Villa in Santiago de la Ribera 13093-022 Santiago de la ribera, San Javier, Costa Calida (Murcia)

Santiago de la Ribera is a lovely town that sits on the shores of the Mar Menor. It is the coastal area of the town of San Javier and started life as a simple fishing village. It has now grown into a popular holiday destination, attracting not only the Spanish but also tourists from all over Europe.

Santiago has a modern feel, although it still maintains its ‘fishing village’ atmosphere. It has a very beautiful promenade, which is lined by majestic palm trees and 2 kilometres of wonderful sandy beaches. Mar Menor beaches are enclosed within Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon, which is fed by the Mediterranean.

The main shopping area is really in the town of San Javier, but there are some some shops in the narrow streets to browse, try visiting on a Wednesday morning when there is a large street market.