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Spanish property of the week: An entire village nestled in the Picos de Europa

An entire village with mountain views to die for offer the potential for a thriving rural holiday business

Published: 19 September 2018 13:09 CEST
Spanish property of the week: An entire village nestled in the Picos de Europa
The village of El Mortorio offers a unique opportunity to develop a rural tourism business. Photos: Iberia North.

The property:

The entire village of El Mortorio has been lovingly restored over two decades by the current owners who have been running it as a rural escape with individual Casa Rurales that can accommodate up to 48 guests as base to explore the rich countryside of the Picos de Europa.

The property is comprised of 12 individual building spread over 32 acres (13 hectares) of fields and woodland set in a landscape that provides some of the most impressive mountain views in Spain

At the moment the village contains eight individual holiday homes of between 2 to 4 bedrooms each with a kitchen, lounge and dining areas, each modernised but keeping traditional features.

There is also an ‘horreo’ – a traditional timber structure raised off the ground on stone columns – that are found in every Asturian hamlet.

The sale also includes two buildings in need of renovation and 20 buildable plots spread over 7.5 acres with which to expand the holiday business.

WATCH the video of the property:

 

Where is it?

The village is located 10km away from Infiesto, the nearest market down with cafes, bars and restaurants, and supermarkets. And just 20km from a coastline that boasts some of the best beaches and coves in Spain.

A short drive will bring you into the heart of the Picos de Europa mountain range, with its impressive peaks and crags and valleys perfect for outdoor activities such as hiking, rock climbing, kayaking and caving.

READ ALSO: Nine good reasons to make Oviedo your next city break

The historic towns of Oviedo, Avilés and Gijón are less than an hour away and Avilés (Asturias) airport is less than an hour away (85 kilometres), while Santander airport can be reached in just over an hour (150 kilometres).

What's the price tag?

The property is being offered for €2.375 million. At first glance it appears to be hefty price tag for place in a little known part of rural northern Spain. But just look at what you are getting for your money: a private corner of paradise and an opportunity to build up a thriving rural tourism business.   

READ ALSO: 10 point guide to buying property in Northern Spain

Who would it suit?

“The owners are getting on a bit, and wish to pass it on to someone who will develop it even further, and unlock lots of untapped potential in terms of clientele,” explains Marc Furnival of Iberia North, which is offering the property.

“There’s room to attract more foreign clients, to build a restaurant and shop, maybe a small farm to have animals to show children. It’s a lovely spot, very private and tranquil, but well located and handy for mountains, coast and city.

“I think it would ideally suit someone who wants to make a change in their life, and live in a more integrated way, in a part of the world that in many ways is a privilege.

More photos: 

 


One of the properties with views across fertile fields to the mountains beyond.

The individual houses are carefully renovated keeping traditional architectural features. 

Old beams and wooden shutters lend character to this living space.


At the moment, the houses can accomodate 48 guests in total.


Some of the houses have open fireplaces.

For more information about this property and for others in this area visit Iberia North

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LIFE IN SPAIN

EXPLAINED: How to buy a boat in Spain

Considering buying a boat to enjoy life to the fullest in Spain? Here's a breakdown of costs, legal requirements, financing options and useful tips to factor in before purchasing a bowrider, a day sailer, a yacht or any other 'barco'.

Published: 3 May 2024 12:18 CEST
EXPLAINED: How to buy a boat in Spain

Spain has around 8,000km of coastline, and access to the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Bay of Biscay. For boat enthusiasts, you’re spoilt for choice in Spain.

But it’s not just as simple as picking out a boat, buying it and setting off into the ocean.

There are several decisions you’ll need to make first, rules to follow, administrative hoops to jump through, and then maintenance costs on top of that.

Types of boats

The first thing you’ll need to consider is the type of boat you want to buy.

Generally they can be split into two broad categories: motor boats and sailing boats.

Motor boats are the most popular type of boat sold and offer the greatest variety of options because they include pretty much everything from smaller more affordable power boats to huge luxury yachts.

As such, you could get a smaller motor boat, say for day trips of fishing on the coast, for as little as €10,000, whereas yachts, as you can imagine, can cost millions, depending on the size, power, design and quality of the boat.

