Cartagena beaches: Playa de Isla Plana

A Blue Flag beach in picturesque Isla Plana

Isla Plana is a small village in the eastern part of the Gulf of Mazarrón, and lies in the far south-westerly tip of the large municipality of Cartagena. This area has been popular with Spanish holidaymakers for decades, and still retains a characterful charm which gives it a pleasant, homely family holiday feel, tending to attract those who prefer a welcoming air of community to those who demand mod cons and fashionable amenities.

Isla Plana merges with La Azohía along a 15-kilometre stretch of beaches and coastline, framed by the bulk of Cabo Tiñoso. Visitors often mistakenly believe these beaches belong to Mazarrón, as they are so close to the Puerto de Mazarrón, rather than being the last outpost of Cartagena.

To the west of the village the coastline is rocky, and the beaches are below the road and largely covered in pebbles with some sandy stretches, but in the centre of Isla Plana there are a couple of delightful small coves and to the east the long sandy stretch of shoreline is the main Isla Plana beach.

The beaches closer to the centre of the village and the church are better served by the amenities such as shops, bars and restaurants, and many visitors will enjoy combining their day at the beach with a visit to the partially excavated Roman remains and the headland on which the church stands, opposite the small island which gives the village its name.

Occupancy on the beaches of Isla Plana is normally low to medium, although of course this is not the case at weekends in July and August.

Playa de Isla Plana

The main Isla Plana beach stretches for between 580 and 800 metres to the east of the centre of the village, depending on whether the pebbly area after the initial stretch of golden sand is included or not. It begins alongside the village centre, not far from the church, the Roman ruins and the Baños de la Marrana, and perched on the promenade above is a well-populated beach bar (in summer).

This is a Blue Flag beach, and lifeguard service is provided from 11.00 to 19.00 in July and August.

Access for the disabled is by ramp, and an amphibious bathing chair is provided in peak season. Parking spaces for the disabled are by the beach bar on the promenade. Similarly, the public toilets include one for those of limited mobility.

Access is on foot from anywhere you can park in Isla Plana: out of season this is easy: just drop off the main road and even in summer the car won’t be more than five minutes’ walk away! On Fridays in summer there is a small morning market here.

It’s a similar distance to the half dozen bars and restaurants in the village, which include the picturesque Centro Cívico opposite the church, and shops, a bank and a chemist’s are also close at hand.

Bus services between Cartagena and Puerto de Mazarrón stop in Isla Plana all year round, with greater frequency in summer.

Click for further local information about Cartagena, or for an overview of the beaches of Cartagena.