Postcard from Isla Plana

This story happened on: 22/03/2013

To cheer you all up, in snowy Britain (and in soggy Andalucía and rainy Algarve), here’s our Postcard from Isla Plana on the Golf de Mazarron, Murcia. The sun is out here and day-time temperatures are in the twenties. The evenings are still too cool to sit out much beyond sunset, but Spring is definitely here.

This weekend sees the start of ‘Semana Santa’ and the associated holiday period. Spanish families are taking to the promenade and beach at La Azohia just along the bay, and the Proteccio Civil have opened the life-guard station.

We have been walking along the beach to the ‘centre’ of Isla and to the newly refurbished ‘Social’ which has lain empty for a few years. There’s a cycle path along to La Azohia where you can watch the fish being landed, have a morning ‘café solo’, and climb up the path to the Torre de Santa Elena.

We’re at Camping Los Madriles with a sunny pitch with a sea view. We can hear the waves crashing on the beach as we fall asleep. We‘ve been finishing our afternoons with a swim in the open-air, all-year, geothermal swimming pool: it’s one of Los Madriles’ principal attractions

From October to February it’s normally difficult to get in here without a reservation; however, by mid-March the over-winterers have packed up their giant satellite dishes and kitchen sinks and headed back north, and there are plenty of pitches available.

It’s a 16€ ACSI site, but with 7 nights for the price of 6, that’ll pay for the 7 days Wi-Fi at 15€. The electric supply is metered and you pay for consumption above the ACSI allowance of 4Kw-Hours per day. But be aware, dogs are not admitted.

Hope you like the photos 

chasncath commented on 22/03/2013 21:55

Commented on 22/03/2013 21:55

And using DSB's method, here are some more photos.

Torre de Santa Elena

Cath in the swimming pool

A man, his dog, and a glass of fino

chasncath commented on 23/03/2013 18:34

Commented on 23/03/2013 18:34

'Duff gen' alert! Cath says the the 7 for 6 offer no longer appliesEmbarassed

chasncath commented on 24/03/2013 14:53

Commented on 24/03/2013 14:53

Saturday's clouds have gone, blown away by a bit of a breeze.

ColBur commented on 26/03/2013 09:03

Commented on 26/03/2013 09:03

Hi Chasncath! Thanks for the pics of the sunshine - something we here in freezing Britain have sorely missed! Sounds a lovely lifestyle! Can you say if there are any actual caravanners on site, as all these 'overwintering' articles seem to suggest that it is mainly motorhomers that do this sort of thing? One other thing - do most of you actually drive all the way down to Southern Spain/Portugal or do many catch the Santander ferry? Thanks again for an evocative post!

chasncath commented on 26/03/2013 15:32

Commented on 26/03/2013 15:32

Hi ColBur. There were plenty of caravanners, inc British, at Los Madrilles. (We left this morning and are now 250 miles further north at Moncofa for a night halt). Motorhomers do seem to outnumber Caravanners in winter, but don't be put off. We travel down through France to Spain, then Portugal. There seems to be an even split with the Santander route, but we don't really know the ratio. If you come overland, you can push as far south as your time and spirit of adventure will allow.

Woman sitting in camping chair by Wastwater in the Lake District with her two dogs and picnic blanket

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