offering food, provide entertainment such as live music, dancing, or similar activities. It’s a good idea to check what’s happening in the town beforehand to decide where you’d like to go.

We liked a place called Wok Buffet, where you can try various dishes available in a buffet format after paying an entry fee. We will tell you more about restaurants and eateries in La Mata in a separate article because the topic is extensive and deserves its post.

Tourist attractions in La Mata

What can you do in La Mata besides sunbathing and beach walks? Quite a lot, especially if you’re a nature enthusiast.

The Nature Reserve of Lagunas de La Mata Torrevieja

In the 1980s, there was rapid tourism development on the Costa Blanca coast. The influx of tourists and significant investments in the tourism sector posed a threat to the local fauna and flora. Therefore, in 1989, a nature reserve was established to protect the local environment from excessive human influence. This extraordinary place, which is now like a green oasis on the scorching sand, came into existence.

Lagunas de la Mata y Torrevieja is primarily known for its saltwater lagoons, often referred to as the Spanish Dead Sea. Unlike the Dead Sea, which is located on the borders of Israel, Palestine, and Jordan and has lifeless waters, the waters here are not lifeless.

The salinity in Laguna Rosa, one of the largest lakes in the park, is very high but not uniform. This allows for life to thrive in certain layers of water. One unique feature of the local flora is algae that live at the bottom of the lagoon. They have an extraordinary ability to turn the water a beautiful pink colour, especially on warm, sunny summer days.

It’s essential to remember that the organisms inhabiting this unique place are very delicate, and their existence depends on the fragile ecosystem of the lagoon.

Therefore, swimming or even entering the water is strictly prohibited here! Violating this prohibition can result in a hefty fine, even up to several thousand euros.

The Salt Factory Las Salinas de Torrevieja and La Mata

Between La Mata and Torrevieja, there is a very intriguing attraction related to an important local industry: salt.

A visit to the salt production plant from seawater in Torrevieja is an exciting adventure and an opportunity to learn about the history of the area. It also allows you to see up close the vast salt mountains and the intensely pink lake, which is an unofficial symbol of this place.

Despite some reservations about the organization of the tour and the visit to the saltworks, I highly recommend this extraordinary place.

Parque del Molino del Agua

Parque del Molino del Agua is a series of cascading waterfalls that stretch through a beautiful, green park all the way to the beach. It’s one of the loveliest green spaces in La Mata, at least in my opinion.

During a walk there, you’ll find many secluded spots for a picnic. Tables and benches have been set up among the trees to provide shade on the hottest summer days. I especially recommend this place in the morning when there are fewer crowds.

Pura Aventura Spain and sea expeditions

Pura Aventura Spain can organize a fantastic sea expedition for you, combining activities such as fishing, diving, jet skiing, or even a parachute jump along the Costa Blanca coastline.

It’s easy to communicate with the people at Pura Aventura (they are very open to any ideas) and plan the day in a way that will satisfy everyone.

The seaside promenade stretching along almost the entire Costa Blanca coastline

One of the coolest attractions in La Mata is the multitude of promenades, bike paths, and pedestrian paths. They stretch for kilometres, not only along the coastline but also inland, making it easy to access the surrounding attractions of La Mata.

By using the pedestrian paths, you can reach Torrevieja, which is 5 kilometres away, in about an hour. If you prefer cycling to walking, you can get there in just a little over 20 minutes.

Once you reach Torrevieja, be sure to visit the Museum of the Sea and Salt. This museum is very intriguing and tells the history of the coast and its connection to the sea, as well as the production of salt from seawater. The museum is free. We will talk about other attractions in the city of Torrevieja in another article.

La Mata practical information

La Mata is a very popular destination, especially in the summer. Getting here is not a problem at all. Buses to La Mata operate from almost every corner of Spain. Equally, convenient are connections from nearby airports, such as Alicante and Murcia.

Alicante Airport is about 40 kilometres away from La Mata, and Murcia-San Javier Airport is similarly close. When looking for tickets, prioritize price over the convenience of getting from the airport to La Mata.

Upon arrival, it is most convenient to rent a car from one of the numerous rental agencies. Some major chain companies operate at the airport, but you can also explore lesser-known car rental agencies. Most of them will arrange to pick you up from the airport and take you to where their cars are parked.

You can also search for ads from small local companies that compete with the larger rental giants. This can often result in significantly lower prices and, importantly, less paperwork. When renting a car, be sure to check the insurance policy offered by the rental agency. Occasionally, a low price can lead to complications if an unpleasant incident occurs during your trip.

If you decide not to rent a car, public transportation is also an option. It works really well in this area, and you shouldn’t have any problems using it. If I come across someone who has used public transportation in these parts, I will describe in detail how it works in the future.

La Mata in Spain Curiosities and Facts

• The salty lakes in La Mata have a salinity of about 350 grams of salt per litter of water. This is a substantial amount, only slightly lower than that of the Dead Sea.
• The water in the salty lake in La Mata sometimes takes on a beautiful pink colour. Algae living at the bottom of the reservoir are responsible for the water’s hue.
• Bathing in the salty lakes is prohibited, and penalties for thoughtless tourists can reach several thousand euros.
• The waters of the lakes are so salty that salt deposits on everything it touches, including the legs of birds.
• Crystallized salt also covers the lake’s bottom.
• The La Mata – Torrevieja lagoon is home to over 150 species of plants, some of which are not found anywhere else in Spain.
• One of the most famous residents of La Mata are the flamingos, also those with pink plumage.
• The pink colour of La Mata’s flamingos is due to the algae that live in the salty lake’s waters.
• Locals refer to La Mata as a bedroom town due to the large number of residential areas, hotels, and guest houses. Furthermore, there is no industry and major workplaces in the area.
• The areas around La Mata have been famous for sea salt extraction for centuries.
• The entire Costa Blanca coast was heavily fortified in medieval times. Today, you can still find observation and defensive towers scattered on the beaches.
• Playa de la Mata, the main beach in La Mata, is almost two and a half kilometres long, with an average width of forty meters.
• The beaches in La Mata are well-equipped to meet the needs of tourists. There are bars, shops, and clubs, and on the beach, you’ll find showers, toilets, and medical facilities.
• Children will also have a great time at La Mata’s beach. Numerous playgrounds, sports game areas, and designated swimming areas have been prepared for them.
• During the two years of the pandemic, nature around La Mata flourished more abundantly than ever. There were significantly more animals and wild birds, all thanks to fewer people.
• Over half of La Mata’s residents are foreigners.
• I recommend a trip to Cartagena, where you can visit the interesting Naval Museum, and Floating Museum in Torrevieja.

Polska wersja językowa