Moving to Arboleas
Moving to Arboleas is the subject of Matthew’s article this week, where the politicians are the good guys.
Image ©Alan Gandy Photography. Copyright info.Moving to Arboleas: where Almería rolls out the welcome mat for Brits
Moving to Arboleas: Ups
Arboleas is very much an up-and-coming town but one which retains a Spanish feel. The mayor Cristóbal García Granados is a hero, having (among other things) set up a cheap internet service for local residents along with regularising housing. There’s an art gallery which offers free access to the back catalogue of Arboleas’ favourite son, sculptor Pedro Gilabert Gallegos. The gallery regularly plays host to exhibitions featuring residents of all nationalities. The town is a hive of activity with something always being organised for, or by, its residents. There is a strong community spirit with an excellent support structure.
Moving to Arboleas: Downs
In 2011, legendary folk singer Eliza Carthy penned Britain is a Car Park. In her words, this is a song that “imagines a near and possible future where we from our tiny island have all moved to Spain, and left our cars behind to be looked after by people who can’t afford to move to Spain…then we all enjoy the unique local food, with chips, naturally.” Two thirds of the Arboleas population are Brits born and bred, so expect to be able to eat chips with everything. If that’s not your idea of fun, you should probably look elsewhere in Spain.
Moving to Arboleas: Ins and outs
The A-7 transports you from Alicante aiport to Arboleas in just under two hours. Travelling in the opposite direction on the same road, you’ll reach Arboleas in a tad over an hour from Almería airport. A third option, Murcia-San Javier airport is also located on the A-7, although you can cut your journey time down to closer to 90 minutes by paying the tolls on the AP-7.
Moving to Arboleas: Education
The out-of-town Colegio Público Medio Almanzora II’s a state primary which was overcrowded, but thanks to a campaign by parents, now has a lower child-to-classroom ratio. If you require extra space, there’s the more centrally-located CEIP Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. Enrolling your kids in the nearest bilingual private school, Colegio Internacional SEK-Alborán, will result in a three-hour commute Monday to Friday.
Shop until you drop…
In Arboleas, you can enjoy a barbecue without fear of it being rained off. Indalocio in Arboleas’ Poligono Industrial Sur sell barbecues and garden furniture. There’s a second-hand market open every Saturday from 8:00am to 2:00pm.
Property types
Villas tend to be more traditional and white-washed the closer you get to the centre of Arboleas and more modern further away. There is something for everyone in this area – across the sp0ectrum of property types.
Market watch
Villas range in price from €100,000 up to and in excess of €300,000. As in other parts of Spain, be aware that the Euro uses a decimal point rather than a comma to separate figures.
In Praise Of
“Arboleas is a very Spanish town in the Almanzora valley, set amongst olive groves and fruit orchards. Our biggest asset is the town council who have been working very hard to legalize all the houses in the area which have been hit with retrospective denial of planning permission. This has led to Arboleas being, in many ways, the envy of the whole area as we have a council who genuinely cares about its residents and is working hard to improve the overall quality of life here.” Karen Young
- Are you a non-Spanish person living in Arboleas? What do you like/dislike about it? Let us know in the comments below.
Matthew Hirtes, our resident broadsheet journalist, moved to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria back in 2004. He’s travelled extensively through Spain, covering it for such publications as Telegraph Travel, Metro, and The Independent. The author of Going Local in Gran Canaria: How To Turn a Holiday Destination into a Home, Matthew truly is a resident expert.
Matthew writes for two sections of Spain Buddy: Moving to Spain and Spanish Football as well as providing Reviews
February 9, 2016 @ 11:05 pm
”so expect to be able to eat chips with everything”
I think you will find that its a Spanish Food Tradition not because the Brits are here. Find me anywhere were the majority of Spanish eateries serve anything different than Chips!
”The out-of-town Colegio Público Medio Almanzora II’s a state primary which was overcrowded, but thanks to a campaign by parents, now has a lower child-to-classroom ratio.”
Get your facts right here!
My 1st daughter was the 2nd British child to attend here in 2004, 2 teachers, teaching 8 years of infants & primary. There’s a ruling to how many children can attend a rural school each class year (18) and that has always been in place with extra teachers been brought in, the class numbers have never been over crowed. As numbers grew, prefab classrooms were brought in, we campaigned to have the extension built which is now in place, hence plenty of space and more individual attention to a child’s education. I would rather have my child in a class with a maximum of 18, than 30. I still have my 2nd daughter in 6th, she’s one of 6.
” A third option, Murcia-San Javier airport is also located on the A-7, although you can cut your journey time down to closer to 90 minutes by paying the tolls on the AP-7”
Or via Alhama de Murcia, 1 hr 45 mins with no tolls to pay.
”Villas tend to be more traditional and white-washed the closer you get to the centre of Arboleas and more modern further away”
Plenty of beautiful traditional Aldea’s away from the center, the Urbanizations built for the British are close to the main Arboleas Village with the exception of Limaria & Los Huiguerales and a few up the Arroyo.
I agree with your up’s and Karen’s comments
August 25, 2016 @ 11:46 am
Can anyone tell me how many Brits live in Arboleas full time .. The article suggests that there are more Brits then Spanish people . has the number of British peoples spoilt the Spanish feel?
August 25, 2016 @ 12:12 pm
Yes Sara there are more Brits than Spanish in Arboleas now. The population is 33% Spanish with the rest coming from elsewhere (including Britain of course). I don’t have the exact population demographics. However, most of them are located in the surroundings urbanisations. The village itself remains very Spanish in feel.
However, if you don’t want to hear a British voice each time you nip out for tapas… then Arboleas is not for you.
February 28, 2017 @ 1:55 pm
Hi we are thinking of moving to almanzora valley i.e. albox linear somontin we live in Tenerife at the moment and want to relocate can anyone give us any advice we are thinking of buying a cafe to work in which is the largest town ??
Thanks Karen