The autonomous community and the province of Murcia are one and the same, bordering Almeria in Andalucia and Alicante province in the Community of Valencia on the Mediterranean in the south east of Spain. There are 19 protected areas in Murcia province, which is half mountainous and half flat lands and plateaux. The region enjoys a semi-arid Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and hot summers. The A30 runs north-south, parallel to the train lines linking Cartagena, Murcia city and Cieza with Albacete and Madrid, and the A-7/E-15 motorway runs west-east linking Almeria, Puerto Lumbreras, Lorca and Murcia city with Orihuela, Alicante and Valencia.

The Costa Calida: of Murcia is 274 km long and characterised by white sandy beaches, very clear waters, dramatic cliffs, sand dunes, lively ports and picturesque coves. South of the resorts of the Mar Menor region the coast is untouched save for the natural harbour and ancient seaport of Cartagenaa, the beaches, coves and puerto de Mazarron and Aguilas.
The Mar Menor is a coastal lake of warm salt water measuring 170 km ² with an average depth of 3.5 metres separated from the sea by La Manga, a strip of sand 22km long, with over 44km of hotels, holiday properties and beach bars in protected bays and coves. Cheap flights to San Javier (Murcia) International airport has made the Mar Menor towns of La Manga, the marinas at Los Alcazares and San Pedro del Pinatar and, inland, Torre Pacheco, popular for golf and watersports.
The Segura river valley splits inland Murcia into rich valleys and plains; the capital Murcia at its heart, the lakes, woods and hot springs of Fortuna and the lush valleys of Pliego and Cieza nearby.
Upper Segura Valley is a large rural area in the north, dotted with little-visited towns and villages, such as Molina de Segura, Jumilla, Cieza and Yecla primarily wine producing areas, criss-crossed by small country roads that weave their way through lush valleys and protected Sierra Espuña.
North West Murcia is mountainous and its towns Moratalla, Caravaca, Calasparra, Cehegin and Bullas are relatively untouched by tourism. The countryside surrounding them is spectacular, varied and pristine.

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