La Mata brings together a range of things to discover: Playa de La Mata, the history of La Mata Tower and protected landscapes with dunes and lagoons. You can tailor your stay to your own interests, rather than treating the beach, culture and nature as a single itinerary.
Playa de La Mata: a long beach
Playa de La Mata, also known as Torrelamata, stretches for approximately 2,365 metres and is the longest beach in the municipality of Torrevieja. Its approximate length makes the beach a clear focal point for anyone looking to spend time by the sea. The beach also offers leisure water sports for hire. An adapted area allows people with different levels of mobility to access the beach.
The beach therefore offers both relaxation by the water and leisure activities. If accessibility is a consideration when planning your trip, the adapted area is a specific point of reference; it relates to the beach. For more information about adapted sections of the paths, see the section on walking routes.
La Mata Tower and its history
La Mata Tower was part of the coastal surveillance and defence system. It also served to protect and monitor the salt flats and a former landing place, which was used to load salt and other products. Coastal defence and salt loading are therefore among the historical contexts that shaped the tower.
Its structure can also be described in specific terms: La Mata Tower has a circular ground plan and was built of masonry. It follows the model of the watchtowers built in the 15th and 16th centuries. Visitors interested in history can therefore learn about the building’s function as well as its architectural classification. The circular layout and masonry give the description a different focus from the stories about the coast and salt.
Dunes and lagoon landscape
The Molino del Agua natural area in La Mata preserves one of the last dune systems on the coast of Alicante province. The protected area was designated in 2006, covers 17 hectares and is notable for its ecological value. The dunes distinguish this natural feature from the lagoon landscape: here, the focus is on a preserved coastal system.
Las Lagunas de La Mata y Torrevieja Natural Park encompasses two ecologically important salt lagoons: Laguna de Torrevieja, known as the Pink Lagoon, and Laguna de La Mata. Together, they form an internationally renowned wetland. In the Laguna de La Mata section, marked paths and viewpoints allow visitors to observe the diverse wildlife and plant life. Nature watching and the protected landscape therefore offer distinct focal points alongside the beach and architectural history.
Paths and different points of interest
The La Mata pedestrian path connects the centre of La Mata with Parque Molino del Agua. It has adapted sections. This is specific practical information about the path connection and should not be confused with the beach access arrangements. In the Laguna de La Mata section of the natural park, marked paths and viewpoints provide specific points of reference for observing nature.
When choosing what to experience, you can therefore focus on different interests: time at the beach and leisure water sports at Playa de La Mata, the history of the watchtower, or paths through protected landscapes. These themes offer different perspectives on La Mata; your stay does not need to combine them into a single itinerary. If you want to observe nature, Laguna de La Mata, with its marked paths and viewpoints, is the natural focal point. For architecture and coastal history, the focus is on La Mata Tower’s design and historical functions.
Discover more destinations: Torre Del Moro.
Return to the main travel guide: Torrevieja.