According to several Spanish maritime sources, buying a used boat that you can live on in Spain can cost anywhere between €13,000 and €150,000.

Spanish website topbarcos.com has hundreds of boats listed for you to get an idea of what’s available in the second-hand market, as well as a page for new vessels.

Sailing boats are the more environmentally friendly option and require the most skill to sail, and include light sailboats, catamarans and trimarans. Again, prices vary from €5,000 to over a million, depending on the size, type of sail, material and quality of the boat.

Once you’ve decided on the type of boat you want and found one you’d like to buy, you’ll need to consider any potential legal requirements.

A woman sits next to a yacht in Puerto Banús luxury marina in Marbella. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO / AFP)

What are the legal requirements when buying a boat in Spain?

  • The correct nautical qualifications for the type and size of the boat you want to buy. There are different types of nautical licences to sail different boats in Spain, such as the PNB (Basic Navigation Skipper), the PER (Recreational Boats Skipper), the PY (Yacht Skipper) or the CY (Yacht Captain). Each has specific limitations in terms of length, power, distance from the coast and the type of sailing you can do.
  • Compulsory civil liability insurance that covers possible damages that you may cause to third parties with your boat.
  • Have all the necessary documentation for the boat, such as the certificate of seaworthiness and (essentially an MOT for the boat, showing that it’s in working order) and the navigation permit.
  • You’ll also need to pay the corresponding taxes on the boat purchase, such as VAT (21 percent), the special tax on certain means of transport (12 percent) or the transfer tax (4 or 6 percent, depending on the region).

READ ALSO: How do I get my boat licence in Spain

What other factors should you keep in mind before buying?

Think about what type of navigation you want to do, how often, with how many people and what your budget is. 

Don’t go with the first boat you see. Search and compare different models, brands, prices, conditions etc and don’t forget to keep an eye out for scams.

It’s a no-brainer but try the boat before you buy it, don’t just rely on photos or descriptions. Request a test ride to check the condition and navigational operation of the boat. 

If you do not have much experience or knowledge of nautical matters, it’s advisable to hire a professional to accompany you throughout the purchasing process. It could help you avoid possible legal, technical or administrative problems that arise.

They will also assist you with checking the condition of the boat’s interior: the carpentry, the engine, the electrical installation, the tanks, bilge, kitchen, bathroom and other compartments.

Here is a list of dozens of Spain-based brokers (as they’re called) or nautical companies that can assist you. 

Crucially, they will also be able to give you an informed assessment of what price you should be paying for the boat you’ve chosen. 

How can you pay for a boat?

Unless you have enough disposable income to pay for it cash, you probably want to know what kind of financing is available to you. 

There is the nautical mortgage (hipoteca náutica), which mimics the system for property mortgages, including the need for a down payment and embargo conditions in non-payment situations. 

Nautical credits (Créditos náuticos) also exist, which again are not too different from regular loans, including fewer notary costs than nautical mortgages and fixed interest rates. 

And lastly, nautical leasing is also an option, which is when a company acquires a boat and rents it to a customer for a certain period of time (normally between 4 and 15 years) and usually with an option to buy at the end of the contract.

Don’t forget the upcoming maintenance costs

If you manage all that and buy the boat, you’ll need to maintain the boat and pay costs to do so. These include:

The mooring: ie. the place where the boat is left when it is not in use. The price of mooring depends on the size of the boat and the location of the port. It can range from around €100 per month to several thousand.

However, be warned, in Spain these aren’t easy to come by. The Association of Industries, Commerce and Nautical Services (ADIN), estimates that Spain has only 107,894 moorings for 229,000 boats.

You’ll also need to pay for periodical technical checks that must be carried out on the boat from time to time to check its condition and operation. Again, the price depends on the type and size of the boat and the services contracted. It can vary from around €200 euros to several thousand.

Regularly cleaning the boat to avoid dirt, rust, algae, and parasites damaging the boat can also be quite costly. It can vary from as little as €50 for smaller boats to several hundred for bigger ones, and most experts recommend it should be done every 4-6 weeks.

READ ALSO: How to live on a boat in Spanish waters

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