Overlooking the bird-filled Mar Menor and fringed by Mediterranean beaches, San Pedro del Pinatar is a small town on Murcia’s Costa Calida. It was a salt mining centre for the Romans before becoming a fishing and agricultural hub, with several historic waterwheels and mills still remaining today.
Things to do in San Pedro del Pinatar
On the edge of San Pedro del Pinatar is Salinas de San Pedro del Pinatar Regional Park, which is famed for the large numbers of flamingos that flock here to feed. It encompasses salt flats, beaches and reed beds, as well as dunes that rise to over three metres in height. At the Visitor Centre, you can learn about the park’s flora and fauna before spotting ospreys, kingfishers and cormorants on one of the marked trails.
Adjacent to the promenade overlooking the Mar Menor is a string of beaches that attract holidaymakers in the summer months. You can kick back on the sands of La Puntica and Villananitos or explore the coastline while windsurfing and sailing. Don’t miss the Baños de Lodo, which are renowned for their therapeutic mud.
At the entrance to the Baños de Lodo is the Molino de Quintin, a charming windmill that was once used in the movement of water. It features a whitewashed, conical body and wooden sails, making it typical of the windmills that dot the region. Combine your visit with a stop at the Molino de Calcetera, which is a three-kilometre walk away.
Getting around San Pedro del Pinatar
San Pedro del Pinatar is around 40 minutes’ drive from Murcia and 30 minutes from Region de Murcia International Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Regular buses connect to San Pedro del Pinatar and the town centre is compact enough to explore on foot.