Disconnect now in Zahara de los Atunes.
Cadiz is my medicine, I admit it. Every year I give myself a few days in paradise. I feel a special attraction to this place, which goes beyond my roots, and perhaps beyond the inexplicable. Its entire coastline seems magical to me, although I must admit that I have my favorite places, those little corners that I find it hard to share.
Obviously, Zahara de los Atunes is no longer a secret so sharing it is a real pleasure.
This little fishing village located between Tarifa and Barbate barely has 1,200 inhabitants, but when the heat arrives, everyone wants to get closer and make the most of it. Why will it be?
Zahara de los Atunes, a small town with the soul of the sea.
THEIR MONUMENTS
Zahara de los Atunes has a great historical legacy,** as a town there are documents that prove it in 1400**, but the area was already important in Roman times. Traces of it remain Claudia Baelo , in Bologna, and the former Baessipo port , in Barbados.
Let's say that the beginning of the municipality as such began with the Zahara Castle and Jadraza Palace built by Guzmán El Bueno in the 16th century . At the time it was built as a defensive fortress against the Barbary pirates, and for the tuna season (hence its name), one of the most important in all of Europe.
Today this space is used for ephemeral markets and also for summer cinema. A little later she got up next to him. Parish of Our Lady of Carmen , an architectural jewel built in 1906, today perfectly preserved.
The calls "chancas" built inside the castle would determine its fame in later centuries. The chancas were deposits (of which there are remains near the castle) used to cure fish and preserve them.
Tuna has been the main livelihood of the town and the almadraba, the fishing system that has made it more popular. They say that even Japanese fishing boats come during the trap season, during the spring, to get hold of this exquisite tuna. We are not surprised!
Old Castle of Zahara and the Parish of Nuestra Señora del Carmen.
Its beauty, light and gastronomy are therefore its greatest attractions . Its geographical position allows you to enjoy the views of its plains between hills, those of the Sierra del Retín and the Sierra de Plata. In them you will see the immense windmills turn while you bathe in one of its extensive beaches.
And around you, as if that were not enough,** you will see the vast fields that in spring are dyed with sunflowers**, and in which bulls and horses graze calmly. And their beaches? How to forget about them!
** Zahar's coastline of 1,600 meters is one of the best preserved **, the buildings always low and adapted to the landscape mean that you can enjoy an "almost" virgin environment. And the gastronomy... if you have come this far it is because you want to taste the best tuna in the world.
The beach of Zahara de los Atunes.
BEACHES
Your philosophy once you arrive here will be to adapt to the ups and downs of the Atlantic . Never will a sea seem as wild as this one and never will a climate seem more perfect, especially in summer. The days are hot without being excessive and the nights cool. You will never have a spare jacket.
The first step to enjoy Zahara will be to know its beaches. **It has four: Zahara de los Atunes beach, Los Alemanes beach, Atlanterra beach and Arroyo del Cañuelo beach. **
Almost all of them are semi-virgin, extensive and with fine white sand. The first is the best known, with 4.5 km it has all the services you can imagine, in addition to the most popular beach bars.
About the second (about 1,500 m long) it is said that it received its name from the Nazis who came to take refuge in this “hidden” corner after the Second World War; Another option that is being considered is that it was here that German families built their mansions in the 90s.
In addition to the legends, its environment is unique. From it you can see one of the most emblematic lighthouses of the town, the dressing room.
Atlantic beach.
Atlanterra beach starts at the end of the town of Zahara de los Atunes and passes through it Atlantic Arc European Trail GR 150 , which connects Bolonia with Tarifa, making it a good option if you feel like walking. You can do about 6 km from Zahara town to the Atlanterra bunker, built in World War II.
As a beach it has all the services and its views are the least curious, **they say that in its mountains are the great houses of singers, actresses and actors, who have also chosen this place to disappear from the world. **
Finally, the beach of the Arroyo del Cañuelo , which is located after the Camarinal lighthouse, and although its access is not easy, it is worth it. It is possibly the most virgin of all, it has about 1,500 meters and is more sheltered, which gives it an aspect more of a cove than a beach. If you are going to spend the day,** remember to bring everything you need because it has no services. **
TUI Blue Zahara Beach Hotel
THE HOTEL
Whatever time of year you are this hotel will be the best possible option to enjoy Zahara : in spring you can enjoy the views of the fields of sunflowers in bloom and in summer the best sunsets in the Atlantic —and I'm not exaggerating—.
TUI Blue Zahara Beach Hotel It opened its doors in 2019 and enjoys a privileged location and services. It is a complex of 136 rooms on the beachfront , right on Avenida Atlanterra, a few meters from the sandbank and very close to the entire gastronomic center. So much that you can go on foot perfectly.
The five-star resort for adults only has recently been recognized with the seal Safe Tourism Certification of the Spanish Tourist Quality Institute, which certifies that the hotel carries out all the necessary protocols against Covid-19.
In fact, it was the first to obtain it in Zahara de los Atunes, together with The farmhouse of Zahara , also from the Q Hotels group. Perhaps that is the reason why they have found a little more than 90% occupancy this summer despite the health situation.
