Puerto de Mazarrón

Climate
Puerto de Mazarrón is a picturesque beach resort located in the Murcia region on the Costa Calida or “warm coast”, and belongs to the inland municipality of Mazarrón. The town dates back to the Carthaginian era of history, and is currently home to more than 34, 350 inhabitants, whilst also having a very good tourist infrastructure with hotel rooms, villas and apartments to rent as well as restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Spanning some 318 square kilometres, from the Mar Menor, around the La Manga Strip and along the Mediterranean coast to Aguilas in the south, its position means that Puerto de Mazarrón enjoys a pleasant Mediterranean climate. It relies on cooling sea breezes throughout the summer, with protection offered by the foothills of the Sierra de la Almenera Mountains against the cold North winds in winter. Statistics confirm that the area averages 325 sunny days, or nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine each year and the average temperature easily exceeds 20 degrees, making it an ideal spot for year round residency.

Population
The attractive combination of year round sunshine and incredibly cheap properties have proven a powerful magnet for foreign investors, with British expats showing a particular interest in the area. The population more than doubled during the “noughties”, with the Town Hall reporting that people of eighty nationalities lived within the municipality, including a significant number of Europeans, hailing from Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, UK and Romania. However during 2013 the number of inhabitants fell by 0.4%, which is thought to be as a result of large numbers of foreign investors selling up and returning to their homelands, due to the lack of employment opportunities and other consequences of the economic crisis. In spite of this, the foreign population is still thought to be around 16% with a high proportion of those being Brits. In this sense, Puerto de Mazarrón is a great location for anyone wanting to move overseas but who is concerned about the language barrier and being isolated within a traditional Spanish town. Here you should find it relatively easy to make friends of a similar mindset, who are happy to offer advice on becoming established and give you the lowdown on life in Spain.

Amenities
You will be pleased to learn that the local authorities are accustomed to assisting foreigners with completing paperwork and dealing with their enquiries, and will usually be able to supply you with all the information that you need, in a language which you can understand. Plus, as it is an area with a significant foreign population, you will also find that there are English speaking staff in many of the local banks, supermarkets, pharmacies, bars and restaurants, as well as several businesses operated by British and Irish residents. There is a modern Medical Centre or “Centro de Salud” and Dentist in Puerto de Mazarrón, as well as larger centres in the main town of Mazarrón and on Camposol. Puerto de Mazarrón is home to a very good Private International School, “Colegio Siglo XXI”, as well as several state schools that have a glowing reputation in terms of exam results and support network for foreign students. All of this will really help to make your transition to Spain far easier than you might find if you chose a traditional town, or piece of “Real Spain” as some might choose to put it.

Beaches
Being a coastal resort, Puerto de Mazarrón is particularly proud of its beaches, boasting a golden stretch of an impressive thirty-five kilometers in length. With thirty-three pristine beaches and cozy coves to chose from, and water temperatures rising to a soothing 20 degrees during summer, this is the perfect spot for sunbathing, swimming, scuba diving, fishing and practicing a wide range of water sports. There is certainly a beach to suit all tastes and requirements with six of them flying the coveted “Blue Flag” award for quality amenities and cleanliness. Those situated close to Puerto de Mazarrón are the busiest, and the preferred location for many people in the Region of Murcia, being within close proximity of the shops, bars and restaurants. This area has gradually become one of the most important tourist destinations of Costa Cálida. Meanwhile, those further along the coast in the Protected Wildlife Reserve of Sierra de las Moreras are generally quieter and more private, with some allowing the more adventurous bather to achieve an all over tan!

Recommended Sandy Spots
Puerto de Mazarrón itself lies around a wide bay, framed by the foothills of the breathtaking Almenara Mountains. It has a spacious sandy beach offering a variety of water sports including scuba diving along with a selection of gift shops, boutiques, cafes and restaurants.
Bolnuevo is a beautiful long beach of golden sand spanning over 1.5km and surrounded by various amenities. Shielded by the famous wind eroded rocks where the elements have carved fascinating sculptures, it offers idyllic bathing conditions even in winter, although the chilly waters are not for the faint hearted. There are various sports and recreational activities taking place along the beach and ample parking close by.
Los Perchelles is a picturesque, quite secluded cove situated just outside of Canadas de Gallego. It is accessed via a narrow dirt road lined with tomato plantations, which is suitable for all types of vehicles although you should be aware that there are always a number of cyclists and pedestrians along the route. At the end you will find a beautiful beach guarded by palm trees, and home to a wide spectrum of flora and fauna.
The beach of San Gines can be found in La Azohia, and is characterized by fine sand and a few pebbles. Covering 800m of coastline and 25m wide the beach features ample parking, lifeguards during high season, a diving zone, various restaurants, public phones, toilets and showers nearby. Having been praised for its cleanliness and high quality facilities this is an ideal choice for a family day at the seaside.

