San pedro del pinatar
The Town
San Pedro is a town that is alive all year round and has a great selection of shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. San Pedro is not the typical tourist town but is a typical Spanish town which is reflected in its atmosphere and also the cost of living. San Pedro del Pinatar was originally a small fishermen village named after the saint Saint Peter who protected the fishermen who worked out at sea. Since then, San Pedro has grown and today has around 25,000 inhabitants. Early in the morning the old fish market is in full swing, where you can witness the “lonja” in full action as the fresh fish and sea food is being sold. If you are not a morning person, you can buy fish and seafood in several of San Pedro’s fine food/fish shops.
Every Monday there is a market in San Pedro where you can find fruit and vegetables from the merchants that bring the products from the field to your table. In the centre of San Pedro there is a square with the old church that gave the town its name. There are small pedestrian streets with shops of all kinds. In here there is a nice fish shop selling fresh fish from the marina in San Pedro. Just across the street from the fish shop you will find the butcher selling meat cuts and deli meat. In San Pedro you will find a wide range of reputable seafood restaurants where you can enjoy world-class seafood. Below we recommend some great restaurants that we think you should try.
The city has 2 marinas. One marina along the Mediterranean Sea and one on the Mar Menor in Lo Pagan. Mar Menor is a paradise for different types of water sports such as windsurfing, sailing, diving, kayaking and paddle surf. The Parque Regional de las Salinas and Arenales de San Pedro is a protected natural area located between the town and the marina on the Mediterranean (Puerto Marina de las Salinas). It is an important area for migratory birds and flamingos that can be admired from the road, but where you can also follow different walking paths that are prepared for bird watching activities or biking.
San Pedro is located in the region of Murcia on the Costa Calida, which has many interesting towns and places to discover. If you miss the big city vibe, only 25 minutes away from San Pedro del Pinatar, you can take a day trip to Cartagena to discover its rich historical heritage, roman ruins or sail with the tourist boat while learning about the city’s history. In 40 minutes, you can be in the city of Murcia to visit the Cathedral, get lost on small charming streets or eat in one of the many restaurants or drive 1 hour north to the beautiful port city of Alicante. In the Costa Calida region, there are 7 nature reserves and 19 natural areas. Beautiful and varied landscapes, ranging from mountain peaks to coastal stretches. If you want to get out into the countryside and discover charming little villages and memorable nature experiences, the region of Murcia is for you. Clear waters, fertile lands and fresh air.
What’s in San Pedro del Pinatar?
- Grocery stores about 15
- Restaurants/ Cafés about 110
- Sports centre about 10
- Pharmacy 12
- Health centre 12
- Dentist 9
- Bus/ Taxi Yes
What is around San Pedro del Pinatar?
- Airport Alicante 78km (50min)
- Alicante city 86km (1h)
- Torrevieja 20km (25min)
- Cartagena 37km (30min)
- Murcia city 50km (40min)
- La Zenia Boulevard 13km (15min)
Click on the image to open the map in a new window
Restaurants
There is a wide range of restaurants in the area. Murcia region is recognized in Spain as one of the best when it comes to gastronomy.
Below we recommend you to try some of these restaurants 🙂
Mardesal
Mar de Sal, which means sea of salt, is located between the salt lakes and the Mediterranean Sea, next to Puerto Marina de las Salinas. The food is of a very high quality and is a popular restaurant with the Spaniards. Its unique location makes it easy for us Europeans to miss this fantastic restaurant. A must to try!
Venezuela
Venezuela is located in Lo Pagan opposite the square and the marina. They have been in this location for over 30 years and are a household name in the city. It offers world-class fresh fish and seafood. The service is excellent and you always feel well looked after. No doubt, one of the best restaurants in the area!
El Rubio 360
Here you can enjoy a wonderful meal with a magical view. Located in Lo Pagan along the waterfront, this restaurant almost makes your chin drop with its stunning views. Here you can feast on seafood and enjoy a variety of gastronomic experiences. Before your meal, you can have a nice drink on the terrace and admire the view. Also one of the top restaurants in the area.
Nanami Gastro Sushi
For those who love sushi, we are happy to announce that you don’t have to go to Japan to eat good sushi. Nanami Gastro Sushi is located in Puerto Marina de las Salinas next to the Mediterranean Sea. Sushi is served here with great attention to detail, exquisite quality ingredients and amazing presentation. It will be a gastronomic experience for everyone who tries it, even if sushi is not your thing. Everyone who eats here says they have tears in their eyes when they eat. (Not just because of Wasabi😉
Juan Mari
Juan Mari is a small restaurant located between San Pedro and Lo Pagan. So good that it is recommended in the Michelin guide “worth a stop”. Here you can choose to have a tasting menu with matching wine if you feel like exploring traditional dishes with a twist. A nice restaurant that we recommend you to try.
Beaches
What makes San Pedro del Pinatar and Lo Pagan special is that there is access to 2 seas. On one side you have the lovely Mediterranean Sea and on the other side you have the Mar Menor which is Europe’s largest salt water lagoon.
