Living inland in the countryside in Spain is a dream for many people. It can offer you a slower pace of life, a sense of community and more times than not, your money goes a lot further, There are however, a few things which we feel that you should know about. Having lived here for decades, we have experienced or witnessed just about all of the following.
The reason that we are explaining all of this, is that we want you to understand what you are buying. Remember that you are not only buying a property, you are also investing in a new lifestyle. Things will be different. Some will delight you and others will drive you up the wall.
In essence we are trying to set your expectations to the reality of living inland. An unhappy buyer who feels that they were not aware of what to expect, is someone who is going to be putting their house back onto the market and leaving. We like to think, that when our clients purchase a property, they understand what they are buying and whether or not it is right for them.
Living inland is not for everyone, and when we say this we mean living in an inland town, may not be for everyone. Let alone, actually living in the countryside, surrounded by acres of avocado, citrus and olive trees.
Our definition of living inland, for the sake of clarity, means anywhere away from the coast and cities. You may get a sea view and still be considered living inland.
Let’s start with the basics of living inland
Each town and village will have it’s own ‘feel’. It is up to you to decide which are you priorities when it comes to this, as it is highly personal. You will find that some towns have all of the amenities, but lack a ‘heart’, where as others may be immediately welcoming, but not offer every convenience.
Ultimately is will depend on how much you are willing to immerse yourself in the locality. Many thousands of foreign buyers choose convenience and amenities over more traditional values, tending to target areas with established expat communities. This works out well for most of them, especially in the beginning, although we do see long term foreign residents, moving to more traditional towns and villages where the predominant residents are local families.
We are now in our third decade, living on the Costa del Sol, and having lived on the coast for years, we now find that living in the countryside is far more rewarding. We speak to all of our neighbours on a daily basis and benefit from the home deliveries of fresh fruit and vegetables which are given to us, when our neighbours have grown too much for themselves.If one of us are ill, the neighbours drop by with freshly made soups, to ensure we are kept fed. In essence, it is like living 50 years ago, but with modern day conveniences.
It is your decision, so know what you want!
If you are willing and able to learn the language, we highly recommend living amongst the Spanish. If you are more inclined to speak your own language and mix with other expats, then coastal living my be more suitable for you. With that said, there are also a number of towns and villages in the Guadalhorce Valley and beyond, that have established expat communities. These may well be the ideal way to slowly get into the swing of Spanish life.
Trading Hours
Most businesses close for siesta between 2pm and 5pm. Companies and tradesmen will not pick up the phone or answer messages during this time. Talking of which, getting someone to call you back or answer your message / text / email may take a day or two, so don’t get impatient! Things are improving, but do not hold your breath or get mad about it. It is simply the way that things are!
One day a week other than Sunday, many businesses in towns and villages close, or are only open mornings. It could be any day, but is most likely to be on a Monday. You wanted a slower pace of life, and living inland can provide that. It may take a little adjusting to, until you get in the swing of things.
Time Management
Many international buyers struggle with the fact that a 9am appointment with a trades person or delivery company could be anywhere between 8.30 am and 5pm or even later. In some cases it could also be on a different day! This is not rudeness or ignorance, it is simply how it is. Living inland will teach you the true definition of ‘patience’.
If the worker bumps into an old friend on the way to your property, they will stop and have a chat. If one job takes longer than expected, and they can fix the problem without going back, they will. Do not expect to get a call or text to say that they are running late. If you do get one, frame it and hang it on the wall.
Time in Spain is what we like to call, ‘flexible’. It can be problematic, and especially in the early stages, it can drive you up the wall. Try to remember that you moved here for a quieter and a slower life. It is nothing personal, and it is not because you are a foreigner. The Spanish get treated the same way. Get used to it until customer service improves, but don’t hold your breath!
Most official doctor/ dentists appointments and the like, have a built in 15-30 minute window, because they expect the Spanish to be late.
Joking aside, customer service is slowly improving, as is the customer communications. What you need to remember is that as migrants to Spain, we all need to bend a little as well.
Paperwork, especially when living inland
Below is a classic video which, although tongue in cheek, does highlight some of the day to day issues, which everybody in Spain has to deal with. When we say everybody we mean everybody, locals, nationals, foreigners are all included. In small countryside towns, you will typically find a cousin or sibling works in the local town hall. This can be a tremendous stroke of luck, or another challenge to conquer, if you got off on the wrong foot with neighbour.
As mentioned, this video is a parody of daily life. From experience, being prepared, being patient and above all not saying, “We don’t do it like that where I come from”, will serve you very well.
Transport
Trains will run to the minute, pretty much anywhere in the country. Buses on the other hand could be on time, a few minutes late, 20 minutes late or, if it’s quiet … early! Always try and allow a window for error.
Markets
Many towns have a weekly market, where you can get all of your fresh produce. Some markets may be located on a street which has been blocked off for the day. If you live on this street, you may find it difficult to park on market day. You may also find that the stall holders start setting up very early in the morning.
Music & Noise
The Spanish love music and for some reason, brass bands, in particular the churches. Most churches will have their own band, which is used during all of the processions throughout the year. What you need to know is that, these bands practice A LOT. They have to teach new members the tunes and in some cases new members how to play an instrument.
If you purchase a property close to a church or a town hall, you may find that the bands practices several times each week. For many prospective buyers, this can be seen as an opportunity to get your kids involved. Others may wish that they had purchased a property, a few streets away. If you are out in the ‘campo’, the rules can be a little more flexible, especially if you get on with your new neighbours,
Aside from the marching bands, you may find that neighbours enjoy their music late into the evening, especially in the summer. However, be warned that between 3pm and 5pm, quiet time is sacrosanct.
For the majority of the year, tradesmen start work at 8am and then take breakfast at 10am. During the summer months they can start from 7am, and breakfast seems to remain at 10am. Very few builders will work after siesta, but plumbers and electricians typically will.
Turning on machinery before the appointed time will typically attract lots of complaints from the neighbours. This is something which you really need to keep away from. The same applies to to work in the night times even in your own property.
Celebrations and New Year
Living inland means joining in, if not, just getting used to, the rural quirks and how things are done. Celebrations tend to be loud and lengthy, especially if you are not invited or just happen to live nearby. Many towns have an annual ‘romeria’ which typically involves farm carts being pulled by livestock and filled with children. The locals get dressed up in their flamenco best and you will see the ‘well to do’ riding their horses and drinking throughout the day at the various ‘peñas’, which are temporary bars.
The start of these romerias will normally begin between 9 and 10 in the morning. The problem for many however is that rockets are let off at 7 or 8, to announce to everyone that it is time to get ready. Due to the excessive noise caused by these rocket fireworks, every dog in the province will start barking. If you live close to where the rockets are being launched, your windows could vibrate and the ‘used’ rockets could end up on your roof. The end of the romeria is also signalled by using rockets.
New Years Eve is exactly the same but with the added bonus of long and loud firework shows. For pets it is another time to bark and howl as the noise reverberates through the ears and distresses them unnecessarily.
There is however some good news. Welcoming in 2025, our townhall decided to put on a drone show instead of a firework display. This was, in our humble opinion, a much better way to do things. Unfortunately they then let off rockets anyway, which kind of defeated the purpose. Perhaps this year we will have less of the rockets.
Feria Time
On the subject of noise, just about every town has an annual feria. This is a town fair ,with lots of rides, concerts, food and drink. When we first moved to Spain we had an apartment next to the feria ground which was used for parking and to host the weekly market for 51 weeks of the year. It was great as we could walk to the beach and the shops and always had a place to park.
Then the feria happened!
It was open from Wednesday evening, through until Sunday. From our balcony we could watch the processions and the concerts and we thoroughly enjoyed it …. until 10 in the evening. What we hadn’t realised was that the feria didn’t close until the early hours of the morning. We had bells, whistles, clangers, music until 4 in the morning and then people talking loudly and singing in the streets until 6am. That is not cohesive to a good nights sleep, when you have work in the morning.
The Spanish adore the feria, as it is a time to get together with friends and family and let their hair down. Business owners mix with their clients and remind them to stop by if they need anything. All in all, it is a very important time of the year, and it raises lots of money for the town. For us it was simply too loud and we moved.
When accidents and incidents occur, do not bury your head in the sand!
Whilst renovating, one of our tradesmen accidentally cut through the main telephone cable for the entire street. This left all of our neighbours with no internet, phones and in many cases without television. By simply knocking on the door of each neighbour and explaining what had happened, we avoided any arguments. The general feedback we received was that “..sometimes things go wrong and thanks for letting us know!” They had all had similar problems at some point and not to worry. Within 15 minutes, all of the neighbours were sat outside of their houses, having a drink and a chat. This acceptance that ‘life happens, things go wrong’ and that there is no need for animosity, is one of Spain’s most endearing traits.
Mail Service
The mail / postal service in rural communities could be called ‘challenging’ if we were to be polite. Within the towns, postmen and postwomen can be seen almost daily. Unfortunately in many towns they may not be seen on your street daily. Courier and delivery driver do seem to be prevalent almost everywhere, but unfortunately they do not deliver the mail.
People who live outside of the towns and villages may find that they need to rent a P.O Box instead. Somewhere central where they can have all of their mail delivered their instead.
Dogs
Many families have dogs and for many reasons. Some want a pet, others want a deterrent and others want a guard dog / alarm system. Living in the countryside will mean getting used to dogs barking through the night. If you are already a dog lover, then you probably will not mind. If you are not, and still want to be in the countryside you should either have a rethink or set you goals on a much larger property with acreage.
Property Issues When Living Inland
Damp
Many houses are built directly onto rock, and the rock by nature is porous. As the Spanish did not / do not use damp-proofing, most houses will suffer a little with damp. Quaint, traditional and historic properties, for the most part, comes withe possibility of some damp. Due to how properties were constructed years ago, with 1 metre thick walls, the damp tends to appear and disappear throughout the year. The walls were designed to keep the heat of the summer out and the warmth of your heating in, during the winter months. The walls will breath and dry out over time, without any health hazards in most cases.
Humidity
Due to how traditional properties were constructed, humidity can be an issue if you do not live here full-time. Spanish houses are designed to keep out the heat in the summer and keep it in, in the winter. Leaving a property closed up, without ventilation will lead to humidity and damp.
If you are buying a property as a second home, make sure that your management company ‘airs the property’ each time that they visit. Get them to open the doors and windows, run the taps and flush the toilets. They will probably charge you a little more for their time, but compared to the price of remediation, it is money well spent.
Changing out old windows and putting in double glazed units is well worth the inconvenience. You will need a license from the town hall in order to change your windows. Adding insulation is another thing well worth considering. It is only once you have spent a winter in Andalucia will you realise that the houses do get cold. Adding these two items can also assist with keeping humidity at bay.
Water
Outside of the urban areas, many rural homes need to drill a bore hole in order to get water. There will be a number of local companies that can do this for you. These companies will know where to drill, how deep to drill and more often than not, if you can or cannot tap into an existing well. Speak to a few companies before applying for a license from the local townhall / ayuntamiento.
Once you have a well, we recommend getting the water tested to find out whether it is suitable for drinking or not. Many areas of Andalucia have very hard water with lots of mineral in it. BY getting an analysis performed you will know whether it is safe to drink or whether you need some kind of filtration system.
Calcification
Calcification (cal) can be an ongoing issue in parts of Andalucia, due to the hardness and mineral content of the water. You can keep on top of it by cleaning tap filters with distilled vinegar to avoid build up and blockages.
The cal could cause you no problems whatsoever or it could mean regular maintenance. It all depends on where you are. One of our friends needs to replace their electric water heater every couple of years, due to the build up. It is typically cheaper to buy a new one than have the old one serviced.
On a final note about calcification, we would suggest that you shelve any ideas of fancy, especially, black sanitary ware because it will get stained.
To reiterate, all of this will depend on the water in the area where you purchase. You may be lucky and have none of these issues.
Electricity
Many old properties will need to be rewired. Not because the wiring is bad, just because the wires are not large enough to cater for modern appliances which demand higher power levels.
There are normally some grants available for solar panels and batteries and we suggest you shop around. Speak to the neighbours, local contractors, and do some research online.
Should you require an electricity cable to be brought to your property, you will normally pay an amount for each 100 metres plus the connection.
Some people have back up diesel generators as a precaution against power cuts. This is fine in the countryside, but they tend too be illegal inside urban zones. We believe this is due to the storage of flammable liquids, the noise pollution and the accompanying fumes.
Flood Zones
When you live in an place surrounded by mountains, areas which can flood are often hidden in plain site. This is especially true during the summer months, when rivers are barely a trickle or are completely dry. Take some time and walk the land, then jump onto Google maps and take a look at the elevations.
Having a stream or a river on your land is wonderful, but if it floods, you could end up having a nightmare cleanup job on your hands.
It is not just the land which you should consider. Over the years we have driven over and through more rivers than we can count. We have also seen these rivers cut off the access to peoples properties after heavy rains. You may be cut off all together, or you may face a long drive to access your property from another direction.
Street Wires
One thing which we can almost guarantee that you will see, are hundreds of wires on the outside of buildings, especially in the towns. These could be electricity wires, but more recently they are more likely to be telephone and internet cables. As old properties get renovated there is a tendency to install a plastic tube in the property facade which hides the cables. Unfortunately until every house has been reformed, we will still be seeing them.
Phone lines and internet cables are one of our bugbears. The reason is that the market now includes so many different companies, and each company can only touch their own cables. If a cable is flailing in the wind, only the official installer is able to tie it back into place.
Officially the installers should knock on your door ask if you mind that they run yet another cable across the front of your house. This applies to the installation of internet connection boxes which you will see on the sides of buildings. Typically we all used to say, “yes, that’s fine” because we knew that we were helping a neighbour out.
Nowadays, we will most likely say no, find another place. The reason is that these companies are running lines through a town before they have clients requesting their service. These subcontractors want the easiest and most direct run for their cables. Our issue is that they never clean up. When they leave there will be bits of cable, zip-ties and other bits left on your doorstep for you to clean up.
Draughts / Drafts
The vast majority of properties in Spain allow draughts to enter the house. During the summer months these may be welcomed, but in the winter they are most certainly not. Even to this day new front doors, for the most part, do not have a threshold. The reason is that most Spanish properties have tiled floors, which will get mopped regularly if not daily. In the ‘good old days’ any water from mopping would simply go out onto the street and at that point a gap under the door had a use.
Nowadays, we believe that people would much prefer a door with a threshold, which will keep the wind out, rather than the ability to mop water under it.
Keeping Warm
Until you have lived in Spain – any part of mainland Spain – you will not realise that it gets cold in the winter. It may be 15 – 20 degrees in the sun during the daytime, but at night it can drop to single digits. Your home will fluctuate in temperature throughout the year and due to the traditional methods of construction, when it is cold it is cold. That is regardless of whether there is a heatwave in January.
It takes time for properties to heat up, and the key is to retain as much of that heat for as long as you can. Some modern builds have underfloor heating and are fully insulated. This is not the case with older properties. There will be zero insulation, it will probably have single glaze windows and there will be draughts in every room.
Traditionally the Spanish will heat only one room of the house. They will place a brazier under a table which has a long table cloth over it and then sit facing each other and chatting. It may sound cute or quaint, but for modern families the idea of staring at your grandparents every night, from across a small table is not how they envisioned living in Spain.
Gas fires are popular because they are cheap to buy and the gas bottles are relatively inexpensive. The downside is that you need to ventilate the rooms for fumes and to avoid condensation.
Log and pellet burners are now the preferred methods of keeping warm in larger townhouses and villas.
Elsewhere, air conditioning units are prevalent. These can provide cold air in the summer and hot air in the winter. If there space, these can be coupled with solar panels and batteries to keep costs down.
Rubbish Collection
Rubbish collection in Spain tends to be very efficient and this is probably due to the climate. If waste produce is left in the sun it will rot and attract vermin. Most towns and cities collect rubbish everyday apart from Saturdays and holidays. In towns and villages it is quite normal to see bags looped over the rejas or gates each evening.
Large trash bins can be found in towns and cities in areas where there are apartments, so the residents can simply bring their rubbish to one central place. These trash containers are also found in the countryside, typically at junctions, again so that residents can drop off their rubbish in one place.
For garden waste, and larger items such as furniture, paint products etc you can take it to the local ‘Punto Limpio’ and drop it off. Normally you can just arrive without an appointment.
Building waste however, is a different beast. If you are having any major work done you will need to arrange a skip for your waste as part of getting your building license. For small projects, you may be able to take your waste to one of the local builders merchants who often have skips available for you to drop things off, at a small cost.
Antique Doors
If you are building or renovating a property, you may fancy the idea of locating an antique door which will be the ‘face of your home’. The big issue with this, is that ‘true carpenters’ who are capable of renovating an antique are like chickens teeth. You can’t find them! There are very few professionals still working who can do this for you. If you can find one, be prepared to pay a lot of money for their experience.
One of our Spanish neighbours purchased a solid, good quality, antique door to go on his newly reformed property. Including the door and the refurbishment, has has currently spent 6,000 euros (2025)
The sad truth is the refurbishment has not been done well and he will need to have it redone, once he finds someone capable of doing it. He has heard rumours through the family, of a handful of professionals in the Cordoba area and is currently investigating the situation.
Rejas
Rejas are the decorative metal bars that you will see on windows. There is definitely a snob value when it comes to rejas, especially by the older members of the street. In their opinion the only proper rejas, are rejas rondeño. This means that the solid metal is heated up and hammered into shape. This is very time consuming and accordingly expensive. Soldering on decorative elements is permitted, but the primary ‘backbone of the reja’ should be forged. The forging makes for a much stronger reja. This is a dying trade and nowadays very few blacksmiths can or will do it. Many of the new ‘modern rejas’ are soldered together and made of cheaper metals, some are even hollow.
Living Inland and Owning Acreage
Owning a cortijo in the countryside, surrounded by orange and lemon trees and growing your own food is the retirement dream of many. And it genuinely can be if you are prepared, organised and willing to do some work. Living on a large plot in Spain isn’t the same as doing it in northern Europe, Canada or the states. You don’t simply jump onto your sit-on lawnmower and cut the grass.
In Andalucia, you probably won’t even be able to have a regular lawn as the climate doesn’t really allow for it without a vast amount of irrigation and regular maintenance. You will need to think more along the lines of desert landscaping. Palms, cacti, citrus trees will typically be the norm. And they will still need to be taken care of, watered, pruned, checked for disease and infestation.
Plants and trees grow very quickly once established and well irrigated. A mature palm tree for example, can grow over a metre each year. As they grow someone will need to chop off the old foliage to keep it tidy. When the trees are only a few metres high that is easy enough to do, but once they reach 6-7 metres, you are advised to bring in a company to do it for you. They will typically come with a cherry-picker, harnesses and a chainsaw. These companies can normally arrange to remove all of the cuttings as well. This will be safer than you having a bonfire get out of control and having the fire brigade called.
Fire Hazards
The land under and around your trees will need to be kept extremely neat and tidy because in the summer months, any scrub, reeds, grasses and the like, become a fire hazard. It will be your responsibility to ensure that things do not get overgrown.
Goats are a great solution, but if you do not fancy having your own herd, maybe you could reach an agreement with one of the local farmers to bring their herd over.
Goats also do a great job on reeds if you have irrigation ditches on or near your property. If no goats are available a sturdy strimmer and a few hours of your time, will get the job done.
In Andalucia, as in most of Spain, there are strict rules about fires on your land. During the summer months it is completely illegal due to the risk. In some areas, even BBQ’s are forbidden depending on the local conditions.
You may be required to get a permit from the townhall for a fire on your land. Check before you light up!
Irrigation & Spring Water
If you are in a mountainous area, there is a good chance that the water is going to be spring water in your well. You will often see water pipes coming out of walls or out of rock faces, in many towns. These are traditionally used by local residents to collect water, for use at home.
In many parts of Andalucia, you will see concrete troughs running down the side of some rural roads. These are part of shared irrigation systems whereby the cooperative of owners will pay for the maintenance and upkeep.
Most land owners will have their own water well and you will need to maintain You will need to have intermittent tests done to ensure that the water is usable for irrigation. Most properties will have an ‘aljibe’ which is a similar to an untiled pool where water is kept for irrigation purposes.
You will also see many of these ‘aljibes’ labeled as swimming pools on real estate sites. A pool needs a license, so get your lawyer to check on this, if you have concerns. If you want to be more like many of the locals, you can just ‘use the aljibe as you see fit’.
If you are lucky enough to have drinking water (potable) from your well, you will want to store it in a hygienic water deposit, for use in the house.
Growing your own food
If you have fruit trees or are growing your own vegetables, they will need to be harvested whether you plan to eat them or not. If you leave them, you will end up with the smell of rotting vegetation and possibly get overrun with rodents. The thought of harvesting your own crops and selling what you do not require at the local markets may be all you need. The reality is there is a lot of work involved and depending on your crops, you may need to join a local cooperative to be able to sell your produce.
Please note that none of this is here to put you off living your dream.
It is simply the reality of what you are about to encounter, especially if you have never done it before. You will get to know many of the locals who will advise you on the ‘do’s and don’ts’ of life in the country and normally you will be welcomed for wanting to give it a go.
Curiosities of Living Inland
When you begin your adventure of living inland and looking at properties, you may come across some, if not all of the following.
Stone Floors
Many old properties have large cobble stone walkways which run through the property. These were installed, so that years ago, their hoofed farm animals (goats, sheep, cows) didn’t crack the tiles. Many families used to keep animals in a shed or cave behind the house. Some also slept above the animals, to take advantage of the body heat which the animals produce.
People also kept the wheat and other crops in upstairs rooms to keep them dry. Living inland is full of surprises.
Doors with holes in!
We have been living inland for years and yet we still get to learn new things. One of our neighbours has a room which has a large wooden door which has a hole in the bottom. The hole is blocked with a piece of wood, which can be removed. The idea of this was years ago, rats or mice would get into the storage area and eat the crops. The solution was to remove the piece of wood and push a cat or two through into the room. In a modern world this may sound gruesome, but in a traditional environment many years ago, this was a workable solution.
Threshing Circles
A threshing circle, is a traditional area, typically made of pebbles or small stones. This is where the grain is separated from straw. In Spanish it is commonly called an “era“. It is also called a “piso de trilla” or “patio de trilla”. Both translate directly as a “threshing floor”.
If you are lucky you may come across one of these on some of the larger fincas or country homes. With a little love and TLC, they can be stunning centrepieces for your driveway or gardens.
Washboard Sinks
Washboard sinks are quite a common find when living inland in rural Andalucia and are a not so distant reminder of handwashing clothes. Finding one of these in your garden or outbuilding is a great find. They are normally made of limestone or more recently concrete. We have found them to be excellent for cleaning paint brushes and rollers in. The more they get splattered with paint, the better they look! The ridges, which were once used to scrub clothes on, are ideal for placing your paint rollers and brushes on whilst washing out your paint try. If you don’t manage to find an original, they are readily available to purchase new.
Curved concrete on the street?
Sometimes you may come across a small section of curved concrete by the front door of homes on a hill – normally within a town. These may look like obstructions, but they serve an excellent purpose.
When it rains in Spain, it tends to rain very hard. The rainwater from the top of the town has to go somewhere and that somewhere will always be down. The little sections of concrete, redirect the stream of water away from the house and the front door, so that they do not flood. For obvious reasons, if the rain is torrential, they are not going to work, but typically they do what is required, to keep your house dry.
These are known as ‘reborde para evitar el agua’.
Living inland means that in numerous areas the locals have created their own solutions. Especially, when the town irrigation system, is not always the most modern.
Metal Water Barriers
You may also see metal guides on either side of a front door. in towns and villages These are used to slide a metal sheet into, when the forecast is for heavy rain. The idea is that it will be an extra barrier for water to get past especially on hilly streets, where the volume of water can build up. These are called ‘Las Barreras Anti-Inundaciones‘.
Flood signs
A recent addition to several towns in Malaga are flood signs. These are placed in areas of a town which are on a hill, and prone to flooding.
Parking a car is sometimes problematic, especially in the old parts of town. Many people have been caught out by parking on these hillside when it is raining.
The issue arises when a weather alert has been given, because if the road floods and your car is damaged or washed down the hill, your insurance will be invalid.
You can check for weather alerts here
Inland Living in the Guadalhorce Valley
If you are having second thoughts about living inland, perhaps you should take a look at some of the other areas that we cover.