Who is happy here
Los Pacos lies on the heights above Los Boliches, in the eastern part of Fuengirola. It is a residential area, not a beach area: quiet streets, urbanisations with pool and garden, townhouses, apartments — and few bars. Many Scandinavian families end up here for one clear reason: the Swedish School is close, and everyday life with children is easier than down in the town’s densest streets. Do read the page on homes near the Swedish School before you decide.
What you get is space, peace and often a view. What you give up is the beach round the corner. Depending on the address it is a proper walk down to the sea — and up again on the way home, in the August heat. Most people who live here have a car, and you should count on one for the big shop, evenings in town and driving children to activities.
Los Pacos therefore suits you if you put home before location: a bigger apartment, a townhouse with a patio, an urbanisation where the children can run to the pool. If you would rather walk down to the promenade in your slippers, Los Boliches is right — and it is entirely possible to combine the two, because the distance between them is short.
Types of property
- Apartments in urbanisations — the most common. Shared pool and garden, often younger stock than down by the beach and so fewer surprises in condition.
- Townhouses — in rows with a small patio or terrace of their own, almost always with a shared pool. What many families are looking for.
- Detached houses — in the upper parts, with views over sea and town. Far fewer and more expensive.
- Newer developments — Los Pacos has had land to build on, unlike the centre, so there are new builds and younger buildings to choose from.
What to check here in particular
- The hill. Walk from the property to the nearest shop, bus stop and down to the beach — on foot, in the middle of the day. It decides whether you can manage without a car, and what everyday life looks like when the car is busy.
- View and sun, in reality. On a slope, one floor up or down can be the difference between a sea view and the neighbour’s wall. Do not trust the listing photos; check from the balcony yourself.
- The school run. If you have children at the Swedish School: walk or drive the route at the right time of the morning. “Near” on the map is not the same as “near” on a hill with a pushchair.
- The community fee and what it covers. Pool, garden, lift, porter — everything that makes the urbanisation pleasant costs per month. Ask for the fee and for recent decisions on major works. How the fee affects your total calculation we go through in the guide on buying costs.
Not sure whether Los Pacos or Los Boliches suits you? It is one of the most common questions we get, and it is better settled in a search brief than on the spot in front of a property you have already fallen for.
On prices: we put no prices per square metre on this page. That Los Pacos gives more space for the money than the beach is true, but how much depends on urbanisation, floor, view and condition — and figures without a date and a source do not help you when you are making an offer. We produce current statistics for the specific location you are looking at. Ask for them.