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean offers long white sandy beaches with crystal clear waters. In the summer months the average temperature in the sea is between 25-27 and in the winter months the average temperature is around 16 degrees. From San Pedro you have a choice of several fine beaches. Closest to the regional border with Valencia is Playa de El Mojón, which offers long sandy beaches that join up with Higuericas beach with its Chiringitos to the north. Further south, the natural beach of Playa de la Torre Derribada is located next to the Salinas y Arenales nature reserve, where flamingos and other migratory birds can be seen. The beaches are long and wide. After this comes the pretty marina of Puerto Marina de las Salinas which has nice restaurants and a nice big boat harbour. The beach beyond is also a natural beach called La Llana and stretches over 3km!
Mar Menor
The Mar Menor is Europe’s largest lagoon and maintains an average temperature about 2-3 degrees warmer than the Mediterranean. The water is largely calm and well suited to various water sports activities. In Lo Pagan it is possible to rent canoes, boards for paddle surf, kayaks etc. At the beginning of Mar Menor next to the wonderful mud baths is the beach Los Lorcas, which has nice chiringitos and restaurants.
Further towards Lo Pagan’s marina is the superb La Puntica beach next to the newly built promenade in Lo Pagan where there are restaurants and bars that are very popular. Here you can grab tapas and something tasty to drink and enjoy the view. La Puntica then transitions to Playa el Castillico beach. This beach also has fine-grained sand and is cleaned up every day like the other beaches. Also here you can find nice beach bars lining the promenade. The next beach to come will be Playa de Colón at Santiago de la Ribera. Here comes the next part of the nice beach promenade in Santiago de la Ribera where good restaurants are located facing the water. Continuing south, the beaches continue in the same nice spirit.
Lo Pagan
District
Lo Pagan is a part of the town that belongs to San Pedro del Pinatar. Long nice promenades lined with beach bars and good restaurants with beautiful views of the Mar Menor. Lo Pagan also has its own marina where small boats and venues specialised in water activities can be found. In the square in front of the marina there is usually a market and small carnivals throughout the year. Every Thursday there is a market in Lo Pagan where you can buy fruit and vegetables directly from the street merchants. You can also find traditional delicacies such as olives, cheeses, pastries and other goodies. In Lo Pagan you will find all the necessary services such as grocery stores, banks, pharmacies, hotels, health centers, etc.
Mud Bath
In Lo Pagan you will find the famous mud bath, which was already visited by the Romans 2000 thousand years ago. The mud is said to be healthy and to relieve diseases such as asthma, rheumatism, rashes, etc. Mud has been used here for thousands of years. You enter the “pool” on the left, wade out to the middle. There you bend down and scoop up the clay and carry it to the bridge. The mud has a slight sulphurous smell. After applying the clay, you wait in the sun to let it do its wonders. Once the mud is dry, you go back into the water and wash off. The last remnants can be rinsed off on the other side of the pier in Mar Menor. After the mud treatment, we guarantee your skin will be smooth as a baby’s.
Mar Menor
The Mar Menor is Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon, cut off from the Mediterranean by a strip of land called La Manga, which is a whopping 22km long. This has created perfect conditions for enjoying water sports of all shapes and forms.
In Lo Pagan, the seafront promenade has recently been completed, making it easier for cyclists and pedestrians to get around. Along the entire promenade there are beach bars serving tapas/ice cream and tasty drinks, all with stunning views of the Mar Menor.
If you follow the promenade through Lo Pagan, you’ll reach Santiago de La Ribera, which quickly enchants you with its pleasant outdoor cafés and bars along the promenade.
Santiago de la Ribera
District
Santiago de la Ribera comes after the district of Lo Pagan. Santiago de la Ribera belongs to the municipality of San Javier which is a town located 4km inland. We have chosen to prefix Santiago as part of San Pedro/Lo Pagan as it joins Lo Pagan along the promenade. Santiago de la Ribera offers many nice restaurants, cafes and ice cream shops. The beaches are of the same fine sand as found in Lo Pagan. Playa de Santiago de la Ribera is located along the restaurant strip and is well guarded by restaurants and beach bars.
Here you will find all amenities as well as grocery stores, shops, bakery, cafes, pharmacy, health centre, etc. Santiago de la Ribera has a cosy feel and is a wonderful place to stroll and settle down in one of the nice restaurants and enjoy the atmosphere.
There is a ferry between Santiago de la Ribera and La Manga strip during the summer months. This saves you over an hour in the car. It’s just the right day trip to take the ferry across and enjoy the stunning sandy beaches of La Manga gut to the Mediterranean. You can also take your bike across which makes exploring easier. La Manga is a special tongue of land that comes alive during the summer months. We recommend you to give it a try.
Golf
For those interested in golf, we have good news for you! This area on Costa Blanca & Costa Calida has many nice golf course to choose from according to your preference and level. Lo Romero is a nice golf course in the area and is about 9 km away. In the area there are also several nice courses such as Las Colinas Golf which is considered one of the best in southern Spain, about 17km from San Pedro. Villamartin Golf, och Las Ramblas Golf, are 2 other nice courses located about 15km from San Pedro. But there are also several golf courses located between San Pedro and the city of Murcia. Here you will find links of more golf courses on👉 Costa Blanca & 👉 Costa Calida.
