Why La Marina?

La Marina

La Marina is a cosmopolitan urbanization.

It is just a 20 minute drive from Alicante airport and 45 minutes from Murcia airport, it is close to the towns of Torrevieja, Elche and Guardamar del Segura and is nestled in the heart of the Costa Blanca. The area is famous for its protected pine forests and long, golden, sandy beaches, many of which have been awarded blue flag status and is an ideal place to live.
In Spanish, the word urbanization just means development and La Marina offers everything you could need, whether you are here permanently or just holidaying. As it is mainly a residential development the facilities on the urbanization stay open all year round, unlike some of the local areas such as Santa Pola and Gran Alacant which become ghost towns during the winter. The population demographic does change with the seasons, with holidaymakers throughout the summer months and more pensioners escaping the cold winters during the winter months, but it does mean that the area is lively and vibrant whenever you visit.
The urbanization is about twenty years old and is broken down into three areas, La Marina, La Escuera and El Oasis and is part of San Fulgencio which is still a small peaceful and charming farming village. The design of the urbanization has been well thought out and there are many green and recreational areas, many with football, bowls and barbecue areas and seating to sit and watch the world go by.

La Marina Market

Every Thursday La Marina’s market square comes alive with the hustle and bustle of market traders from across the area setting up their stalls, on Saturday a new batch of stall holders set up on the edge of the Urbanisation.
From across the Vega Baja they come, bringing locally grown fruit and vegetables, fresh breads and meats, ceramics, gifts, bedding, clothes, shoes and hand-bags along with anything else you can think of or possibly need.
The market starts at 9am and finishes around 2pm and this is a fantastic opportunity to experience the real Spanish way of life. On the fruit and veg stalls you’ll find produce that you’ve never even seen before, each one worth a try just for the experience and the colours and varieties laid out before you will overload your senses.
If it’s a bargain you’re after, have a go at haggling with the locals – it’s a little scary at first but as soon as you get into the swing of it you can have some real fun.
Even if you don’t need to buy anything, why not just have a walk round and enjoy the sounds, colours and continental way of life. Sit at a bar, partake of a coffee and brandy and just watch the world go by like a true local.

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Public Recreation Areas

Some of the properties on the urbanization have access to community or private swimming pools but for those who don’t there are three areas on the Urbanisation and one in the village, all offering swimming pools, lounging facilities and snack bars to keep you fed and watered throughout the day.

Hillside

For an enjoyable family day out visit the “Hillside”

“Hillside” is a mini aqua park with water fountains, children’s play floats, jacuzzi and two large swimming pools which provide a fun day out for all. A pool side bar / restaurant offers a great selection from a traditional sandwich to a three course meal and a snooker hall and bar above the swimming pool complex offers night time entertainment throughout the year.

Posh Club

The newest addition to the Urbanisation

“Posh Club” has two large swimming pools with play floats, a children’s pool and fountains to stay cool under. Whilst sitting poolside you can partake of a snack and drink from the poolside bar, enjoy lunch in the restaurant or indulge in an Indian buffet after a hard day’s swimming. During the day entertainment is sometimes laid on which can be enjoyed by all.

Sports Complex

Have an enjoyable family day in the “Sports Complex”

The sports complex has a children’s pool area adjacent to a full sized family pool. Set in a relaxing area, the children can enjoy trampolines, arcade games and pool tables and the pool side bar / restaurant caters for all. In the evening entertainment ranges from live music, karaoke, flamenco shows, quizzes, bingo, etc…

La Marina Internacional

You find it a short drive away in the village

La Marina International swimming pool offers a children’s swimming pool with elephants and slides and an adult’s pool with pool bar. Popular with the tourists this is a fantastic complex which has a large restaurant with all types of food available at reasonable prices and plenty to keep the whole family amused all day long.

Facilities

La Marina offers a wide range of international banks and building societies all of which speak some English and German and are readily available to offer advice and information about opening bank accounts, changing currency (passports required), mortgages and personal loans.

