Popular La Manga resort falls within San Javier and Cartagena municipalities in Murcia
The quality of life in San Javier is second to none. In fact, it was voted the best place to live in Murcia in 2024, followed closely by two neighbouring municipalities: Los Alcázares and San Pedro. Perhaps it's the rejuvenating combination of a sun-soaked Mediterranean coastline and a culture-packed town, where restaurants serve produce from nearby fields and plazas fill with the chatter of friends.
The water offers a range of soul-stirring activities, like kayaking, standup paddleboarding, sailing and - perhaps the most marvellous of all - propping up a beach bar in the fresh sea breeze and sipping a cold caña.
Wondering where to live in San Javier? The region isn't built up, meaning that wherever you decide to move to, it's likely to be peaceful and spacious. Brand new villas in the suburbs are hugged by lush gardens, swimming pools and natural beauty, and even townhouses often squeeze in a plunge pool.
There are relatively fewer foreigners living here, just 24.16% compared to the surrounding municipalities such as Los Alcázares (36.86%), Orihuela (35.75%) and Pilar de la Horadada (40%). Some people looking to make the move to Spain see this as a plus – it often means more full-time residents living in the area, and a year-round community.
Healthcare in San Javier
In general, Spain has a very good reputation for public healthcare, and San Javier is no exception. For consultancy and check-ups, the local health centre (centro de salud) Centro De Salud San Javier is the first port of call.
The town is very close to Hospital Los Arcos del Mar Menor; just 3km from the town centre, or a 5-minute drive. Opened in 2011, the hospital offers 171 beds and 11 operating theatres. Many doctors speak English, but there is a free translation service for people who don't speak Spanish fluently. In 2024, the hospital committed to generating 14% of its energy by self-produced renewable energy.
Taking a more holistic approach, Asana is based in the town centre and offers nutrition therapy, herbalism and massages. For more information about healthcare in Spain, including costs, private healthcare and insurance, read our full guide here.
Working in San Javier
Agriculture (4,383 contracts in 2023) and public services (7,314 contracts in 2023) are the main areas of work for people living in San Javier, according to Centro Regional de Estadística de la Región de Murcia. Aside from these, one of the biggest employers in the area is the seaside military base, Academia General del Aire.
Work remotely? Find a new cohort of colleagues in the local coworking space, Coworkium. Designers, creatives and architects use this light and leafy office, making the most of homely chillout areas and well-equipped meeting rooms.
So what's it like to live in San Javier with a family? The area is geared up for little (and medium-sized) people, with a good selection of schools and lots of extra-curricular activities to pique their interest. In Spain, there are three types of schools to choose from: público (public), concertado (semi-private, usually faith-orientated schools) and privado (private).
Among the local public schools, Colegio Público Severo Ochoa is a well-regarded centre with organic class allotments and a goal of fostering integration and respect among its students. Aidemar, the local concertado, is a school for disabled children. It's aimed at integrating students into their local community and giving them the skills they need to gain independence and success.
If private school is an option, King's College Murcia is a 15-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.
For more help finding the right school in Spain, this guide has everything you need to know, including how to enrol your children and the goals of the Spanish curriculum. To keep up with news on schools in Spain, keep an eye on the Ministerio de Educación (ministry of education).
Annual San Javier Air Show
Transport in San Javier
Aeropuerto Internacional Región de Murcia is just a 25-minute drive from San Javier. With round-the-world flights around regular connections to UK airports like Manchester, London and Birmingham, it makes the municipality very accessible.
Murcia is large and spread out, but there's a good motorway network that makes driving between elegant cities and hidden coves incredibly easy. Gorgeous Murcia is a 35-minute drive away, while under-explored Cartagena, with its Roman theatre and exquisite townhouses, is a 25-minute drive to the south. If you do decide to use a car in and around San Javier, our guide to driving in Spain after Brexit is a must-read.
