The Atlantic coast of Cádiz offers some of the best beaches in Spain and Europe, both for its beauty and conditions for rest, and for the possibilities of practicing different sea entertainment. We present you the 15 best beaches in this Andalusian province in the extreme south of Spain.
Caleta Beach
This beach located in front of the historic center of the city of Cádiz still remembers when its waters were plowed by Phoenician navigators and other ancient peoples. The pretty little beach has been a source of inspiration for musicians, composers and writers, and is flanked by two symbolic buildings. At one end is the Castillo de San Sebastián, an 18th-century construction that now houses the Marine Research Laboratory of the University of Cádiz. At the other end of the beach is the Castillo de Santa Catalina, a 16th-century fortress.
Bologna Beach
Talking about virgin beaches in the Iberian Peninsula is becoming almost impossible, but if any comes close to the denomination it is this piece of Campo Gibraltarian sea in front of the Moroccan city of Tanger. One of its attractions is the Bolonia Dune, an accumulation of sand about 30 meters high that changes its shape due to the action of the Levantine wind. Next to the beach are also the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Baelo Claudia, a place of tourist interest supported by a museum in which sculptures, columns, capitals and other pieces are exhibited.
Zahara de los Atunes
This autonomous entity from Barbate has several beaches. The most important is Playa Zahara, very popular in summer and famous for the spectacular sunsets that can be seen from there. The Zahara de los Atunes beach corridor extends for about 8 kilometers, up to Cabo de Plata, in the municipality of Tarifa. Other beaches in Zahare are El Cañuelo, surrounded by dunes, and Playa de los Alemanes. On July 16, the people of Zahar celebrate the Evening of the Virgen del Carmen, which includes a procession with the image to the beach. From these beaches you can enjoy a privileged view of the African continent.
Valdevaqueros Beach
This Campo Gibraltar beach in the municipality of Tarifa stretches from Punta de Valdevaqueros to Punta de La Peña. It has on its western side a dune in formation that dates from the 1940s, when the soldiers of the Spanish army stationed in the area tried to prevent the sand from burying their barracks. It is frequented by many young people who go to have fun and enjoy beach entertainment, such as windsurfing and kitesurfing, with specialists who provide training services in the disciplines. At its western end is the estuary of the Río del Valle.
Cortadura Beach
This beach in the capital is next to the defensive walls that limited Cádiz since the 17th century. At 3,900 meters, it is the longest in the city. It is famous for the barbecues that take place on the Night of San Juan or Barbecue Night, in which tens of thousands of people from Cádiz and visitors gather. It is made of fine sand and has the Blue Flag, the quality certificate granted by the European Foundation for Environmental Education. A sector of the beach is nudist.
Caños de Meca
Some of the beaches in this district of Barbate are preserved almost in their purest form, due to the little human impact. They are located between Cape Trafalgar and the area of cliffs of the Natural Park of La Breña and Marismas del Barbate. The beaches of the cape are surrounded by dunes and have fine sand, although with reefs, while towards the park there are coves, some of which are difficult to access due to the tide. Playa del Faro Trafalgar is one of the prettiest and cleanest in the region, although you have to be careful with a hangover.
Palmar de Vejer
This small town in the region of La Janda has a beach of more than 4 kilometers in length, with fine golden sand. It is a clean, flat beach with dunes, which also has basic services, such as surveillance and an aid station. When there are good waves, young people practice surfing and there are some schools with instructors in this sport. Another place of interest in El Palmar is its tower or watchtower, structures that were built in past centuries to have a high place from which to alert the population about dangers.
Peppermint Beach
This beach in Barbate is located within the territory that forms the Natural Park of La Breña y Marismas del Barbate. Its kilometer in length runs between the port of Barbate and an area of cliffs. From the golden sand beach you can enjoy a good view of the cliffs and the stone pines of the park. The locals call it Playa del Chorro due to the current of water that runs down the cliffs, coming from a nearby spring. It is a very clean beach for being relatively remote. A path runs parallel to the coast through the steep area.
Pigeon Point
This Tarifa enclave of intermediate waves in Ensenada de Valdevaqueros is frequented by lovers of maritime wind sports, such as windsurfing and kitesurfing, being one of the favorite places for Andalusians and Spanish fans of these entertainments. The large dune that supports the beach changes its profile as the wind blows, mainly from east to west. Punta Paloma is a good place to see the Moroccan coast and not far away there are small nudist beaches.
Santa Maria del Mar Beach
This golden sand beach in the city of Cádiz, located outside the walls, offers a spectacular view of the historic center of the provincial capital. The part most used by bathers is delimited by two breakwater breakwaters, one to the east and one to the west, which were built to reduce erosion. It is the continuation of the famous Playa de la Victoria, one of the best in Europe. It receives several denominations, such as Playa de Las Mujeres, La Playita and Playa de los Corrales. At one end of the beach there is a piece of the old city wall.
Los Lances Beach
This Tarifa beach of just over 7 kilometers stretches between Punta de La Peña and Punta de Tarifa. Located within the Playa de los Lances Natural Area and the Estrecho Natural Park, its status as a protected area has made it possible to counteract, although not completely, the deterioration of its natural environment. It is a beach with strong and almost constant winds, which is why it is highly visited by kitesurfers and windsurfers. From the beach, wildlife watchers can take dolphin and whale watching tours. Nearby is the wetland that forms at the mouth of the Jara and La Vega rivers, with interesting flora and fauna.
Atlanterra Beach
Where Playa Zahara ends, Playa de Atlanterra begins. Its clean turquoise blue waters and its fine sand invite you to bathe or lie down to sunbathe, with Cape Trafalgar in the background. It is also known as Playa del Bunker, due to the defensive battery located on the border with Playa de los Alemanes. This structure of tourist interest dates from the Second World War, it was armed with a small cannon and was a machine gun nest. It was built in fear of an Allied invasion of Spain. Playa de Atlanterra has accommodations in different categories, from luxury hotels to simpler and cheaper places.
Bateles Beach
This Cádiz beach on the Costa de la Luz in the municipality of Conil de la Frontera almost invites you to listen to The Beatles due to the similarity of names, especially Here comes the Sun (Here comes the Sun) , lying on the golden sand a good summer day It is almost 900 meters long and has a promenade. At one end is the mouth of the Río Salado and it has relatively moderate waves. The area near the river is the most appropriate for practicing wind sports. Its proximity to the center of the town makes it a beach with a lot of influx, so on high season days you have to take forecasts.
Germans Beach
This cove is a kilometer and a half long and is located near Zahara de los Atunes, between the Cadiz capes of Plata and García. It still has dunes, although they have gradually disappeared due to human intervention. It is a beach of clean golden sand and clear waters due to how relatively far away the populated centers are. Its name comes from the fact that some Germans settled in the place fleeing their country after World War II.
Victory Beach
It is the best-known beach in Cádiz, considered the best in Europe in urban environments. It is a consistent winner of the Blue Flag, the certification of the European Foundation for Environmental Education for beaches that meet conservation and service infrastructure standards, in addition to other awards and distinctions. It stretches for three kilometers between the Cortadura Wall and the Santa María del Mar Beach, separated from the city of Cádiz by a promenade. In its vicinity, it has accommodation, restaurants, bars and other establishments, in accordance with the demands of world tourism.