The team has already perfectly integrated into the day-to-day running of the hotel mandatory use of masks , the daily disinfection of rooms and the entire premises, which is not little, an assisted breakfast instead of a buffet, the expansion of the workforce by 20% to guarantee a better service, the placement of hygienic dispensers in transit areas such as elevators, etc., and even the capacity limitation that has forced them to keep closed one of their big bets, the restaurant Culinarium.
Hall of Zahara Beach.
Zahara Beach is a living hotel that adapts to practically everything , both to the new circumstances and to the requests of its clients. This has meant, for example, that in the pool area they have created a restaurant-barbecue so that you can eat outside throughout the day.
They have also had to regulate access to their infinity pool , the jewel in the crown, on the top floor and with spectacular views of the entire beach and the sunsets. To enter you must book in advance and the ticket includes a bottle of cava with fruit, from 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
This is always a plus in case outdoor pools are not enough,** which have also sought the infinity pool effect**. It is a delight to bathe while listening to live music or enjoying the tropical vegetation and Bali-inspired decor.
Bamboo bridges and pergolas, Balinese beds... everything comes directly from the country, which is visited once a year by the directors of ** QHotels ** to bring all kinds of local crafts and materials.
Junior Suite room.
For that reason, each room has a unique decoration. There are no two alike . On our trip we were lucky enough to be able to sleep in a junior suite, which had an upper terrace with a Balinese bed, specially designed to see the stars.
The premium room It has its own small pool and the ** Swim Up ** is a fantasy, from the bed you can practically jump into the pool.
The hotel also has a space Spa & Wellness with gym, indoor pool and body treatments. Now comes the best: a beer spa . One of the four in Spain is located inside the hotel.
If you really want to relax there's nothing like taking a bath with a pitcher of beer and the shooter to serve yourself . In the space there is also a sauna and a barley bed to conserve body heat. Pure luxury!
End the session with a relaxing massage. We have come to enjoy, right?
Tuna, just.
**WHERE TO EAT **
Gastronomy is the strong point of Zahara de los Atunes. Everyone who comes here knows that it is difficult to find an empty table for lunch or dinner, so you have to book in advance.
Almost all the gastronomic offer of the town is concentrated in a couple of streets: Real Street, Perez Galdós Street or Duquesa de Medina Sidonia Street are some of them . The cuisine is extremely varied, obviously most restaurants offer the star product:** tuna in all its possible varieties**.
**These are some of our recommendations:**
Zoko Zahara: Tribu Zoko has several restaurants in Zahara de los Atunes, one of them is Zoko, fun and daring fusion food. They offer a menu with few but tasty dishes. You have to try the shrimp tacos, the mojama salad with fried shrimp or the "pornography" of wild tuna from the Almadraba.
CerveZahara: it is always up to the flag. The food truck option for tapas any day of the week at a good price is one of the most popular in Zahara. The richest tapas : their squid sandwich, the potatoes with mojo picón, the cuttlefish fritters or the Almadraba brandade, an award-winning tapa in 2018. Their local beer is also worth a visit.
Rice Zokarrá : if you want to eat good rice near the sea, the Arrocería Zokarrá has a very interesting offer.
El Cortijo de Zahara: in addition to being another accommodation option facing the sea, perfect for families, it has a good restaurant (interior and with terrace) to try some typical dishes such as tuna tartar, tuna ribs or the classic retinta steak .
The Fresh of Zahara : It is one of the busiest places in Zahara. The reason is a good fresh product.
the apothecary : It has been a brewery and restaurant since 1996. In another time it was the town's apothecary, today its waiters and a fresh product from the sea have made it one of the must-see places.
Pepe el Malagueño ice cream parlor : This ice cream shop came from Barbate to Zahara de los Atunes. His artisan ice creams are delightful.
The shelter : a good restaurant to eat near the sea and a classic of the town. You have to eat there at least once in your life.
fret tavern : much more than tapas. Here you come to eat well and, above all, to have fun eating.
The Shelter in Zahara de los Atunes.
TO DO
One of the things I like to do the most when I go to Zahara is walk its streets and get lost in its shops: clothes, handicrafts, jewellery... There is none that I don't like. Here are two of mine: Living Water for jewelry and accessories or a handful of pearls for dresses or special garments.
The truth is that Zahara is a complete destination, you can discover it just as much by hiking as by surfing. If you choose the first option there are some very interesting ones such as the one addressed to Tagus Tower , skirting all the cliffs, or the Caños-Torre de Meca Trail . Here you can find some more.
Diving and snorkeling are also a regular activity, as well as surfing or kitesurfing. you can do it with Zahara Red Tuna , the first official surf school in Zahara created in 2012.
If you have more days and want to do more tourism, the route of the white villages It may be the best option to get to know **Cádiz from the inside. **
TUI Blue Zahara Beach Hotel offers a series of activities to explore the town and the entire coastal area in the most original way. Ask at reception and they will advise you in the best possible way.