Campo de Gibraltar: Tarifa, Algeciras and Sotogrande
The south of the south: where Europe looks at Africa 14 kilometres away, the wind rules and the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean.
Key points
- Tarifa is the southernmost point of continental Europe: Punta de Tarifa is about 14 km from Morocco.
- It is Europe’s kitesurfing and windsurfing capital thanks to the levante and poniente winds of the Strait.
- The cove of Bolonia combines a huge dune, an unspoilt beach and the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia.
- Algeciras has one of Europe’s largest ports; Sotogrande offers golf, polo and a marina.
The areas of the province of Cádiz
Tarifa
Tarifa keeps its walled town, the Jerez gate and the 10th-century castle of Guzmán el Bueno, setting of the legend of the governor who sacrificed his son rather than surrender the town. From Las Palomas island you can see where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean and, on the horizon, the Rif mountains.
- Kitesurfing and windsurfingSchools at Valdevaqueros, Los Lances and Balneario; with strong levante, experts only.
- Whale watchingDolphins, pilot whales, sperm whales and, in summer, orcas in the Strait.
- Day trip to TangierFast ferries between Tarifa and Tangier in just over an hour.
- Bird migrationIn spring and autumn, thousands of raptors and storks cross the Strait.
Bolonia and Baelo Claudia
Bolonia beach is a cove of white sand closed off by a dune more than thirty metres high, a Natural Monument. Next to it are the ruins of Baelo Claudia, a Roman town founded in the late 2nd century BC that lived from fishing and salting: it preserves the forum, temples, theatre, baths and the tanks where garum was made.
The Strait Natural Park
Since 2003 the Strait Natural Park has protected the coast and sea between Tarifa and Algeciras: cliffs, seabeds rich in corals and one of the world’s most important bird migration routes. It is part of the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean, shared with Morocco.
Algeciras
Algeciras, the largest town in the Campo de Gibraltar, is a gateway to Europe and one of the Mediterranean’s great container ports. For visitors there is the tiled Plaza Alta, the Ingeniero Torroja market, the remains of the medieval walls and boats to Ceuta and Tanger Med. It is also the birthplace of guitarist Paco de Lucía.
Sotogrande and San Roque
In the municipality of San Roque, Sotogrande is a residential estate with a marina, internationally renowned golf courses and polo tournaments every summer. The hilltop town of San Roque was founded in 1706 by the people who left Gibraltar after the English occupation.
Castellar and Jimena
Inland, Los Alcornocales Natural Park, one of the largest cork oak forests in the world, surrounds castle villages such as Castellar Viejo, whose old town lies inside the fortress, and Jimena de la Frontera.
Keep going
To the west lie Zahara, Barbate and Vejer on the Atlantic coast. The best beaches of the Strait, with tips for the wind, are in Cádiz beaches.
Frequently asked questions
Can you go to Morocco from Tarifa?
Yes, fast ferries run between Tarifa and Tangier; boats from Algeciras also go to Tanger Med and Ceuta. You need a passport and should check times, as the wind can cancel sailings.
When can you see whales and dolphins in the Strait?
Dolphins and pilot whales can be seen almost all year; sperm whales are more frequent in spring and summer and orcas in July and August. Trips leave from Tarifa.
What is Sotogrande?
A residential and sports estate in the municipality of San Roque, with a marina, golf courses and polo as its star sport in summer.