Updated to: 8/4/2022. When you drive along the winding coastal road towards Tarifa and the car reaches the Kid's Height , the wind blows with all its force. At this point, the highest part of the natural park of The Alcornocales , with the best views of Africa in the background (a stop at the Strait viewpoint ), one begins to feel in a distant, paradisiacal, and powerful place.
This sense of freedom exerted by the old edge of the old world grows as you let yourself be carried away by the wave good roller that reigns in the old Arab medina and in its paradisiacal beaches. It's time to put on your surfing playlist and lower the windows to the top to mess up your hair with the wind and never take out a comb again for the entire trip.
WHERE LESS IS MORE
The surfer spirit has penetrated so deeply into the lifestyle of hotels, hostels, apartments, little shops, restaurants and cafes that everyone seems to wear that natural look, that healthy and tolerant philosophy and that carefree character that goes very well with the idiosyncrasy Cadiz. Tarifa is perfect for unwinding and not thinking about anything other than relaxing. For this reason, we recommend that you choose an accommodation in the historic center so that you can enjoy the magic of strolling through its streets without haste and on foot.
Also, the nearest beach, beach girl, It is only a five-minute walk away and although you will need a car to visit mythical surfing beaches such as Valdevaqueros , and all the beautiful beaches with fine sand in the direction of Cádiz ( Bologna among them), the ideal is to leave it in the city's public car park, which is in Calzadilla de Téllez or in the adjoining street itself, three minutes from the historic center.
View of Valdevaqueros from the dune
KEYS TO CHOOSING ACCOMMODATION
The Kook boutique hotel meets all the recommended requirements: is relaxed and cool, It is located in a quiet and not very noisy street -near the Boquete de la Cilla, the highest part of the old town-, and it has a homemade breakfast of note and a terrace with sea views.
Facing the ocean near the port, the hotel The residence It is located where the promenade that joins Playa Chica and Los Lances begins. 55 Moroccan-style rooms, with spa and heated infinity pool on the roof that invites you to enjoy the views of the Strait. Also looking at the sea is Hurricane Hotel , with healthy breakfasts included and surrounded by tropical gardens.
There are more exclusive codes, such as Eole Luxury Rooms , in a mansion transformed into apartments, and in a more relaxed key, like those in the central and quiet Ave María street, an old house tastefully remodeled and converted into apartments that open onto a cool central patio with a fountain. But the reality is that there are so many charming alternatives that you will surely find the one that best suits your needs.
'Cool vibes' at Kook
COORDINATES FOR SURFERS, APPRENTICES AND SUPPORTERS
This year, the show GKA World Tour will bring together legendary riders from July 2 to 7 at Valdevaqueros Beach. Seeing them in action jumping tens of meters propelling themselves only with the air and their kites is impressive. In addition, you will be able to take the opportunity to try the cuisine of one of the trendy places this summer, the BIBO Beach House by three-starred Andalusian chef Dani García, which will open at the end of June and whose coming-out will take place with the kites of the best athletes in the world flying in front of the beach bar.
The restaurant, in what was a private estate inside this natural park, It is a spacious space, with a terrace overlooking the beach and the dunes and with a menu adapted to the Tarifa market: with salads, pokes, and more adjusted prices, in addition to its legendary dishes such as oxtail brioche.
But, if before diving into the cosmopolitan universe of Tarifa, you want to breathe fresh air and enjoy the surroundings without bumping into anyone, we recommend the buddha path , a route that starts from the information point of the Los Alcornocales natural park (km 77 of the N-340 from Tarifa to Cádiz) and that offers a general view of the dune and the beach of Punta Paloma, Valdevaqueros and Los Lances through three kilometers between pine forests. At the end, you will come to a cave with the small Buddhist sanctuary that gives the route its name.
Near the cave, and a stone's throw from the sea, a new surfcamp has just opened, Wild House Tarifa , from the hand of one of the most respected teachers in the area, Lucas Palmer. This Argentinian has been giving kite and surf lessons for almost 20 years at his school, kite and roll, after having tirelessly traveled the world following the waves.
Punta Paloma beach: the kingdom of kitesurfing
For those who want to learn kite in a more serious way, Lucas recommends spring and autumn, although they teach classes throughout the year and organize private and group weekend experiences. “In winter, when there are more waves, we also work on surfing,” he explains.
The prices for the courses go from 20 euros per hour for a group to 60 euros for a private course , and if you want to get your own equipment, you will find them in Tarifa from 600 euros second-hand to 1,700 new ones, approximately.
FOR ONE LESS PUBLIC HEALTHY
A good walk along the promenade that connects Playa Chica with Los Lances will allow you to locate the beach bars where the party is cooked at sunset. You will find them practically one after the other: from The Spa , where you can have a relaxing beer or a mojito, looking at the range of blues and turquoises of the sea on the horizon, The Waikiki, tucked into the beach and super set at sunset, passing through the mandala , with a swimming pool and at the foot of the promenade (write it down for Levante days), and so on until you reach the Crazy , also tucked into the sand and with a small viewpoint.
By the way, and although it seems obvious, an interesting visit is that of the Castle of Guzman the Good (from 960 AD), one of the best preserved in all of Europe, ordered to be built by Abderramán III, the Umayyad caliph from Córdoba, and conquered by the Leonese Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, nicknamed the Good. The nickname was given to him, curiously, when he sacrificed his son , taken prisoner by the contras, in order not to give in to the enemies who asked for the city in exchange for his life. Get ready for catapults, armor that you can weigh on a pulley, and some other curiosities, such as the views, which alone are worth a visit (from 4 euros, children free).