Recreation
Like many seaside resorts, Puerto de Mazarron is much quieter during low season, offering residents the opportunity to absorb the beauty and serenity of their home, as well as getting involved in community events. With so much going on locally there is a good chance that you will be able to continue your usual recreational activities once you relocate, and may even have the opportunity to try some new ones. The pleasant year round climate means that outdoor pursuits are far more accessible and enjoyable than they might have been back home, with the combination of quiet country roads, flat coastal paths and hilly terrain offering a range of challenges for hiking, cycling and jogging fanatics. Golf enthusiasts will also be quite content here, with a number of prestigious courses within close proximity including the internationally acclaimed “La Manga Club”. The nearest fairway, “Camposol Club de Golf” is situated ten kilometres inland in Urbanisation Camposol, and comprises eighteen holes across a diverse, challenging course.

Entertainment
The Town Hall is quite active in organizing competitive and sponsored events, including cross country runs or mountain walks, sub-aqua diving, cycling or sailing regattas. They are also responsible for hosting a plethora of music concerts, street parades and parties throughout the year in accordance with the regional fiesta calendar. Those of greatest local significance include the Fiestas del Milagro in Bolnuevo and Mazarrón, which are normally celebrated on 17 November, with the Romeria and event known by the expat community as the “Bolnuevo Sardine Festival” taking place the Sunday after. A holiday known as “La Purisma” which takes place on 8 December is also of great local interest, when a huge celebration typically comprising a street parade, music, dance and plenty of traditional cuisine takes place to honour the Patron Saint of Mazarrón. On 19 of this month, a slighter less extravagant fiesta is observed, to honour the Patron Saint of Puerto de Mazarrón, San José.

Living The Dream….
A Life In Spain spoke to Ray and Chrissie who relocated to Puerto de Mazarrón with their family in 2012, who gave us some insight into what it is like to be a foreign resident living in the vicinity. Chrissie said that Mazarrón had been a favourite holiday destination for many years, because it is not too built up with some great beaches and plenty of activities to entertain the kids. “I always dreamed of living here one day, but I had concerns about the upheaval involved for our three children, then aged three, six and eight”. However, when Ray got made redundant from his job of ten years they decided that it was now or never. “We felt that we would never be able to afford it again if we stayed in the UK for any length of time with Ray out of work. So we put the house on the market, and sold within 3 months; then booked on a viewing trip to look at various properties along the Costa Calida”. Ray went on to say that “We liked Camposol, because it is well connected with a thriving international population, but eventually decided it was a bit “Too British” to suit our requirements. On the other hand, we found that the majority of people who live in Mazarrón are Spanish, but there is also a healthy contingent of Brits or at least English speaking residents, giving us the best of both worlds”. He added that “There are so many really good, friendly bars and restaurants in Mazarrón Town and Puerto de Mazarron that we never get bored of the food or company. Whether we fancy a lively Spanish evening or some home comforts and British humour, it is all available on our doorstep!”

Chrissie went on to explain that “One of the most difficult choices we had to make was whether to enroll the children in a Spanish state or private international school. We felt that our two youngest would cope fine with the transition, but were quite concerned that our eight year old, Sam, may have missed too much of the Spanish curriculum to catch up. However, after chatting to our new neighbours about their own experiences we felt assured that all three would be better off being thrown into a Spanish school where they would be forced to learn the language and absorb the culture.” She confirms that it was a good decision, as the children settled and made friends very quickly. “Sam loved it from day one and was able to walk to school with a group of other kids of various nationalities who lived nearby. He struggled with certain subjects to start with, but the teaching staff were extremely sympathetic and prepared to spend time giving him extra attention until he grasped it!”

We asked Ray to give us an insight into how Brexit and the economy have affected the local property market. He replied that “Nobody seems too concerned about the affects Brexit will have on residents or potential buyers. It’s all still so uncertain it’s just not worth stressing out about; maybe we have lived here too long and the Spanish laid back attitude has rubbed off eh!?” He added that “There are still a glut of bank repossessions available as a result of the recession. However, if you look into getting water and electricity reconnected, as well as the extensive renovation which most of them will need after being stood empty for so long, then you may find that you can bag a much better deal in the resale or even new build markets!”

Finally we asked if they had any regrets, or if there is anything which they would do differently if they had the chance, what would it be? Chrissy commented that “The only thing I would change is when we came to live in Spain- we should have done it ten years earlier!” Ray finished that “We are more than satisfied with the area which we chose, even more so now that we have seen problems arising in other areas, which fortunately have not affected residents in Puerto de Mazarrón. I would say that we were very lucky though, and recommend anyone else considering relocating to do lots of homework before they agree to anything. The internet is full of stories about expats who have relocated to Spain, some good, some bad, so you need to chose your sources wisely and don’t just get swept away with the excitement of the moment! It is a massive decision which will change your life completely, so go into it with your eyes open and you will have a fantastic future ahead of you!”