Costa Calida

The coastal area of the region of Murcia in the south east of Spain is known as the Costa Calida. Meaning ‘warm coast’ in English, the Costa Calida runs from the town of Aguilas on the borders of Almeria to the southwest and that of the Costa Blanca near Cartagena and Mar Menor to the east.

Costa Calida property, until recently, has been amongst the cheapest in Spain, primarily because it has not been linked to Spain's network of fast motorways and has lacked decent air links to the UK and northern Europe. Recently, though, the A7/A37 motorway has been built from Alicante to Cartagena and Murcia. There are also now regular flights between Murcia (San Javier) airport and the rest of Europe. These developments have really improved access to the area and have been reflected by the rapidly increasing property values.

The area is served by 2 airports, one, close to the city of Murcia itself (San Javier Airport) and also Alicante airport a little further to the north. San Javier Airport has been developed in recent years from what was a dusty, limited and difficult to access little airport into an airport well served with low cost flights to and from the UK and northern Europe, with good local connections and transport links. This is a good example of development of the local infrastructure, which has resulted in pushing property prices up. The Costa Calida on the whole has seen a recent rise in the both tourist visitors and property buyers attracted by the combination of great weather year-round and eminently affordable Costa Calida property available in the area.

The region of Murcia, one of Spain’s smaller autonomous regions, is quite distinct in its contrast to its better-known neighbours Andalucia and Valencia. The capital of the region is Murcia an ancient city founded by the moors in the ninth century, which still maintains an Arabic feel. The city with a population of 350,000 lies inland 170 kilometres south of Alicante and is the main commercial centre of the region relying predominantly on agriculture. The city is extremely modern in terms of outlook, infrastructure and culture and boasts some superb examples of baroque architecture along with museums, theatres, first class hotels, and a beautiful cathedral, whose spire dominates the skyline and the ancient Jewish quarter.

The ancient historical port town of Cartagena has been an important naval and merchant seaport throughout the development of Spain, since the days of Hanibal. The town is surrounded by dramatic landscapes and it’s importance in Spanish history is evident everywhere you look. Cartagena offers hundreds of modern restaurants, vibrant nightlife and a variety of modern designer shops and boutiques.

The beach areas south of Cartagena to the border with Andalucia still remain relatively undeveloped. Along the Costa Calida the beaches are excellent and especially in the Aguilas area where there are numerous coves to discover and explore. This area has escaped the worst excesses of mass tourism and therefore still retains some of its natural charm.

Where the Costa Calida joins the Costa Blanca lies the saltwater lagoon of Mar Menor, literally ‘lesser sea’ in English, which is divided from the Mediterranean by stunning white sandy beaches and the resort town of La Manga. The area is popular for water sports as the water here is warm year round, and boasts one of Europe’s leading golf resorts. La Manga is also home to Europe’s largest outdoor tennis facility, Olympic swimming pools, and is popular with the rich and famous including many of Europe’s top football teams who use the excellent facilities to train and relax during and out of season.

Many of the coastal resorts along the Costa Calida have been tastefully and carefully developed and there is a fantastic range of quality property for sale. Costa Calida property construction has for the most part remained low rise due to the strict building restrictions enforced by the regional government. As more people become aware of the excellent climate, recent infrastructure developments and wide selection of quality property available on the Costa Calida those who invest at the earliest opportunity will benefit from the highest capital growth. Property values in the region of Murcia are still over 35% cheaper than the national average, but all the indicators suggest that prices will increase year on year.

As with any of the areas we cover, Costa Calida property is best seen first hand, our expert advisors can arrange for an inspection visit to see any of the new developments or re-sale property available on this stunning piece of coastline.