The high street appears small, but don't be fooled: there are lots of locals in the urbanizaciónes nearby. Wondering where to live in La Marina? A townhouse or flat offers unparalleled access to the local amenities, but most opt for a spacious villa in the nearby hills. Urbanización La Marina is a charming neighbourhood of snow-white houses topped with terracotta tiles and decorated with hot pink bougainvillea. In between the houses, a select number of businesses provide the essentials (including a chippy and a pub, of course). Most bars are geared towards a British market, and people living in La Marina are never far from a proper fry-up and a pint.
La Marina beach
So what's it like to live in La Marina? Away from the urbanización, the pocket-sized town offers practically every amenity you would need: a supermarket, opticians, health centre and hair salon. There's even a British supermarket nearby, supplying expats with home comforts like Marmite, custard and baked beans.
It's a 15-minute walk from the town to the dune-backed beach, Platja de la Marina. The walk is a green one, passing sweetly-scented pine trees before arriving at the refreshing coast. From the soft sand, choose between a table at a sea-facing restaurant for a traditional paella, or walk south to Playa el Rebollo, a secluded patch of sand with grassy dunes where clothing is optional.
The UNESCO world heritage site of Palmeral of Elche, one of the largest palm groves in the world
Beyond La Marina there's plenty to explore. The historic city of Elche offers cosmopolitan bars and the 10th-century UNESCO World Heritage-protected palm grove, Palmeral of Elche. Lush vineyards are also hidden in the surrounding countryside. 20 minutes in the car will take you to Bodegas Faelo, where locals join in with harvest celebrations by dancing on the grapes.
Living in La Marina: essential information
According to the Instituto Nacional de Estadística, the municipality of Elche had a population of 238,285 in 2023, and 16% of those were foreigners. The population of La Marina has been fairly steady over the past few years. In 2023, the population was 2,213 according to Foro Ciudad.
However, it's difficult to give exact figures for the area as a whole. La Marina town and the beach falls under the municipality of Elche, while Urbanización La Marina falls under the municipality of San Fulgencio. Looking at San Fulgencio, the population in 2023 was 9,680 and 67% of that is foreigners. It is the highest number of foreign people living in a municipality in Spain, and many say that it's the largest English-speaking community outside of England.
The old building of Santa Maria Basilica in Elche
Healthcare in La Marina
Both private and public healthcare has a good reputation in Spain. Clínica La Marina is a private health centre in the heart of Urbanización La Marina. This well-loved clinic offers basic care - often in English - to the surrounding community. It helps with the translation of documents, arranging specialist care and organising check-ups.
In the town, Consultorio La Marina is the official public health care centre. This practice will be the first port of call for the local community. Further afield, there are bigger hospitals on hand. Hospital General Universitario de Elche is a 22-minute drive away. As well as surgery, transplant and oncology specialists, it also features a therapeutic garden for mental health. Read Kyero's guide to health care in Spain for more information.
Working in La Marina
Industry in La Marina historically revolved around agriculture. Now, like many towns along this coastline, attention has turned to tourism – good news for English-speaking job hunters. For jobs in hospitality, turijobs.com is the best place to start. Here, you'll find vacancies from receptionists to chefs in hotels in and around La Marina. Costa Blanca Forum is the place for independent job adverts, like cleaning, maintenance and handyman jobs. La Marina Resort is another huge employer in the area. Check the employment page to find up-to-date listings, such as receptionists, kids club entertainers, gardeners and security.
Finding the right school is vital for families moving to Spain – for many people it will heavily influence their decision on where to live in La Marina. There's just one public school in the town, CEIP La Marina. Public schools are taught in a mixture of Valencian and Spanish (with a small percentage of English). The percentages of each language vary according to the schools and the bilingual laws. These laws do fluctuate depending on the government so it's good to keep an eye on it. CEIP La Marina is a small local school but it is outward-looking, offering Erasmus exchanges to promote compassion and understanding.
Some private schools offer the opportunity to keep children following the British curriculum. Willow International School, for example, is taught in English by native English speakers. Classes are kept small - to a maximum of 14 children - to aid one-to-one teaching, and new students are assigned 'buddies' to show them around their new campus. Looking for more guidance? For more help check out our guide to finding the right school in Spain.
Transport in La Marina
La Marina has excellent motorway connections to nearby cities. Alicante is a 35-minute drive away, Elche is 28 minutes away, and you can arrive in beautiful Murcia in under an hour. If a car is the option you decide to go for, check out this guidance on driving in Spain with a UK licence.