The urbanization boasts three large continental supermarkets offering daily baked bread, pastries, fresh fruit and veg along with Spanish, English, French and German delicacies. There is also a small English supermarket offering a wide selection of goodies from home, a German supermarket and several other smaller food stores. A recent addition to the area is a growing commercial centre just outside the urbanization which currently also offers two more international supermarkets and an Iceland where you can stock up just as if you were on any British high-street.
For non-food items there are also newsagents offering daily newspapers, magazines, cards and gifts, a card and book shop, craft shop, gift shops, shoe shop, furniture shops, electrical shop, hairdressers, internet cafés, travel agent, tourist office and everything else you can imagine – if you want to spend that holiday money I’m sure you’ll find something to suit you.

The urbanization offers a growing selection of restaurants to suit every taste, at night the streets come alive with the sound of friendly chatter and cutlery clinking against plates as happy holidaymakers and residents alike sample the fine cuisine.
There are four main eating areas, on the “strip” you will find a selection of restaurants offering an extensive range of meals from home or away many offering nightly entertainment ranging from bingo and karaoke to live acts and groups.
Moving along the road you will come to Fase IV (Grey Area) where restaurants surround a square in which tables are laid out nightly ready for the hungry masses. Street buskers playing accordions and guitars serenade the diners and good or bad it all adds to the atmosphere of the evening.
In the square by Consum you will find a selection of bars and restaurants offering drinks, meals and takeaways, here you can wander un-disturbed from bar to bar enjoying the holiday atmosphere or just tuck into a full English breakfast.
Finally you get to Supervalu and another extensive selection of eateries offering a range of meals to suit all taste buds.
Whatever you’re looking for I’m positive that you’ll find it on the urbanization, the growing selection of menus on offer includes Chinese, Italian, Spanish, and German restaurants, along with Pizzerias, Steak houses and a host of bars offering everything from sandwiches and wraps to breakfast and brunch. For the more traditionalist amongst you the urbanization also offers numerous English bars and restaurants serving everything from a Roast dinner to fish & chips many of which offer a take away service.

There is a medical centre where you can register free to see a local doctor (if you have the correct paperwork) as well as a private clinic available to everyone with fees charged per visit or on a yearly basis. In the private clinic English is spoken but you will need a translator if you see the local doctor.
Also located on the urbanization there are three pharmacies where you will be able to get help and advice along with a wide range of medications without prescription, three opticians, one with a hearing aid centre and an English and German dentist.

Banks

La Marina offers a wide range of international banks and building societies all of which speak some English and German and are readily available to offer advice and information about opening bank accounts, changing currency (passports required), mortgages and personal loans.

Supermarkets

The urbanization boasts three large continental supermarkets offering daily baked bread, pastries, fresh fruit and veg along with Spanish, English, French and German delicacies. There is also a small English supermarket offering a wide selection of goodies from home, a German supermarket and several other smaller food stores. A recent addition to the area is a growing commercial centre just outside the urbanization which currently also offers two more international supermarkets and an Iceland where you can stock up just as if you were on any British high-street.
For non-food items there are also newsagents offering daily newspapers, magazines, cards and gifts, a card and book shop, craft shop, gift shops, shoe shop, furniture shops, electrical shop, hairdressers, internet cafés, travel agent, tourist office and everything else you can imagine – if you want to spend that holiday money I’m sure you’ll find something to suit you.

Restaurants

The urbanization offers a growing selection of restaurants to suit every taste, at night the streets come alive with the sound of friendly chatter and cutlery clinking against plates as happy holidaymakers and residents alike sample the fine cuisine.
There are four main eating areas, on the “strip” you will find a selection of restaurants offering an extensive range of meals from home or away many offering nightly entertainment ranging from bingo and karaoke to live acts and groups.
Moving along the road you will come to Fase IV (Grey Area) where restaurants surround a square in which tables are laid out nightly ready for the hungry masses. Street buskers playing accordions and guitars serenade the diners and good or bad it all adds to the atmosphere of the evening.
In the square by Consum you will find a selection of bars and restaurants offering drinks, meals and takeaways, here you can wander un-disturbed from bar to bar enjoying the holiday atmosphere or just tuck into a full English breakfast.
Finally you get to Supervalu and another extensive selection of eateries offering a range of meals to suit all taste buds.
Whatever you’re looking for I’m positive that you’ll find it on the urbanization, the growing selection of menus on offer includes Chinese, Italian, Spanish, and German restaurants, along with Pizzerias, Steak houses and a host of bars offering everything from sandwiches and wraps to breakfast and brunch. For the more traditionalist amongst you the urbanization also offers numerous English bars and restaurants serving everything from a Roast dinner to fish & chips many of which offer a take away service.