San Javier Property Market Statistics
San Javier offers a slightly more subdued market compared to nearby towns, with prices showing a modest dip over the past year. In April 2025, the average asking price for residential properties stood at €2,417 per square metre, representing a 4.95% decrease from May 2024 (€2,543/m²). The town saw its price peak in December 2023 at €2,647 per square metre, while the lowest point was recorded in November 2024, with a near-identical figure to today at €2,416. This slight downward adjustment suggests a stabilising market rather than a significant decline, and may present a good opportunity for buyers seeking value in a well-connected coastal area.
Although the majority of military training has been centralised in Madrid, the seaside military base, Academia General del Aire (AGA), still operates to the far south of Playa de Santiago de la Ribera. Countless training exercises take place here, where pilots launch into the sky and onlookers are treated to exquisite displays of control and agility. Agile jet planes twirl over the ocean, leaving vapour trails looping along the coast. Along the promenade, visitors come to spot the small statues of aircraft. They form an open-air museum of San Javier's aviation history. Scan the QR code for information on each plane, which is modelled on the most important aircraft to have graced the AGA runway.
People enjoy the annual San Javier Air Show on the beach
Kayak along the coast
Sporty folks should check out Deporte San Javier – it's rammed with events taking place around the year, from cycling festivals to swimming competitions. Escuela Piragüismo is among the Deporte San Javier groups, a small kayaking and standup paddleboarding school which takes groups on adventures around the picturesque coastline.
Enjoy some retail therapy in Dos Mares
Family-friendly and supremely convenient, the shopping complex Dos Mares Shopping is a grand way to pass an afternoon. As well as a line-up of high street shops like Mango, JD Sports and Women's Secret, the shopping centre is home to an eight-screen cinema, bowling lanes, and widely-loved restaurants like Burger King and gourmet kebab stall Pistachio.
Tap your toes to jazz
The little town of San Javier punches well above its weight in terms of culture. The coastal destination has become one of Spain's jazz epicentres thanks to the annual Jazz San Javier festival. Every July San Javier comes alive with gigs, drawing huge names like Grammy award-winning jazz singer Gregory Porter and the decorated pianist Bill Charlap.
Take a rejuvenating mud bath
While luxurious spas charge hundreds for mud mask treatments, in San Pedro del Pinatar people slather themselves in rejuvenating clay for free. At the far right side of the Playa de Villa Nanitos, a 15-minute drive from San Javier town, are the Baños de Lodo (mud baths). Hundreds visit the free outdoor spa to cover their bodies in the healing mud, using the specially built wooden steps which lead to the water. Local legend goes that mud-covered folks should walk 2.5km to the windmill, Molino de La Calcetera, before washing it off.
Climb the old bell tower in Murcia
Catedral de Murcia is the jewel of Murcia (35-minute drive away). 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 of Cresta de Gallo mountain - so called because it resembles a rooster comb.
Los Alcazares beach. Fishing village on the western side of the Mar Menor
Visit Murcia's first underwater winery
Murcia's wine scene is blossoming, and local wineries provide a delicious day trip. Based in Murcia, Bodegas Undersea is the region's first underwater bodega, where bottles are aged in the ocean. The constant, cool temperature and rocking of the waves assist the process, adding a complex profile to the wine. Fizzy wine especially benefits from this form of ageing – some believe it gives the most delicate bubbles. Visitors can cruise out to sea on the winery's boat, which will pause where the bottles are submerged and offer a guided tasting of the bodega's best barnacle-covered bottles, paired with traditional tapas from the region.
Expat clubs and activities in San Javier
Want to meet fellow expats living in San Javier? They are a generous, skilled bunch – as the local Banco del Tiempo (time bank) shows. Found in the Servicios Sociales Ayuntamiento San Javier, this initiative asks locals to volunteer and run free classes in their area of expertise. The result is an astounding list of sessions including reiki, yoga, pilates, meditation, macramé and Spanish as a foreign language. Join a couple of classes and meet the talented locals.
Another way to meet fellow expats is at local bars and cafés. Homesick Brits will adore the Sunday lunch at Juke Box Cafe Bar, a roast dinner that locals claim is better than anything they've tried in blighty.
To keep up to speed with expat news across Murcia, join the Murcia Expat Forum. It's another excellent place to meet new amigos.
