San Javier and San Pedro are towns in the sunny province of Murcia. The area is popular with tourists and offers many summer festivals and amazing attractions, including museums and mud baths. The area is known for its brilliant architecture. There is a national park near the town of San Pedro called Salinas de San Pedro del Pinatar. This reserve serves as a great walking and cycling route. Near the nature reserve, several bars and restaurants overlook the beautiful marina. There are many bars and restaurants located within this area.
Festivals
Throughout the year in San Javier there are many festivals of music, food and culture. One of the largest festivals is the San Javier Jazz Festival: a month-long concert takes place every year in July. Throughout the days and nights you can see some of the most famous and greatest jazz stars from all over Spain and beyond. Around the same time there is a Festival of Theatre, Music and Dance, which takes part in San Javier. Hosted at this event are world-renowned theatre, music and dance groups – a great way to bring community spirit to the city.
Within the Murcia province, San Javier and its surrounding areas is the Romeria de San Blas Festival. It is one of the most well-known festivals in the province and takes place in February. Other festivals include the Santiago de la Ribera festival and the Festival of the Virgin del Carmen, which is celebrated with a maritime procession and many street parties around the province.
Wine and Dine
Throughout San Javier and San Pedro there is a huge selection of bars and restaurants, where you will find a mixture of Spanish, European, Mediterranean and Italian cuisines. There are also several bars along the seafront and the centre of San Javier and San Pedro.
Of course we can’t talk about food and drink without addressing the local speciality: caldero. It is made with rice, fish from the local seas and noras, a special type of sun-dried pepper grown in the Murcia province. The dish all comes together to make a risotto type dish – a must-try for food lovers.
In San Javier, many of the best restaurants are located within the centre and down near the south beach. One of the best restaurants is the Casa Pedro, a diner-style café and restaurant. Not only does it serve great food: the staff are flawless and the price is more than worth the quality of food. Another great restaurant in San Javier is the Bellavista restaurant, opposite the beach. You can expect excellent service and great food. Their red wine is worth coming back for.
In San Pedro, many of the best restaurants are along the seafront. We recommend the Juan Mari restaurant, which is praised in the Michelin Guide year in, year out. The restaurant is very family-oriented and offers cold and hot dishes, as well as beautiful fish and meat dishes.
In San Javier you can find multiple sports complexes. The biggest of these is the Ayuntamiento de San Javier, which hosts a large running track, multiple indoor and outdoor courts as well as a pitch for games such as soccer and rugby. On the athletics track there are facilities to practice sports such as the discus, hammer throw and the shot put.
Throughout the year the area is host to many different sporting events, from running and cycling competitions to obscure sports such as beach volleyball and archery. There are multiple golf courses nearby and opportunities to take part in water sports are plentiful.
Sports such as sailing, kayaking and diving are very popular in this area. There are multiple places you can rent water sports equipment along the seafront and coast. You can also bring your own equipment to the waters of the Mediterranean and the Mar Menor. You can even take boat tours of the area.
Museums and the Spanish Air Force
Throughout San Javier and San Pedro are several must-see museums. Two of the most important museums are the Museum of San Javier and the Casa Barnuevo, which both feature changing exhibitions throughout the year.
In San Javier there is the Museum of San Javier, as well as the modern home of the Spanish Air Academy, which is surrounded by historic monuments such as the Espacio Rotary.
The area of San Javier is a very important area in the San Javier Air Force. The San Javier Airport is a military-owned airport that is used for a small amount of commercial flights.
In the town of San Pedro are two main museums: the Museo Municipal de San Pedro del Pinatar and the Museo Palacio del Baron de Benijofar o Casa de la Rusa.
Parks and Nature Reserves
San Javier and San Pedro are situated beside one of the biggest nature reserves in Murcia: the Las Salinas Regional Park, located on the edge of the Mar Menor. The park itself is the final piece of the La Manga strip, but unfortunately you can’t reach this area directly from La Manga. Throughout the park there are many different beaches, salt flats, dunes and grasslands.
The main part of the park is a great place to go on a walk or a cycle. The area is known for amazing wildlife such as the pink flamingos – very much like the salt lakes of Torrevieja. If you’re a keen photographer, this area is one of the most beautiful places in Murcia, with wonderful sunrises, sunsets and great areas to capture wildlife images.
There are some small parks located around San Javier and San Pedro. These make great places for a walk, a cycle or to bring the family for a day in the sun.
Important Information
Overall, there are a total of 4 police stations around the areas of San Javier, San Pedro and Pilar de la Horadada (two of which are in San Javier). Each of the other towns have one station each. The only hospitals in the area are in San Javier. Each of the other towns have a medical centre.
There are private and public schools in each of the areas, with the closest university located in San Javier. Other universities nearby are located in Murcia and Torrevieja.
