Baños y Mendigo

What's it like to live in Baños y Mendigo?

Luxurious villas with architectural spark and dreamy swimming pools are often what you'll find in Baños y Mendigo. The location was expertly chosen for its proximity to the essentials – airports, shops and cities – while keeping just enough distance to maintain a magical tranquillity.  

In general, plots are roomy and the low-density communities are secure. Altaona Golf & Country Village is one of the biggest housing sites; the exclusive golf club has sculpted its vast grounds into a series of charming avenues and cul-de-sacs, populated with sleek townhouses and high-spec villas, all with glittering pools.  

A regular day in Baños y Mendigo will likely involve a round of golf – it'd be rude not to with a course on your doorstep. It's a matter of minutes between rolling out of bed and rolling the golf buggy over the Altaona course. The 18 holes are "challenging, but not tortuous" writes the website, while the desert-like backdrop is a stunning contrast to the lush lakes and perfectly-trimmed grass.

Beyond the almond groves, there are mountains to explore. Routes lead to breathtaking viewpoints and nature reserves, like the Parque Regional de Sierra Espuña, offer a place to unplug and recharge in the wild. When city life calls, nip to nearby Murcia, with its Modernista architecture and hearty dose of restaurants, cafés and boutiques.
 

Living in Baños y Mendigo: essential info 

Population in Baños y Mendigo

Baños y Mendigo is located in Municipio de Murcia, which had a total population of 467,501 in 2023 according to the Instituto Nacional de Estadística. The section to the south (charmingly named 30030-08-001, which skirts around the city of Murcia and encompasses a slightly larger area than Baños y Mendigo) had a population of 2,696 in 2023. The number of expats is condensed in this smaller section. Here, the percentage of foreigners was 34.79% in 2023. It's a high figure, especially when compared to the broader Municipio de Murcia, where the population is 12.54% foreigners.

Healthcare in Baños y Mendigo

While it might not seem like the most pressing issue, access to healthcare is an essential consideration – for some people it might even influence where they decide to live in Baños y Mendigo. Thankfully, there are several healthcare services within easy reach. The closest centro sanitario (health centre) is Consultorio Baños y Mendigo, which offers basic care, family check-ups and midwife services. It's a 5-minute drive from Altaona; or a 20-minute bus journey.

For further treatment, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca is a 15-minute drive or 30-minute bus journey away. The 863-bed hospital has surgery equipment, oncology departments and paediatric facilities. Wondering what it's like to live in Baños y Mendigo and give birth? Mums-to-be should know that the public maternity unit appreciates "natural birth" practices, and has been offering birthing pools to low-risk mamas since 2021.  

Working in Baños y Mendigo

Hoping to find work while living in Baños y Mendigo? The area appears to be picking up in terms of tourism and urban development. According to the Centro Regional Estadística de Murcia, The number of people on the dole is falling in the Municipio de Murcia, from 44,973 in 2014 to 25,357 in 2024.

The proximity of enormous golf clubs and buzzy cities offers plenty of job opportunities. Try contacting big golf resorts directly to ask about job vacancies – people who speak English fluently are in high demand. Further afield, Murcia is a hive of hotels, restaurants and offices. Job sites like Jooble and Infojobs list vacancies for everything from hotel receptionists to delivery drivers.

Work remotely? Head to a coworking space when the glorious views from the villa get repetitive. Espacio15 is a 20-minute drive away in Murcia. It offers chic exposed brick offices, meeting rooms and showrooms shared with local architects.  

Budding entrepreneurs can access free support and advice from the local Chamber of Commerce, the Cámara de Comercio de Murcia. Here, you'll find information on every aspect of setting up a business in Spain. Read our guide to finding a job in Spain for more help. 

Schools and education in Baños y Mendigo

Moving to Baños y Mendigo with a family might seem daunting, but there are several local school options to suit your clan. Two public schools in the immediate area offer a fabulous opportunity for children to assimilate into the local community. CEIP Ntra. Sra. de las Maravillas is cocooned by farmland and offers specialised Spanish as a foreign language classes for non-native students. It's located in Los Ruices, a rural setting around a 10-minute drive from Baños y Mendigo. Similarly, CEIP Isabel Bellvis, in the compact town of Corvera, is a community-driven school with a focus on fostering respect and peace among students.

If private school is an option, King's College Murcia is a 20-minute drive from the town centre. Described as "outstanding" by a 2022 British Schools Overseas report, it follows the British curriculum and is taught mostly in English by native English speakers.

Another excellent private school is El Limonar International School. Just a 10-minute drive from Baños y Mendigo, the school offers a multilingual environment which follows the British curriculum. Alumni come away with dual qualifications, British IGCSEs and Spanish 'Graduate in Compulsory Secondary Education' certificate, coupled with Spanish 'Baccalaureate' and English A-Level certificates.

