July 12 Free guided tour of Santiago de la Ribera in San Javier
The Pearl of the Mar Menor tour coincides with the start of the famed Carnival celebrations in Santiago de la Ribera
This relaxed tour takes in the locality of Santiago de la Ribera on the shore of the Mar Menor and includes some of the most important historical buildings in the area. These include the tower of Torre Mínguez, which was the forerunner of the fishing village we know today, the Academia General del Aire (the officer training centre of the Spanish air force, whose alumni include the present King of Spain, Felipe VI, and his father Juan Carlos) and the Casa Grande, the first structure belonging to the tourist industry which has become so dominant in the area.
Also included are the Modernist palace of the Conde de Campillo and the Real Club de Regatas, which at the time of its construction was revolutionary in its design. There are also models of the aeroplanes which have been used over the last century or so at the Academia General del Aire, on the way to the seafront promenade and the beach of Castillico.
The tour, which is held in Spanish on this occasion, begins at 9.30 at the tourist office of Santiago de la Ribera (in Calle Padre Juan) and lasts approximately two and a half hours. Participants are advised to bring plenty of drinking water and appropriate footwear for the 5-kilometre walk.
Reservations for the free tour should be made online here and further information is available from the tourist office of Santiago de la Ribera (telephone 661 572285, email turismo@sanjavier.es).
For more local information visit the tourist offices of San Javier or go to the home page of San Javier Today.
Address
Calle Padre Juan. Centro Cultural Principe de Asturias 30720 SAN JAVIERTel: 968 571 704
Oficina de Turismo de San Javier
The municipality of San Javier has three main offices giving tourist information to visitors, as well as two information points. The tourist offices are located in Santiago de la Ribera, on the ground floor of the town hall in San Javier and at the start of La Manga. There is also a summer tourist information point located on the seafront in Santiago de la Ribera as well as one at kilometre 12-13 of La Manga del Mar Menor next to Playa Mistral.
Due to its location on the fringes of the Mar Menor and Mediterranean, San Javier has a period of intense summer tourism activity during the peak summer months, although it is popular with retirees of all nationalities out of peak season.
Tickets for the annual San Javier Jazz Festival can be purchased at the Festival office in San Javier Town Hall, Plaza de España.
Timetables summer 2024:
Tourist office Santiago de la Ribera (Calle Padre Juan 30720, Santiago de la Ribera)
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Telephone: 661 572285
Email: turismo@sanjavier.es
La Manga del Mar Menor (Gran Vía Km. 0 30380, La Manga del Mar Menor):
May 1 to September 30:
Weekdays 10.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 19.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.30 to 13.00
Telephone 968 128955 ext. 2
Tourist information point of San Javier (Plaza de España, 30730 San Javier):
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00
968 573 700 ext #5351
Email: concejaliadeturismo@sanjavier.es
Tourist information point of Santiago de la Ribera (Paseo Colón on the seafront)
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Tourist information point of La Manga del Mar Menor (Playa Mistral, km 12)
Weekdays 11.00 to 18.00
Weekends and public holidays 11.00 to 14.00
