La Mata beach stretches for over a kilometre at the northern end of Torrevieja's coastline, between the small settlement of La Mata and the Laguna de La Mata behind it. It is the widest of the town's six main beaches, which means it handles summer crowds better than its neighbours — there is simply more room. The sand here is coarser than at El Cura, the sea slightly more open, and the strip of dune vegetation and low scrub behind the beach gives it a more natural, less built-up edge.
The combination of beach and adjacent lake walking circuit makes La Mata worth the trip north from the town centre (around five kilometres, easiest by car or bike). You can swim in the morning, walk the lake path for an hour or two, and stop for lunch in La Mata village before heading back. The beach is popular with families and has the expected facilities, but the slightly greater distance from the centre keeps it from becoming overwhelmed even in August. The views along the coast from the beach, with the salt lake directly behind the dunes, give a clear sense of how unusual Torrevieja's geography is.