Transport in Baños y Mendigo

Getting to Baños y Mendigo is easy thanks to the international airport Aeropuerto Internacional Región de Murcia located just a 10-minute drive away. It's frequented by flights from around the world, including planes from London, Bristol, Manchester and Glasgow.

The A30 motorway makes a beeline through the mountains to the city of Murcia, taking around 20 minutes by car. Buses also run along this route, they're slightly slower with a journey time of around 30 minutes.

In Murcia, trains whizz passengers across the country, including Alicante in around one hour, Cartagena in around one hour and Madrid in three and a half hours.

A car will give you the most freedom to explore the wild coastline and mountains. If you do decide to drive, our guide to driving in Spain after Brexit is a must-read. 

Things to do in Baños y Mendigo

Hike through lush pine forests

There's nothing better than blowing away the cobwebs on a good walk, and the routes around Baños y Mendigo are quite spectacular. Parque Regional de Sierra Espuña is around 50 minutes away by car. More than just a protected slice of nature, this is a model of reforestation. The park was almost an environmental disaster zone, but an extensive tree-planting programme has been a great success and reversed creeping desertification. Don't fancy the full mountain-top hike? Pathway Ricardo Codorníu​ is a 1km accessible concrete path with quaint wooden bridges (perfect for toddlers and buggies, too).

Take a deep dive at Cabo de Palos

Islas Hormigas is a marine reserve just off the coast of Cabo de Palos, and it's arguably one of the best places to dive in Spain. A 35-minute drive from Baños y Mendigo, Islas Hormigas Club de Buceo teaches people how to dive in friendly, accessible classes. Spot jellyfish, grouper, sunfish and octopus in the mysterious deep blue sea on a one-day bautizo buceo (€85), or train for your Open Water Diver qualification and explore coves and shipwrecks.

Disconnect in a heavenly cove

Phone signal drops to zero on Cala del Barco, allowing you to unplug and soak up the sun uninterrupted. It's accessed via the five-star hotel and golf course La Manga Club, although it's open to the public. In the summer it has five-star facilities, too. Pull up a chair at Restaurante La Cala, with crowd-pleasing plates like steak and chips, and listen to the sound of the gentle waves. 

Climb the old bell tower in Murcia

Catedral de Murcia is the jewel of Murcia. Built over an old mosque, the first stone was laid in the 14th century, and work didn't stop until around the 18th century. At 95 metres high, the bell tower is the second tallest in Spain – it gives spectacular views over the city. Take a guided tour, they run twice a day at midday and 4pm and cost €7. On the top level find the famous 20 bells. The largest is Santa Agueda, weighing in at 6420k. Beyond the terracotta roofs, admire views to Cresta de Gallo mountain - so called because it resembles a rooster comb.

Admire Modernista architecture in Cartagena

Cartagena is a graceful port city with enchanting historic landmarks, including a Roman theatre. An ongoing restoration programme is helping regenerate the historic centre, which was previously a little neglected. Now, there are exquisitely restored Modernista mansions next to crumbling façades. Still, it's a treat for architecture fans. The decadent buildings are still beautiful, with their pastel shades and wrought iron balconies as delicate as lace.

Tap your toes to jazz at San Javier

The seaside town of San Javier (20 minutes away by car) has become one of Spain's jazz epicentres, thanks to the annual Jazz San Javier festival. Every July, the town comes alive with gigs, drawing huge names like Grammy award-winning jazz singer Gregory Porter and the decorated pianist Bill Charlap.

Tour the spectacular Real Casino de Murcia

A hidden gem in Murcia's city centre, Real Casino de Murcia must be among the most impressive buildings in Spain. It was declared a national monument in 1983, and King Juan Carlos I loved it so much he gave it the royal title 'real'. The first courtyard is the most beautiful, an intricately decorated space inspired by the Alhambra, painstakingly gilded with over 35,000 sheets of gold leaf. It's a private members club, and although it's open to visitors some rooms are strictly off-limits: spot members reading the paper and playing pool in the exclusive reading rooms. Tempted to join? It's around €50 per month. Or join the free monthly reading club (in Spanish only), which takes place every Tuesday in the opulent library. 

Expat clubs and activities in Baños y Mendigo

The golf clubs around the area do a fine job of rallying the local community with regular parties and gigs. The Hub Bar & Restaurant at Altaona Golf & Country Village puts on lively events for people living in Baños y Mendigo, like Rat Pack cover bands, Australian-themed parties and three-course Christmas dinners with roast turkey and all the trimmings.

To meet more locals, consider making the 20-minute drive to Murcia. The city is awash with regular language exchanges, bilingual running clubs and cinema groups organising films shown in their original language.