Free walking tours in La Azohía and what to see

Must-sees

La Azohía is a small fishing village in the west of the municipality of Cartagena, at the eastern end of the Bay of Mazarrón. Its seafront promenade runs past a string of beaches and coves of sand, pebbles and rock, with calm, clear water. It is one of the few places on the Mediterranean coast where the almadraba is still set, a tuna fishing method already practised here in Roman times.

Above the village, at about 70 metres, stands the Torre de Santa Elena, a watchtower built by the late 16th century at the latest to warn of pirate attacks. It cannot be visited inside, but a stone path leads up to it and from the top you look over the whole bay. To the east begins Cabo Tiñoso, with cliffs, a marine reserve much prized for diving and the Castillitos Battery, a 20th-century military fortification that looks like a castle.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no free walking tours in La Azohía. What you will find are sea activities: kayak routes with snorkelling stops in the coves of Cabo Tiñoso, such as Cala Cerrada, and diving trips in the marine reserve. If you want guided heritage visits, Cartagena, less than half an hour away by car, has free walking tours and visits of its old town and Roman remains.

How long to spend

A morning is enough for the village, the climb to the Torre de Santa Elena and a swim. If you do a kayak route or a dive, give it the whole day, as they are best early with a calm sea. With two or three days you can visit the Castillitos Battery, walk in the Cabo Tiñoso hills and spend an afternoon in Cartagena or Puerto de Mazarrón.

Where to stay

La Azohía mainly has apartments and rental homes by the promenade and the beach, ideal for stays of several days. Neighbouring Isla Plana, right next to the village, widens the choice with more apartments and a campsite. If you want hotels and more services, Puerto de Mazarrón is very close, and Cartagena is the alternative for combining sea and city.