You are spoilt for choice when it comes to things to do on the Costa de la Luz from whale watching to bird watching, surfing to horse riding, if you are looking for an adventurous and active holiday then this is the place to be.
Once you have decided what to do please go to our business directory, where you can contact numerous companies who offer these services and operate in the area, you can even learn Spanish at one of the language schools or reserve a table at a restaurant.
Things to do on the Costa de la Luz
Whale and Dolphin Watching
The beautiful waters off this stunning coast are home to several species of dolphins and whales.
Lots of different tour operators are based along the coastline, offering a variety of excursions to spot these elegant creatures in their natural habitat.
Depending on the time of year you will be able to see anything from Bottlenose dolphins to Orca whales.
Surfing
With over 3000 hours of sunshine a year and the steady waves of the warm Atlantic Ocean this coastline has some of the best surfing spots in Spain.
El Palmar beach situated near Vejer de la Frontera is a popular place to surf, which has a great chilled out party atmosphere in the summer months.
All along the coastline you will find great places to surf as well as many different surf schools to help you pop your first wave or to improve your technique.
Kitesurfing
This new sport is a combination of power kite flying and surfing.
The Costa de la Luz is considered to be one of the best places in the world to practise this sport and in the last 3 to 4 years it has become massively popular all along this spectacular coastline.
A hotspot for kitesurfing is Tarifa, where in the summer months the sea and sky are awash with all the differently coloured kites.
Many important competitions are held in Tarifa including the Kiteboarding World Tour.
Windsurfing
The coastline of the Costa de la Luz is the ideal place for windsurfing all year round.
The hip and trendy resort of Tarifa is the most popular place due to its perfect conditions, in fact it is known as the windsurfing capital of Europe with people flocking here from all across the world.
Several prestigious events and competitions have been held in Tarifa including the PBA Windsurfing Speed World Cup.
Another good place to go to is Los Canos de Meca, its popular all year round and has enormous waves in the wintertime.
Golf
The area is a paradise for golfers and has fast become one of Europe’s best golfing destinations. It attracts thousands of golfers each year as well as the biggest names in golf, with the great Seve Ballesteros designing the course at Novo Sancti Petri in Chiclana. The range and quality of the courses across the Costa de la Luz are excellent and they are all located in stunning natural environments with superb scenery and views.
Several of the courses have held prestigious competitions. In the Cadiz province, the Montenmedio course in Vejer de la Frontera and the Sherry Golf course in Jerez de la Frontera have both been used as venues for the European Tours. The Montecastillo course also in Jerez de la Frontera hosted the Volvo Masters for five years in a row and was designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus. Also one of the best and most difficult courses in Europe is situated in the Cadiz area, the superb Valderrama.
The Huelva province also has a great choice of excellent courses. In El Rompido there is a superb course created by the great Spanish designer Alvaro Arana that has hosted several events including the Daily Mail foursomes. The course at Islantilla has been listed in the top one hundred golf courses in Europe and has hosted several competitions including a PGA European Challenge Tour. Costa Esuri offers two 18-hole championship courses set alongside the beautiful Guadiana river. In this area you will also find Spain’s oldest golf club the Bellavista that dates back to 1916.
The beautiful Sevilla province also offers several excellent courses including the Real Club de Golf of Sevilla that is rated as the 3rd best course in Spain. Designed by Jose Maria Olazabal, this demanding course has hosted several important competitions including the 2004 Golf World Cup.
With one of the warmest climates in Europe and the stunning natural light of the Costa de la Luz playing golf here is an unforgettable experience.
Festivals
The Andalucians are at their best when there is a fiesta and for nearly every day of the year there will be a festival happening somewhere in the region. From large cities to small villages, they all have their own special festivals, celebrations and religious events that last throughout the day and night.
Four of the biggest festivals that are not to be missed are:
Carnival: This is a chance to party before Lent. Everyone wears fancy dress and there are fabulous street parades and music. The biggest and most outrageous carnival is in Cadiz.
Semana Santa (Easter): The re-enactment of The Passion with emotive processions taking place across Spain. One of the biggest and the most famous in the world is in Sevilla, where thousands of people flock to this moving event.