Castle with a view
IF YOU GET BORED, IT'S BECAUSE YOU WANT TO
If what you are passionate about is the sea but you prefer to feel it from below, you can make a diving course or snorkeling with the sea lion who carry out dives every day in front of the Isla de las Palomas, in the natural park (courses from 95 euros for three hours).
Another adventure that can not be missed, if you come with time, is to mark the classic excursion to Tangier or the flirty Chefchaouen (which you can reach by land by taxi or in your own vehicle). The ferries leave practically every two hours from eight in the morning and you are so close (they only separate you from the Moroccan coast about 14 kilometres, 60 minutes by boat) that you can come back in the day (the last one leaves from there at nine at night; round trip, 74 euros).
If you are more of letting them plan for you, next to the emblematic Puerta de Jerez, the horseshoe arch that reminds you that the city was taken by the Christians in 1292, you will find an office that organizes trips to Morocco.
The whale and dolphin watching in the Strait it can also give you a different vision of the geographical point in which you are. Here the Mediterranean and the Atlantic meet, and hundreds of marine species and birds pass through here throughout their lives. Although there are several companies that carry out respectful sightings, the pioneer in the area is Whale Watch Rate (two hours, from 30 euros adults, 20 euros children). In addition, in the Strait you can witness the largest migration of birds in Europe. To get to know them, and also to immerse yourself in the environmental value of the environment you walk on, Birding Fee it's perfect
Would you rather book yourself a class of yoga by the sea ? In Mandalablue Yoga They practice it daily from Monday to Sunday at different points, and always in front of the ocean. The spirit of the classes on this platform is that: yoga by the ocean, and it was born in Indonesia to move here. Its founder, Maite, explains that the type of depth that she finds in diving is what she likes to transfer to her meditations, “and that is given to me by the sea”, she affirms.
yoga in front of the sea
WHERE TO EAT (AND BREAKFAST, AND TAPAS…)
In Tarifa there are options for all tastes, from healthier places where Hawaiian pokes rule, to tuna sanctuaries where you can try the best bites from the sea, not to mention delicious ice cream parlors or cafeterias where breakfast is a real treat. In the latter case, our recommendation is that you go through the Blue coffee.
But if there is an exotic, picturesque and mythical restaurant, that is the blackbird . It only opens on Sundays and holidays, and it is located in the district of Punta Paloma, next to a mobile dune that, when the Levante hits hard, covers the access road. In addition to the variety of fresh whole grilled fish and some rice dishes of applause, the views from the living room and the terrace are to stay there all day.
Another of the places that has earned a deserved fame in the old part of the city is The French . The space is small and people often line up outside the door to try some of their bites. It's almost better to book in the morning if you're going to eat there, and don't forget to try their glorious tuna meatballs.
Open all day, the Mesón Aparta Hotel Siglo XIX , run by some well-known hoteliers from Tarifa, and whose decoration teleports back to 1800, is an interesting place to review the local cuisine, from fish to red cow meat.
If you are looking for something more exotic, and since we are a stone's throw from Morocco, in Mandrake you will try the best falafel and the best cous cous in all of Tarifa. And for Andalusian-style tapas, classics that never fail are An Ca Curro (cheese and ham are delicious), and above all, Paco Amaya House, It will be like eating at a friend's house in Tarifa. This traditional family bar offers the best of the region of Janda , a tuna belly to lick your fingers, stews and stews (the delicious tomato meatballs) and preserves from the Conservera de Tarifa where the best melva in the world is canned by hand. Hence, his glorious mackerel noodle dish is a customer favourite.
The best breakfasts are at Café Azul
By the way, don't leave without eating the classic Trolley car , or chocolate mille-feuille, of La Tarifa , a family confectionery that has been putting the sweet note in the city since the 50s of the last century. There you will find gluten-free bread, rye, spelled, buckwheat... and dozens of cakes, each one more appetizing.
BEERS, FOOTBALL AND A BIT OF SHOPPING
If the afternoon is not enough to see the last ray of sun on the beach, a bit of shopping in the historic center is a great plan. The best thing is to start on Calle Jerez and go down towards Plaza de La Paz and just wander around, because you will come across sites full of gems.
As far as sandals, sunglasses and surfer outfits are concerned, Tarifa is unbeatable, just as it is in the field of craftsmanship and handmade. It is shown by venues such as that of the Senegalese musician Babacar Lododiane, that he takes advantage of in his secluded store on Calle Jerez to collaborate with the economy of the neighbor Casamance bringing decorative objects and colorful African textiles: "Many Africans sell things from China instead of bringing handicrafts from our land, giving them the value they have and helping our families." Next to the Babacar store, the handmade leather sandals by a couple of Italians are another absolute wonder.
Near the church of San Francisco de Asís, in the magical Plaza del Ángel, Summer Stories It has beautiful and original esparto espadrilles. There are fun add-ons in mr boho or in Butterfly, and all the models of the tarifeñas sunglasses and organic wooden watches in Root Sunglasses . The list is endless.
After a few beers to the rhythm of surfers in the bar little tomato ? There you can play a game of foosball in a fun and lively place, or the classic mario bros to remember past times before dinner. The next beer, with live music and a good atmosphere, is at the Bar 12 . And so, until the body holds out or we go to sleep early, because tomorrow is another day of kiting and the beach awaits us.