The bus routes are brilliant and affordable too. It's possible to get to Alicante and Torrevieja in around the same time as it takes to drive. Visit Autocares Costa Azul for a full list of timetables and stops.
Things to do in La Marina
Splash in the Water Park
La Marina camping resort
La Marina Resort is a five-star campsite on the coast, and the diamond in the crown is a state-of-the-art water park. Expect a whopping 3000 m2 of flumes, foliage and whirlpools. In the summer it's just for residents, but at other times of the year locals can visit with a day pass.
Chill in the Spa
Marina Senses Spa
Away from the hubbub of the water park, Marina Senses is a haven of peace and relaxation in La Marina Resort. Unwind with a lap of the spa circuit: dive into the hot tub, Turkish bath and sauna, or book in for an aromatherapy massage, priced at €45 for 50 minutes.
Spot Flamingos in the Salt Pans
The flamingoes at Salinas de Santa Pola Observatory
The southern end of Salinas de Santa Pola, a protected natural park with salt pans, is a haven for rare birds. Twitchers flock to the unspoilt nature reserve to spy flamingo, black-winged stilt, collared pratincole and little tern. Don't miss the adjacent beach, El Pinet. Only accessible by foot, this pristine shoreline is backed by a cherished dune system, one of three flora micro-reserves in Santa Pola.
Browse the Saturday Market
Every Saturday the vibrant market rolls up to the large car park opposite Lidl. Residents rock up to chatter with the traders and sift through clothes, produce and accessories. Local winemakers offer tasters straight from the barrel, street food traders cook huge pans of paella and friends catch up while buying plump olives and pickles.
Sip Wine in Vineyards
Bodegas Cerdá
Wine lovers should spend weekends exploring the enotourism scene, visiting vineyards in the valleys nearby. 25 minutes away by car, Bodegas Faelo hosts wine tastings on their picturesque terrace, which includes a tour of the old winery, fermentation room and the cellar. Visits cost €18 and include a glass of the bodega's best white, rosé, red and sweet wine. A little further afield, around 45 minutes by car, Bodegas Cerdá offers tours followed by a sherry tasting, with four different types of sherry paired with eight local cheeses for €40.
Play a Round of Golf
La Marquesa golf course
Limber up the shoulders and grab your clubs: this 18-hole course is a must-try for keen golfers. Look out for hole 16 at La Marquesa Golf, the infamous green is a peninsula surrounded by water (which is no doubt filled with long-lost golf balls). Relax in the restaurant afterwards, where golfers hang up their clubs to enjoy modern tapas and a cold beer.
Visit the Idyllic Island of Tabarca
Views of the old town of the island of Tabarca
Tabarca is the Valencian Community's only inhabited island – it makes for a wonderful day trip. A water taxi departs from nearby Santa Pola, whisking visitors to the teeny retreat. It's best known for unspoilt streets with tiny fishermen's houses and tranquil coves where colourful fish swim with snorkelers. Visit for the day, or hole up in one of the boutique hotels like Calatabarca with its cosy, beach-view rooms.
Indulge in Afternoon Tea
The delicious afternoon tea at Teteina
Afternoon tea is served at Teteina, a quaint, vintage-inspired tea bar in the centre of Urbanización La Marina. Tiered cake stands are piled high with scones, finger sandwiches and homemade carrot cake, while pots of tea are often swapped for boozy cocktails garnished with fresh fruit.
Expat clubs and activities in La Marina
There is a strong expat community in La Marina, with plenty of opportunities to get involved. The local bars and clubs are perfect meeting places; it's easy to spark up a conversation with friendly regulars. Need a little more encouragement? Why not boogie to live Motown and Northern Soul at Hillside Snooker and Bar, or cheer on England at The Final Whistle Sports Bar, where the Saint George's cross is strung along the ceiling and all the big matches are shown on the giant screen.
For a more wholesome hobby, try volunteering at the local animal rescue centre Apama Nature. A 50-minute drive from La Marina, this not-for-profit organisation cares for abandoned dogs and cats until they can find a home. They are always grateful for more dog walkers and cat socialisers, and it's a lovely way to meet people living in La Marina.
The Facebook group La Marina Gossip is more welcoming than it sounds, and posts events, news and issues facing residents in the area. Expect informal restaurant reviews, karaoke nights and job adverts.
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