Sevilla Spring Fair: For one week the people of Sevilla throw an enormous party to welcome in springtime. The bank of the river is covered with thousands of casetas (marquees) that reverberate with the sounds of flamenco singing and dancing.
Feria del Caballo: The city of Jerez goes horse crazy in May as it plays host to one of the most impressive equestrian events in Europe. You don’t have to be a horse lover to enjoy this fabulous event where you can eat, drink and dance until the early hours of the morning.
For more information please see the Area Page.
Natural Parks
Across the region are six beautiful Natural Parks abundant with flora and fauna encompassing coastal areas, wetlands and rugged mountains. Running along the coast from Algeciras to Tarifa is the Del Estrecho Natural Park that includes the Straits of Gibraltar. This park is superb for whale and dolphin watching and bird spotting, as it’s the main bird migration route between Europe and Africa. The vast Doñana Natural Park is a world heritage site that is considered to be the best wetland reserve in Europe. It’s a paradise for bird watchers with a vast variety of birds including colourful flamingos, egrets and endangered species such as the Spanish Imperial Eagle. The Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park is a UNESCO declared reserve with stunning cliffs, caves and gorges. Here you will find griffon vultures, extraordinary plants and the native Spanish Fir.
For more information please see the Area Page.
Flamenco
The Costa de la Luz is the best place to come and see authentic flamenco as it was created here in Andalucia by a mixture of cultures that were persecuted by the Catholic Church.
Flamenco in this area is not a diluted showy version that is just put on for tourists, but the real thing.
Keep a look out for posters advertising shows or visit the local tourist office or peña club (flamenco club) to find out where the best ones take place.
If you have the opportunity go to one of the many ferias, you will be guaranteed to see the locals flamenco dancing until the early hours of the morning.
For more information please see the Area Page.
Andalucian Horses
The elegant Andalucia horse, also known as the Pure Raza Espanola (PRE), is one of the oldest and most famous breeds in the world.
One of the best places to see them is at the choreographed shows in the Royal Andalucian School of Equestrian Art in Jerez de la Frontera. The horses are sashayed around the arena performing to music showing off their amazing ability and agility.
Another good place to see them is at The Feria de Caballo (Horse Fair) in Jerez every May, where all things equestrian are showcased and celebrated.
For more information please see the Area Page.
Mountain Biking
This sport has always been popular in Andalucia and with the varied terrain of hills, mountain ranges and dramatic coastline it means that you are guaranteed a great choice of excellent trails.
You can choose from gentle cross-country rides, steep ascents, endurance rides and exhilarating descents. Whatever you do, you will be sure to have a great time with fabulous views and backdrops.
If you need to hire a bike or would like to go on an organised trip there are many biking shops and companies throughout the region.
Bird Watching
The Costa de la Luz is a bird watchers paradise and has some of the rarest breeding birds on the Iberian Peninsula.
This area is superb all year round due to the temperate Mediterranean climate and the peak seasons for spotting are in spring and autumn.
The region has several natural parks where you can see a great range of species with the Straits of Gibraltar being the main migration route for birds between Europe and Africa.
For more information please see the Area Page.
Walking
There is some fantastic countryside waiting to be explored across the Costa de la Luz with springtime being one of the best times due to the beautiful flora and fauna.
The Via Verdes are a great way to see this area, these are stretches of unused and abandoned railway lines that have been converted by the government into specific tracks for walking, horse riding, cycling and wheel chair users. They are kept in good condition, well signposted and have several picnic areas along the routes.
There are also six natural parks to enjoy which have a variety of marked routes.
For more information please see the Area Page.
Horse Riding
Horses and Spain are synonymous with each other and the Costa de la Luz has a great choice of places for horse riding.
You can take your pick of trails in the stunning Natural Parks, ride through the native cork forests and gallop through the surf on the wild unspoilt sandy beaches.
Many companies offer horses for hire, tuition and organised treks.
Diving
The crystal clear waters of the beautiful Atlantic Ocean make this the perfect place for scuba diving.
There are great spots all along the coast to dive, which include Isla de las Palomas a small nature reserve island that is connected to Tarifa.
