The Costa de la Luz is much less developed than some of the other Spanish coastal areas, and enjoys beautiful wide sandy beaches that look out onto the Atlantic Ocean. The area is renowned for its strong Atlantic winds, making it a popular location for wind surfers and surfboarders.
When you reach the Costa de la Luz from the eastern end, there is a dramatic change in scenery after the Costa del Sol. The coastline starts with the upmarket resort of Sotogrande, which then leads onto miles of beautiful unspoilt beaches. This area near Guadiaro is popular with divers, due to the numerous coves and headlands which are perfect for underwater exploring.
Tarifa is known as the windsurfing capital of Europe, and is also a town with a rich Araba and Moorish history. It has a laidback ambience and enjoys a relaxed café culture with lots of good bars and restaurants. Among the sites of interest worth visiting are the Arab castle of Guzman the Bueno, built in 960 AD, and the Municipal Museum, located near the Town Hall.
Travelling westwards along the coast you will find the towns of Caños de Meca, Conil de la Frontera and Zahara de los Atunes. Caños de Meca became a very fashionable coastal resort in the 70’s, and still has a strong hippy vibe to it.
The historic walled city of Cadiz is well worth a visit. One of the most popular times to visit is during carnival time, which is celebrated for the week around Shrove Tuesday. The carnival tradition dates back to the 16th century, when the port of Cadiz traded heavily with the port of Venice, from whom it took on the carnival tradition, gaining inspiration to create the liveliest and most colourful carnival in Spain.
For nature lovers the Doñana National Park could be a place of great interest. It is one of Europe’s major wetlands and an important site for migratory birds.