The history of the of the Manga of the Mar Menor only traces back around four centuries, as prior to that, it was a conjunction of two islands, and only in the 16th Century, the islands began to merge together, forming 21 km of land to the north and south, closing the Mar Menor and converting it into what it is today; an enormous salty lake that is closed off from the Mediterranean.

Whether by the hand of nature until the 20th Century, or from the hand of Man after last century, day by day this area is being formed and re-shaped by the currents and sediments of the sea in the waterways where the Mediterranean Sea and Mar Menor come together. La Manga varies in its shape and form on a daily basis. Until 1863, it was property of the state, but that very same year it was sold in a public auction. In only the last 50 or 60 years, La Manga has transformed itself into a tourist destination due to its building of urbanizations, apartment buildings and chalets, discotheques and bars, and everything else inbetween. Today, La Manga has 40 km of beaches, and is one of the few places on the planet where you can bathe between two seas: the Mediterranean and the Mar Menor. Towns such as Cabo de Palos (previously a small fishing village), San Javier, Los Alcazares, Cartagena, and San Pedro de Pinatar, have all grown immensly since the 1960´s.

Regarding ancient history, this area dates back to the Neolithic age, as remains of wooden cottages, as well as clay and mud houses have been found. It is believed tthat the richness of the area with the Sierra Minera, its minerals, and the fishing conditions of the sea attracted settlements here such as the Iberos, the Phoenicians, the Cartagineses, the Romans, Greeks, etc. In the depths of the Mar Menor, ancient boats have been found full of gold and silver from many different ages of civilization, which makes scubadiving in the area a special treat for history lovers.

During the expulsion of the Arabs, many fled to La Manga, where they had to be protected by the three towers (Torres de Ahumadas), which were ordered to be built by Emperor Carlos and his son, Felipe II. The three towers were built in La Manga and Cabo de Palos.

From the Middle Ages until the 18th Century, the area suffered deforestation which was caused by absolute lack of control of the cutting down of forests.

In the 19th Century, the lighthouses Estacion and Las Hormigas were built.

Today, La Manga del Mar Menor is a tourist spot, and in the last few decades has grown immensly. Many infrastructures have been built such as tourist apartments, apartahotels, hostels, as well as all kinds of service places (restaurants, shops, golf courses, bars, etc.), all to appease the yearly demand of thousands of tourists looking to spend their vacation in the Mar Menor.