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Tucked inside the calm, salty waters of Murcia’s Mar Menor lagoon, five volcanic islands sit like time capsules from the Pliocene epoch. Separated from the Mediterranean by the 22km La Manga sandbar, now lined with hotels and beach bars, these islets remain a world apart. Designated as Specially Protected Areas for birds and Mediterranean wildlife, they’re only accessible via authorised boat tours, keeping the crowds at bay and nature in charge.

Start small with Isla Redonda, the littlest of the five and a favourite nesting spot for waterfowl. Few people set foot here, making it a peaceful haven for birds and anyone lucky enough to glide past on a boat tour.

Just offshore in the pristine Cala del Pino, Isla del Sujeto wears a simple cloak of thyme and lavender. It’s the nearest island to land but feels a world away, offering an untouched slice of the Mar Menor’s natural beauty.

Down south, the 16-hectare Isla del Ciervo guards a fragile ecosystem. Authorities recently removed an old causeway linking it to the mainland to protect its wildlife - a smart move to let nature reclaim the space.

 

Isla Perdiguera earned its name from the partridges that once roamed here. Once linked to Isla Espartera by human handiwork, it served as a Civil War bombing range, leaving dangerous unexploded shells behind. The 1990s saw clean-up efforts, but landslides from too many visitors led to beach closures in 2007.

Saving the best for last, Isla del Barón spans 94 hectares and belongs to the Figueroa family as a private nature reserve. Its 104-metre peak hosts a Neo-Mudéjar palace built by the 19th-century Baron of Benifayó. Folklore whispers of a “Russian princess” haunting the clifftops, though mouflon sheep are the real residents. Flippa Boat tours offer the only public access.

 

 

These islands blend haunting history with thriving wildlife, all protected from the modern rush. Book a boat tour, pack binoculars and discover why they’re called Murcia’s best-kept secret.

 

 

Images: wikicommons