• Region: Murcia (Alto Guadalentín)
• Declared a Regional Park: 1992. “Calnegre” and “Cabo Cope” Places of Community Importance (SCI) 2000. Special Protection Area for Birds (ZEPA), 2001
• Park surface area: 10,032 hectares
• Towns and villages: Lorca, Águilas, Calabardina and Puntas de Calnegre

Points of interest

The Calnegre y Cabo Cope Regional Park (Parque Regional Calnegre y Cabo Cope) is located in the south of the Murcia Region close to the border with Andalucia. The Lomo de Bas constitutes the northern barrier of the park and the eastern flank has a coastline length of around 17 km.

The marine environment where the area surrounding the rock of Cabo Cope is also protected as the “Submerged coastal strip of the Region of Murcia” and this landscape combines Mediterranean mountains with beaches, cliffs, salt marsh area and dunes.

There seems to have been a constant battle going on here between local conservationists and developers (Murcia government and banks) with proposed plans and projects for a nuclear power station, hotel and golf courses and marinas over the years.

Find a hotel close to the Calnegre y Cabo Cope Regional Park

In recent years loggerhead turtles have returned to the area with 2 nests discovered in 2020. However, they were located in unsuitable areas. Eggs and hatchlings are collected and are cared for at the Aquaculture Center. IMIDA Marina in San Pedro del Pinatar untill they are released into the sea.

Some fantastic drone footage of the Calnegre y Cabo Cope Regional Park

There are around 322 species of flora including Allium melananthum, Periploca angustifolia, Salsola papillosa and Ziziphus lotus. Also noteworthy is the population of black juniper in Cabo Cope.

Spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) are present in the area in good numbers.

Information/Visitors Centers

There is no dedicated tourist office or interpretation centre for the Calnegre y Cabo Cope Regional Park but you could start at the tourist office in Lorca to find out some more about the area.

https://lorcaturismo.es/enlacosta/enlacosta.asp?id=151

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clive

I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain.