Housing
The old village is made up mainly of simple town houses and terraced homes around the Plaza del Ayuntamiento and the church. Living here puts you among the long-standing residents, with shops and schools within walking distance.
Newer neighbourhoods have grown up on the edges of the village over recent decades. The best known is La Herrada, an urbanisation of detached villas, linked houses and recent new-build developments, often with a private garden and pool. It feels more spacious and quieter, and you will rely on a car more.
- Village centre: town houses, terraced homes, a few flats
- La Herrada: villas, bungalows, new builds
- Countryside (including La Marquesa): farmland, scattered fincas and country houses
If you are after golf, the urbanisations right on the courses lie in neighbouring municipalities rather than in Los Montesinos itself.
Work and economy
Los Montesinos sits on land that was once dry. It only became fertile with the irrigation canals of the Riegos de Levante. Farming is still very visible, with citrus and vegetables and some related agri-food business. There are also small firms in building materials and metalwork.
Tourism and the property market have grown steadily in importance since the 1980s. Much of the work in construction, hospitality, care and services is found not in the town itself but in Torrevieja, Orihuela or the nearby golf resorts. If you plan to work as an employee, expect a daily commute by car, as public transport is limited. Remote workers mainly gain peace and quiet here; do check fibre coverage for each address beforehand.
Population
According to the INE, Los Montesinos had approximately 5,800 residents on 1 January 2025. In 2015 the figure was just over 4,900, so the town is growing steadily, mainly through the newer residential areas on its edges.
Roughly two thirds of residents hold Spanish nationality, while approx. 37% are foreign nationals (2022 figure). Many of them come from the United Kingdom and Northern Europe and mostly live in the urbanisations. In the village centre, Spanish village life sets the tone, with active local associations organising the fiestas. Residents are called montesineros. Everyday life runs in Spanish.
Schools and education
For a town of this size, schooling is complete up to the end of secondary education. All schools are state-run.
- Escuela Infantil Municipal Miguel Hernández: municipal nursery for ages 0 to 3
- CEIP Virgen del Pilar: infant and primary school
- IES Los Montesinos - Remedios Muñoz: ESO and bachillerato, plus a vocational (FP) course in cookery and gastronomy
- Music school and adult education, including Spanish classes for foreign residents
Teaching is in Spanish, with Valencian as a subject. There are no international or English-medium schools in the town; for those you drive to the Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa or Ciudad Quesada area.
Distances from the centre
| Supermarket | approx. 0.5 km |
| Consultorio (local health post) | in the village, approx. 0.5 km |
| San Miguel de Salinas health centre | approx. 9 km, 12 min |
| Pharmacy | approx. 0.3 km |
| Primary school (CEIP Virgen del Pilar) | approx. 0.5 km |
| Secondary school (IES) | approx. 0.5 km |
| Beach (Torrevieja/La Mata) | approx. 12 km, 15 min |
| Beach (Guardamar) | approx. 15 km, 18 min |
| Golf course (Vistabella or La Marquesa) | approx. 6 km, 8 min |
| Hospital (Hospital Universitario de Torrevieja) | approx. 9 km, 12 min |
| Torrevieja (centre) | approx. 12 km, 15 min |
| Orihuela | approx. 25 km, 25 min |
| Alicante (city) | approx. 60 km, 45 min |
| Alicante-Elche airport | approx. 50 km, 40 min |
| Murcia airport (Corvera) | approx. 65 km, 45 min |
Shops and markets
The town covers the basics: a few supermarkets, bakeries, a pharmacy, banks and cafés around the centre, so you do not need to leave for everyday shopping.
On Friday afternoons (roughly 3 pm to 8 pm) there is a weekly market in Calle Santos Médicos, selling fruit, vegetables, clothing and household goods. Check the current times with the town hall, as they may change with the season.
For bigger purchases, DIY stores, clothing chains and shopping centres you head to Torrevieja or the retail area near Orihuela Costa. Rojales and Ciudad Quesada, a short drive away, also have plenty of shops and weekly markets.
Culture and sights
Los Montesinos is not a town of grand monuments, but its history is interesting. The village grew out of the farming community on the La Marquesa estate, which was left to the Jesuits of Orihuela in a will in 1695. Roman remains have been found around the estate, and the route of the Via Augusta runs through it. In 1974 a hoard of Arab coins from the 10th and 11th centuries was discovered there.
- Ermita de La Marquesa, the old parish church, dedicated to the Virgen del Rosario, on the former estate square
- The mid-18th-century aljibes (water cisterns) at La Marquesa
- Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Pilar (1886) in the centre
- Remains of an old windmill, once used to grind flour, on the Las Moreras estate
The town hall publishes an annual fiesta book with pieces on local history.
Local festivals
| Festival | When | What |
|---|---|---|
| Aniversario de la Segregación | 30 July | Marks the town's separation from Almoradí in 1990 (the decree is dated 30 July 1990). |
| Romería a La Marquesa (Virgen del Rosario) | late September or early October | A pilgrimage to the old church at La Marquesa, with Mass and a shared giant paella. |
| Fiestas Patronales Virgen del Pilar | roughly 5 to 13 October, main day 12 October | The main fiesta week: crowning of the fiesta queens, a float parade, a flower offering to the patron saint and an open-air Mass and procession on 12 October. |
Healthcare
The village has a consultorio, a smaller health post for GP and nursing care. It belongs to the San Miguel de Salinas health zone, whose main health centre is about 9 km away. You register with your SIP card from the Valencian public health service.
Los Montesinos is part of the Departamento de Salud de Torrevieja. The Hospital Universitario de Torrevieja is approx. 9 km away, about 12 minutes by car, and handles A&E and specialist care. The area also has several private clinics and international doctors.
Bear in mind that a consultorio has limited opening hours. Outside them, urgent cases go to an out-of-hours unit in the area or to the hospital. Without a car, that is awkward.
Outdoor leisure
Part of the municipality lies within the La Mata and Torrevieja Lagoons Natural Park. The pink salt lagoon, flamingos and pine woods are practically on your doorstep, which is ideal for walking, cycling and birdwatching.
The council has thirteen waymarked circular walks that start and finish at the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, through citrus groves and over the surrounding hills. The council has had a dog park built in La Herrada.
The beaches of Torrevieja and Guardamar are about 15 to 20 minutes by car, and golf courses are a few kilometres away. Summers are often hot, with little shade in the open countryside, so walk early in the morning.
Indoor leisure
Indoor options are modest and revolve around village life. The municipal music school, municipal sports schools and adult education programme run courses and activities, and there are concerts and shows around the fiestas.
Cafés and restaurants around the main square are where people meet, particularly during fiesta week. For cinema, theatre, an indoor pool, gym chains or shopping centres, you go to Torrevieja, about fifteen minutes away. Orihuela and Elche are also within easy reach for a cultural day out.
