Mar Menor with children

Why the water suits children

The lagoon averages less than four metres deep and far less at the edges. There is no surf, no undertow, and in summer the water is warmer than the Mediterranean, often above twenty five degrees.

For children who are just learning to swim that is a world of difference from a beach on the open sea. They can go a long way out without it getting deep, and you do not have to stand on the shore with your heart in your mouth.

If you do want waves, it is about half an hour's drive to Playa La Zenia, Cabo Roig or Punta Prima. That is the open sea, with surf and diving spots. Our tip: do both, then the children see the difference.

Beaches and playgrounds

Playa de Villananitos is the local beach of Lo Pagán: fine sand, shallow water and beach bars behind it. Along the promenade there are several playgrounds among the palm trees, with shaded benches and usually a terrace next door.

That combination works best at the end of the afternoon: children play, parents have a coffee, and then straight into the water. The sun is gentler by then too.

The mud baths are the highlight of the week for children, for obvious reasons. Watch two things: no mud in the eyes, and the ground around the pools is slippery.

What to watch for

In hot summers jellyfish appear in the Mar Menor. They are unpleasant but not dangerous, and the busier beaches have nets in summer. Rinse a sting with sea water, never fresh water, and do not rub.

Watch the beach flags: green means swimming allowed, yellow caution, red forbidden and purple something in the water that can bother you. The Mar Menor is usually green; on the open sea you see yellow more often.

Shade is the real thing to plan for. On the boardwalks by the salinas and on many beaches there is not a single tree. A parasol, caps and sunscreen are not a luxury here, and between twelve and four indoors or under a parasol is simply the sensible option.

The daily rhythm with children

The Spanish rhythm clashes with small children at first. Lunch is at two and dinner at nine here, and for a four year old that is late.

What works for us: the beach in the morning, back home for the hottest hours around midday, then out again at the end of the afternoon. The beach bars along the promenade serve all day, so there you can eat at six.

And do not worry about children out on the street at eleven at night. At festivals toddlers simply come along here. That is normal and nobody bats an eye.

When it is too hot or too wet

The Dos Mares shopping centre is five minutes away by car, indoors, and has a cinema that regularly shows films in the original language. That is the way out on a forty degree afternoon.

Beyond that: water sports lessons on the lagoon (sailing, paddleboarding, kayaking), and the flamingos in the nature park. Those are striking for children too, and the boardwalks are flat and easy with a pushchair.