Tarifa, with about 18,500 inhabitants, lies in the province of Cádiz, in Andalusia, on the Strait of Gibraltar. Punta de Tarifa is the southernmost point of mainland Europe, and on clear days you can see Morocco's Rif mountains, about 14 km away.
The wind
Tarifa is swept nearly all year by two winds: the hot, strong levante from the Mediterranean and the cooler poniente from the Atlantic. That makes it one of Europe's capitals of kitesurfing and windsurfing, with dozens of schools and rental shops along the beaches.
Beaches
- Los Lances, the long beach near town, partly a protected natural area.
- Valdevaqueros, with its great dune and kitesurfers' favourite spot.
- Bolonia, a wild bay with a shifting dune about 30 metres high and Roman ruins.
- Playa Chica, small and sheltered, near the port.
What to see
- The old town, with its walls, the Puerta de Jerez and white lanes full of bars and surf shops.
- Guzmán el Bueno castle, a 10th-century fortress tied to the legend of Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, who in 1294 chose to sacrifice his son rather than surrender the town.
- Isla de las Palomas, joined to the mainland by a road, dividing the two seas.
- Baelo Claudia, at Bolonia, one of Spain's best-preserved Roman towns, with its forum, theatre and tanks for processing fish and garum.
Nature and whales
The Strait is one of Europe's best places for whale and dolphin watching: dolphins, pilot whales, sperm whales and, in summer, orcas. The area is part of the Strait Natural Park, a crossing point for millions of migratory birds between Europe and Africa.
Morocco
Ferries to Tangier leave from the port and take about an hour: a day trip to Africa is easy to arrange. You need a passport.
Getting there
The nearest airports are Gibraltar, Málaga, Seville and Jerez. Buses link Tarifa with Algeciras, Cádiz and Seville. See also cities of Andalusia.