Medical Services

There is a medical centre where you can register free to see a local doctor (if you have the correct paperwork) as well as a private clinic available to everyone with fees charged per visit or on a yearly basis. In the private clinic English is spoken but you will need a translator if you see the local doctor.
Also located on the urbanization there are three pharmacies where you will be able to get help and advice along with a wide range of medications without prescription, three opticians, one with a hearing aid centre and an English and German dentist.

Although we never want to think about these things there is a police station on the urbanization ready to deal with any local emergencies and an out of hours emergency medical centre is just a 10 minute drive away at Guardamar.

Although not what we are used to in the UK, there is a local post office, located by Consum square which opens from 10:45 to 14:00 each day. Here you can collect recorded mail, post letters and parcels but not much else. For more specialised services the main post office is located in San Fulgencio.

Open in the mornings, the tourist office is located opposite the medical centre and you will be able to find a range of brochures about the area along with bus timetables and information about local fiestas.

A local bus service covers the area with stops dotted around the urbanization, a full timetable of routes and times can be obtained from the tourist office.

There is a small local town hall on the urbanization where you can sign on the empadron, present building paperwork and ask for help and advice. It is linked to the main town hall in San Fulgencio. You may have to wait a day or two for an answer but it’s a small price to pay for the convenience of staying local.

Emergencies

Although we never want to think about these things there is a police station on the urbanization ready to deal with any local emergencies and an out of hours emergency medical centre is just a 10 minute drive away at Guardamar.

Post Office

Although not what we are used to in the UK, there is a local post office, located by Consum square which opens from 10:45 to 14:00 each day. Here you can collect recorded mail, post letters and parcels but not much else. For more specialised services the main post office is located in San Fulgencio.

Tourist Office

Open in the mornings, the tourist office is located opposite the medical centre and you will be able to find a range of brochures about the area along with bus timetables and information about local fiestas.

Bus Service

A local bus service covers the area with stops dotted around the urbanization, a full timetable of routes and times can be obtained from the tourist office.

Town Hall

There is a small local town hall on the urbanization where you can sign on the empadron, present building paperwork and ask for help and advice. It is linked to the main town hall in San Fulgencio. You may have to wait a day or two for an answer but it’s a small price to pay for the convenience of staying local.

La Marina Village

The village of La Marina is just a 5 minute drive, or for the more energetic about an hour’s walk. The village of La Marina is part of Elche and has a population of about 3000 people. It is framed by a pine forest and long, golden, sandy beaches (one of the longest on the Costa Blanca being 17 kilometres long and stretching from Santa Pola to Torrevieja, comprising of El Pinet, La Marina and El Rebollo) along which are scattered beach bars where you can enjoy delicious plates of fresh calamari or feast on the menu of the day whilst sipping cool jugs of sangria or beer.

San Fulgencio

Cardinal Belluga obtained 40,000 tahúllas of poor and marshy land in the area around the delta of the Segura River from Orihuela and Guardamar del Segura, and founded San Fulgencio in 1729. The purpose of the donation was to drain the wetlands and make them fertile and productive and then use rents obtained from the land for good works, i.e. orphanages and hospitals in Murcia.
In fact, San Fulgencio owes its name to the patron saint of Murcia, the town which was Cardinal Belluga's diocesan seat. In common with other villages located close to the coast, San Fulgencio has diversified its economic activity from traditional farming to the service sector and the growth of tourism has brought additional infrastructure to the town.
In the middle of the town you will find the town hall, police station, church and square where all the fiestas start and finish along with a selection of shops and local market every Tuesday.