Paseo Marítimo de Santiago de la Ribera

Perhaps the most beautiful seaside promenade along the Mar Menor coast, spanning two kilometres, flanked by century-old palm trees, and mostly pedestrian.  

Along this promenade, apart form enjoying, the beach and sea on one side, you can admire various summer houses from the late 19th and early 20th centuries: Chalet Barnuevo, Casa Conde Lisea, Villa San Franciso Javier, Torre Javiera, Villa la Pinada… 

Amidst these historc buildings, there are no more than half a dozen apartment towers, giving Santiago de la Ribera a unique skyline. The Yacht Club stands out as a prominent visual landmark on the promenade, with its side elevations resembling the shape of a sailboat. It’s quite common to witness the club’s activities, including regattas and a lively maritime sports atmosphere or competitive events featuring numerous international athletes. Throughout the promenade, there are numerous open terraces and kiosks, operating almost year-round, offering the opportunity to enjoy a meal, dinner, ice cream, or simply a refreshment in a highly pleasant seaside ambiance. 

 However, the unique feature in Santiago de la Ribera is the Tiflológico Aeronautical Museum, a new outdoor space accessible. The current exhibits in the MAT (Aerospace Tiflológico Museum) include a three-dimensional photocall, scale models of the most iconic airplanes throughout the history of the airbase, and benches designed to capture the essence of each aircraft, reproducing their distinctive colors and aircraft insignia. The exhibits consist of:  

1. Dornier J”Wal” 

2. Beechcraft T-34 “Mentor” 

3. North American T-6 “Texan” 

4. Hispano Ha-200 “Saeta” 

5. CASA C-101 “Mirlo” 

6. Patrulla Águila Flight Helmet 

7. Aircraft T-12 Casa-212 “Aviocar” 1974-2003 Navigation School 

8. Aircraft ENAER T-35 C “Pillan” 1996-2025 Elementary Flight Trainer 

9. Aircraft E-3-B Bucker 1945-1976  Elementary Flight Trainer 

10. Aircraft Beechcraft F-33 “Bonanza” 1974-1994 Navigation Flight Trainer 

11. Autogiro C-4 1922-1923 Experimental Autogiro built by Juan de la Cierva 

12. Aircraft Casa C-352-L Junkers 52 1947-1973 Navigation School 

13. Aircraft Polikarpov I-16 “Mosca” or “Rata” High-Speed Flight School 

14. Aircraft Pilatus PC-21 Elementary and Basic Flight Trainer. 

In May 2024 we started a municipally run air festival (FASJ) which takes place on our beaches and can be enjoyed along the promenade of Santiago de la Ribera. 

PLAYA DE LA HITA. Between Santiago de la Ribera and Los Alcázares, you will find Playa de La Hita (La Hita Beach), abandoned old salt flats which stand out for their coastal reedbeds. Rich vegetation covers its coasline and is home to little wetlands where the everlasting flower stands out. If you have a pair of binaculars with you, you will be able to observe the small stork or the small tern, amongst other birds. 

This beach is listed as ZEPA (Specially Protected Area for Birds) by the European Union since it is one of the redoubts where we can find the original fauna and flora in the Mar Menor.