In 1986, the World Health Organization classified Torrevieja as one of the places with the healthiest climate in the world, thanks to the unique combination of the two salt lagoons (the pink one of Torrevieja and the green one of La Mata) with its proximity to the Mediterranean. It's not a tourist slogan: it's a fact based on climatic and atmospheric studies published over the years.
The technical reason is simple to explain. The salt flats evaporate large quantities of saltwater — Torrevieja produces more than 700.000 tons of salt per year — and this process generates a natural aerosol loaded with iodine, magnesium, calcium, and other salts beneficial for the respiratory system. The sea wind carries them several kilometers inland.
Combined with over 300 days of sunshine per year, low nighttime humidity, and a mild temperature range (rarely dropping below 8°C in winter or rising above 32°C in summer), the result is an exceptional environment for people with asthma, allergies, chronic sinusitis, atopic dermatitis, or respiratory problems in general.
This is evident in daily life: many residents first arrived seasonally to treat respiratory ailments and ended up staying. Winter pneumonias are rare (much rarer than in inland areas at the same latitude), and winters average around 14-18 °C highs during the day. It's perfectly normal to go shopping in a short-sleeved shirt in February.
Some allergology specialists recommend prolonged stays in areas with this climate profile for adjuvant treatments. The La Mata beach, adjacent to the natural park, is the one that most concentrates this effect due to its direct proximity to the lagoons.
If you come from northern Europe or humid areas (Galicia, Basque Country, Belgium, Netherlands, United Kingdom), the change is noticeable from the first week of your stay. It's not subjective: there are published medical studies that support this, and local statistics show a much lower incidence of respiratory problems in long-term residents compared to other areas of Spain.
Another lesser-known effect: environmental salinity has a positive impact on hair and skin preservation. It is common to hear residents with several decades in the area comment that their skin has improved or that old scars look better. Medical science attributes this to the combination of iodine in the air, moderate sun, and low pollution.
Not everything is perfect: in the height of summer, July-August, humidity can rise and create a muggy feeling. But it's only 6-8 weeks of "hot soup" compared to an excellent rest of the year. For many, it's a very advantageous trade-off.
If you are considering coming here for health reasons, we recommend you first visit between November and April (when the air's effect is cleaner) and get to know the different areas of Torrevieja, La Mata, and Guardamar. Each one has a slightly different microclimate depending on its distance from the salt lakes and the sea.
At Noelia Arenas Real Estate, we have experience working with European clients who have moved for health reasons. We can advise you on which specific neighborhoods are closest to the salt flats and the best orientation to take advantage of the beneficial northeast wind.