Can anyone give any advice on moving to cartama to retire. Does this seem a good idea. Any information on the area welcome.

There is Cartama and Cartama Estation, both towns a bit rough looking, but nice areas around there,good market in Cartama on a Sunday, do be careful of illegal builds though, we have looked at a few ourselves in the past.

we was thinking of Cartama Estacion. Thanks for the info

Sorry spet Estation wrong, sorry ! Think that is better than Cartama itself.

"Moving to Cartama to retire"....one word answer -DON'T!

It's (They're) a hick town with nothing cultural, gastronomic or architectural to reccomend it (them). The local planners are probably going to be arrested soon, along with builders, developers and lawyers - all of whom have made loads of dosh ripping off gullible Brits. The natives are unhelpful, rude and condecending to outsiders, and they will,at the first opportunity, overcharge you.

That's my 5 eggs, then

Please, everyone, don't get on your high horse because I've expressed my opinion. Remember, you dont neccessarily have to agree with someone to respect their right to their opinion. (Just getting that in before I get verbally horsewhipped)

It sounds like you have had a bad experience there. We have been going for four years and have heard good and bad on developers, but you get that anywhere. Maybe being vigilant and not the unexperienced Brit will help.Still we do take your comments on board.

You shouldn't pull up your roots and retire or move to anywhere without actually having visited the area a few times and actually gotten to know some of that area, along with visits to bars, restaurantes and meeting some of the locals. Even better if you can spend longer periods throughout the year so you can see what it's like out of season.

Everyone might have different feelings for Cártama and Cartama Estación, over the years on my visits to the area I have personally found the locals to be very friendly and helpful to the degree I would expect from any Spaniard in the campo, even more so than on the coast as up until a short time ago this area was pure campo. I spoke to some locals there a few months back and they where still as friendly as I have always found them to be in the past. The building in these areas has transformed this area of the coast totally, a costa boom in the campo. Property that was sold at campesino prices just a couple of years ago is now priced beyond their means as is property to rent, which I found out when high prices on the coast forced me to looked there also, if property went up 400% on the coast in the last 8 years then it probably went up 800% in the Cártama area relative to prices there, maybe it was clear you where a foreigner and maybe then part of the problem that the locals had was you where part of the cause of them no longer being able to afford property there... I don't know it's just a comment, the same happened in Wales years back when the Englsh started buying up cottages and eventually priced the Welsh out of the cottage property market in their own country... I am starting to wish I hadn't replied to this post! anyway, at the end of the day it depends on what type of property you are buying, if * You * like the area and can get what you want from it, some peoples dislikes are others likings as some peoples understandings are others misunderstandings, everyone to their own but as I said, you shouldn't buy to live in any area you don't know.

Hope this helps

Well if I was moving from UK to Spain I could think of better places than Cartama. Why not look at places like Ronda or Mijas or somewhere nicer.. I don't care how friendly the locals are I think they both are a dump.

Hi and welcome sukitess ,

I cant comment on that area sorry but i would seriously take on board all the points raissed . as these are genuine people here .

If it was me i would seek a better area as they know what there talking about
Dont rush in and then regret it take some time , listen to people on here ..

Whats the saying "Act in haste repent in leisure " or something similar !

I used to live in Cartama.

And didn't you have a heap of problems and didn't like the natives?

oh yes, (not didn't like the "natives" where did you get that from?) I'm trying not to be negative.



but the op situation may be completely different to mine, they are retiring so perhaps have no kids to send to school. They may like the area, different strokes for different folkes!

No kids. Know the "natives" and would not buy without having been there all times of the year. We are onlt talking about Cartma Estacion not Cartama. Good to hear yoours and everyone elses comments.

Yes I lived in Estacion de Cartama, what was it you wanted to know exactly?

There's a market on sunday! Lots of building work going on, theres a nasty slaughter house in town that doesn't smell too good. Lots of citrus trees, 15 minute drive to Malaga.

Was you in the town itself or surrounding country. We are thinking of a small secluded pad.