Other good areas to dive are Punta Umbria, the Cape of Trafalgar near Canos de Meca and the sea around Gibraltar that has over 30 shipwrecks.
Sailing
Sailing is a fabulous way to experience this beautiful coastline.
All along the coast you will find a good choice of modern marinas with great facilities.
There are many facilities along the coast where you can hire boats or book sailing lessons whilst on your holiday.
Kayaking
This area is perfect for kayaking with its wide choice of rivers, wetlands and beautiful coastline.
There are many routes where you can either sea kayak or paddle through rivers and wetlands in the stunning natural parks.
You’ll find a great range of schools across the region that caters for the complete beginner to the more experienced.
Paragliding/ Hang-gliding
With its superb climate the Costa de la Luz has great conditions for paragliding all year round.
The Sierra de Líjar mountain range in the Cadiz Province has the perfect pick of great flying sites and attracts flyers from all across Europe.
If you are a complete beginner then you will find several schools to choose from, for the more experienced flyer there are many local guides who will show you the best flying sites
You can also fly all along this stunning coastline with several sites to choose from.
Cycling
Cycling is popular all over Spain and hosts over 5,000 annual cycling races, including the Tour de España in April and May.
With the Costa de la Luz clement temperatures and long daylight hours you can cycle here throughout the year.
In addition to this the quiet country roads, Via Verdes routes and Natural Parks ensures that you can cycle in some fantastic places.
Jerez Motor Racing Circuit
Every year the circuit hosts the exhilarating Jerez Moto GP, with the first one dating back to 1987.
It attracts thousands of visitors from all across Europe and holds up to 250,000 spectators.
Due to this region’s excellent weather it’s also regularly used as a test circuit by Formula One teams.
Historical Past
This region is testament to the legacy of all the different civilisations that have occupied it, with the Phoenicians being the first to settle here in 800BC who created the city of Cadiz (Gadir).
Next were the Greeks, the Iberians, the Carthaginians and then the Romans who were here for over six hundred years. Their remains can be seen everywhere including the well preserved ancient town of Baelo Claudia near Tarifa.
After the Romans came the Visigoths, then lastly in the 8th century the Moors whose stunning architecture, culture and influence shaped Andalucia as we know it today.
Must See and Do’s
Due to its rich historical past there is an enormous wealth of monuments, churches, temples and stunning architecture to see all across the Costa de la Luz. Below is just a small snap shot of what this stunning region has to offer.
Sevilla
Royal Alcázar, The Cathedral, Giralda Tower and a must do is Tapas in a local bar followed by a Flamenco show.
Cadiz
Cadiz Cathedral, it’s parks, fortified walls and its ancient Ficus trees.
Jerez
The Alcázar, Flamenco Museum, Sherry Tours and The Royal Andalucian School of Equestrian Art.
For more information please see the Towns and Villages Pages.
Sherry
Forget your preconceptions of sherry only being for your grandmother and discover more about this nations favourite drink. Sample the different varieties from the pale light dry Finos to the sweet dark Oloroso.
Only fortified wines produced in the famous sherry triangle of Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda and El Puerto de Santa Maria have the right to call themselves sherry.
Learn more about this fascinating drink and book a tour at one of the many famous sherry-producing factories (bodegas) such as Tio Pepe or copy the locals and a sip a cool refreshing glass whilst enjoying some delicious tapas.
For more information please see the Area Page.
Gibraltar
Connected to Spain by a small strip of land is Gibraltar more commonly known as the ‘Rock’.
This small territory with its interesting and turbulent past has a wide choice of attractions for visitors including many historical buildings, the impressive St Michael’s caves, its 18th century siege tunnels, great shops and not forgetting the infamous Barbary Apes that live on top of the rock.
For more information please see the Area Page.
Morocco
Whilst holidaying on the Costa de la Luz why not discover the delights of this colourful and exotic country by taking one of the short ferry rides from Algeciras, Tarifa or Gibraltar.
Experience the bustling souks and wander around the ancient alleyways.
You can choose to take an independent trip or go with one of the many tour operators who offer organised one-day trips and longer stays.
For more information please see the Area Page.