Appropriately christened the Costa de la Luz (Coast of the Light), the Atlantic shoreline of Cadiz province have many wild and windswept beaches, with its strong winds making Tarifa the foremost windsurf and kitesurfing site in Europe.
The village of El Gastor is just off the main road north-west from Ronda to Algodonales and a few kilometres from Zahara de la Sierra. It is also known as the ‘Balcony of the White Villages’ because from the two mountain peaks in its municipality, El Algarín and Las Grajas, there are magnificent views of other little villages in the area and the surrounding countryside.
This town in the Sierra de Cadiz, near Arcos de la Fontera, is part of the Ruta de Pueblos Blancos (the White Towns Route). It has its own 400-hectare nature reserve - the Reserva Natural del Complejo Endorréico de Espera is made up of three lakes, and is famous for its abundance of rare waterfowl - specifically, coots and ducks.
Named after its once flourishing wineries - bodegas - Setenil is probably unique among the pueblos blancos, white villages, of Andalucia. Where most pueblos blancos were built on protective bluffs and pinnacles, this town grew out of a network of caves in the cliffs above the rio Trejo north-west of Ronda.
El Bosque is is 32 kilometers east of Arcos de la Frontera and 18 kilometers west of Grazalema. It is 287 meters about sea level and in easy reach of the Parque Natural de la Sierra de Grazalema, in fact El Bosque is considered to be the gateway to this immense nature reserve, covering 53,500 hectares (207 square miles).
Sitting in the centre of the province of Cadiz, Paterna de Rivera is at the crossroads of the Ruta del Toro. Connecting Medina Sidonia to the south-west with Alcalá de los Gazules to the east, and Jerez de la Frontera to the north with Los Barrios to the south, this ‘route of the bulls’ runs through some of the most beautiful undulating countryside of Andalucia.
Alcalá de los Gazules is a spectacularly located historic hilltop pueblo blanco (white town) with stunning architecture. The town is situated in the middle of Cadiz province on the A-381 road from Los Barrios to Jerez. This road is often called "La Ruta del Toro" (Route of the Bull) for the bull-breeding ranches in the vicinity. With a population of about 6,000, Alcala is worth the short detour for a visit.
If you are exploring the N340 Costa de la Luz coast road, you'd be wise to make time for a wander around Vejer. This classic white village on the hilltop is well worth a visit. It is actually 10 kilometers inland, perched high above the steep gorge of the River Barbate.
Medina Sidonia is an unspoilt, ancient hilltop town, little-known despite its important history. The town was one of Spain's most important ducal seats in the 15th century; producing an admiral who led the Spanish Armada against England. The title of Duque de Medina Sidonia was bestowed upon the family of Guzmán El Bueno.
The village of San José del Valle lies to the east of the main road linking Paterna de Rivera and Arcos de la Frontera, not far from the large Guadalacatín reservoir. It is surrounded by lush undulating countryside which rises gently to the east into the foothills of the Sierra de Cádiz.
This lovely, picturesque village is located in the mountains of Cádiz Province. It’s located 113 kilometres from Cádiz City and is known for its hang gliding school – the largest in Andalucia – and also for Spanish guitar production. In fact you can visit the Valeriano Bernal factory to see how this most quintessentially Spanish product is “Made in Spain”.
One of the newer courses on the Costa de la Luz, it was developed as an up-market golf and real estate community in conjunction with the Landmark Land Company (USA). The Golf Course and Hotel Cortijo Faín opened in 2006.
Benalup Golf and Country Club is a golf experience with a difference. Belgian-owned and run, it is attached to the Fairplay Golf Hotel, a new stunning 5-star hotel. Rooms are only available on an all-inclusive basis. The nightly cost includes all food and drink and a round of golf. However, golf can be booked separately, but only as a package that includes lunch and drinks either before or after a round - an unusual innovation.
Costa Ballena is a relatively unknown golf complex situated between the towns of Sanlucar and Puerto de Santa Maria, tucked away by the beach and so easily accessed from Jerez de la Frontera and Cadiz. It has 27 holes of golf laid out in three nines with each nine quite different and distinctive. In addition, there is a nine-hole par-3 practice course, a massive practice driving range (over 300 yards wide that can accommodate 120 people at once) plus other areas for chipping and putting practice.
This modern course was designed by champion golfer Manuel Pinero, and is situated slightly inland between the Costa de la Luz coast and the Atlantic. It is close to the village of Chiclana and the Sancti Petri port complete with sailing boats. The greens and fairways are wide, and gently undulating. However, testing conditions are supplied from the water and sand hazards. The course is set among tropical gardens, numerous cork trees and fragrant pine forests.
Courses in Cadiz & Costa de la Luz include Benalup, Montenmedio, Costa Ballena, Lomas de Sancti Petri, Montecastillo, Novo Sancti Petri A - Mar y Pinos, Arcos, and the five in Sotogrande.
The GR7 is the footpath through Andalucia, which forms part of the European Route No. 4. The route is made up of itineraries, which are designed to avoid crossing or using tarmac roads or any roads used by traffic, wherever possible.
Travelling in western Andalucía ique, Ronda to Vejer, almost as far as Algeciras - between June 15 and August 15 any summer (roughly) - you might catch a glimpse of the most enigmatic agricultural industry in Andalucía; the cork oak crop
