Guide to Tarifa, spain, andalucia, cadiz guide, tourist information Tarifa, costa de la luz, wind surfing spain, windsurf championships spain
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Places in Spain - Tarifa, home of windsurfing in Spain

 

Tarifa was until the mid 1980's was a quiet village, known only as the southernmost point on the European landmass. It forms part of the Costa de la Luz within the region of Andalucia.

Today Tarifa has become a popular resort, famous for its windsurfing. It now ranks with the top three surfing resorts of the world. Even in the winter surfers can be found on its shores and specialist equipment shops line its streets. There is a great appeal in wandering the crumbling ramparts of Tarifa's old walls or narrow streets that surround the 15th century church of San Mateo. The newly restored Castillo de Guzman has wonderful views from its towers, both across the town and the sea. In the centre there are many places to see including a nice, small museum.

 

 

 
The area around Tarifa makes for excellent horse-riding and horses can be hired locally. Heading northwest of Tarifa lie some of the best beaches anywhere with wide stretches of yellow sand. A new addition to the area are whale and dolphin spotting trips. Though Tarifa offers very little in the form of entertainment ie discos and nightclubs, there are ample places to eat and drink, as well as many places to stay. There is also a first class windsurfing school here.
 
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Above the town is the cemetery where rows of nameless headstones mark the graves of unknown Africans, buried three deep. These are the corpses of bodies washed up on Tarifa's' shores. Most of them are illegal immigrants whose attempts at crossing the wild straits have failed. In recent years the number of 'wetbacks' escaping the plight of Africa and hoping for a better life in Europe has increased dramatically. Unfortunately many of these don't survive the crossing where up to 30 people are crammed into vessels designed for three and organised by gangster skippers. There is the constant struggle to evade the coastal helicopters and land on Spanish sand.

 

The few that do survive and escape capture end up with an illegal life in Europe, without identification and unable to secure a good job.

   
The best beach in Tarifa appeared to be Playa de Los Lances although the strong winds would be a problem for bathers. This is of course heaven for the wind surfers that come here every year. The port was quaint and very functional but rather untidy. Tarifa has a good selection of historical buildings but it appeared that many more had been demolished to make way for the multitude of high-rise apartment blocks. Even the town bullring was nothing to look at, once we found it.
Tarifa
   

The 15th century church of San Mateo was a magnificent structure, located in a network of tiny streets and alleys and the remains of the Moorish walls were a sight to behold, albeit they looked out of place, surrounded by untidy, modern buildings.

 

 

Tarifa is obviously an energetic 'doing' place with quite a youth feeling to it. It does make an interesting stop on the way to Cadiz or Algeciras.

Pictured right are surfers preparing their boards. This is on South Beach which appears to be the best place for surfing.

 

 

On a small island, accessed by a narrow causeway at the end of Punta Marroqui is a military base, inaccessible to the public, but at the side of this is a tiny cove beach. The walk along the causeway offers fine views of both sides of the bay and a guaranteed breath of fresh air.

 

Pictured below is the newly restored castle of Guzman the Good. Right is the view to one side of the causeway.

Activities in Tarifa

Whale watching in Tarifa

FIRMM Is a company offering whale watching excursions in Tarifa.

Pedro Cortes, 4, Tarifa. Telephone 956 627 008

www.dolphinresort.org or www.firmm.org. The company also protects whales and organises studies.

 

Whale Watch Tarifa offer boat trips and have done since 1996. Telephone 956 627 013. wwwwhalewatchtarifa.net

 

Turmares offer daily excursions to see whales. Telephone 956 680 741. www.turmares.com

 
     
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