Beaches The province of Cádiz has many kilometres of beaches and (as of 2005) the highest number of Blue Flags of all coastal provinces in
Europe. Some of these beaches are relatively wild and far from big urban areas. One of the attractions of the area is its contrast to the mass tourism on the
Mediterranean coast. There are extensive nature reserves in the region and the unspoilt feel of the area is heightened by the presence of wild animals including cows and horses on many stretches of beach. The
Costa de la Luz has traditionally been a popular destination for Spaniards wanting to enjoy the beach while avoiding the stifling heat of the Mediterranean Coast, although until recently this largely unspoilt Atlantic coastline was little known to foreign visitors. One of the factors that brought the region to the attention of foreign holidaymakers was the growing realisation that its Southern reaches are one of the world's best locations for wind sports.
Tarifa, located on the
Strait of Gibraltar at the southernmost point of mainland Europe, has become Europe's foremost
kitesurfing destination due to the area's unique wind phenomena, reliably sunny summer weather and the variety of beaches at locations such as Los Canos de Meca, Bolonia, Punta Paloma and, most famously, Playa de Los Lances where in the summer months you will often see over 1,000 kites in the air. The local economy has benefited significantly from the wind sport explosion: there are more than 50 kite schools in Tarifa and hundreds of shops, bars and hotels serving the many thousands of kitesurfers who visit every year. Notable beaches: •
Playa La Barrosa in
Chiclana de la Frontera •
Playa La Victoria in
Cádiz •
Playa de Levante in
El Puerto de Santa María •
Playa de Bolonia in
Tarifa •
Playa de Camposoto in
San Fernando •
Los Canos de Meca •
Playa de Los Lances in
Tarifa Culture •
Carnival of Cádiz •
Feria de Jerez •
Semana Santa in all municipalities of the Province •
Horse racing in
Sanlúcar de Barrameda •
Circuito Permanente de Jerez •
White Towns of Andalusia •
Ruta del Toro Nature Doñana National Park Doñana National Park is one of two national parks in the autonomous community of
Andalusia. A small area of the park extends into Cádiz Province, just north of Sanlucar de Barrameda and on the south bank of the Rio Guadalquivir. This area is primarily marismas. The public have access to a recreational area and a short walking trail. There is no direct access to the bulk of the park that lies on the north bank of the river in the provinces of Seville and Huelva.
Natural parks =====
Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park===== from
Chiclana and
San Fernando at the end :100 km2, located at the mouth of the
Guadalete river, consists of marshland, beaches, reed and sand dunes. :Bird watching. Sailing, windsurfing, hiking. :(Ocean) Pine. Many types of shrubs and bushes. :Gannet solan goose, stork, cormorant, great crested grebe, (sea)gull, flamingo, tern, sea eagle, avocet. =====
La Breña y Marismas del Barbate Natural Park===== :37.97 km2, high cliff rock formations covered by pine trees. :Bird watching, archeological and botanical excursions, diving, windsurfing, sailing, hiking. :Strandpine, black juniper tree, black spruce, juniper, small palm tree, rosemary. :Herring gull, chaffinch, greenfinch, cattle egret, little egret, crested tit, woodpecker, kestrel,
peregrine falcon. =====
La Doñana Natural Park===== :This natural park is shared by three provinces, Cádiz, Huelva and Seville. It is an area to the east and northeast of the national park. :Home of the
Iberian lynx, a protected species. =====
Los Alcornocales Natural Park===== :Information center in Alcalá de los Gazules; visitors centers in Algeciras and Cortes de la Frontera (Málaga). :1,700.25 km2 in area. :Low mountain range, densely covered by cork oak trees ("Alcornoques"). :Bird watching, archeological and botanical excursions, hiking, mountainbiking, speleology. :Cork oak, olive tree, gall oak, pink rock rose, small palm tree, alder, rhododendron, holly, bracken (fern), cherry tree, laurel. :Sparrow hawk, short-toed snake eagle, booted eagle, goshawk, eagle owl, tawny owl, culture, kestrel, peregrine falcon, wild boar, deer, weasel, (sea)otter, wildcat, mongoose. =====
Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park===== from
Endrinal mountains :Administration in
El Bosque; visitors' center in
El Bosque. :516.95 km2 in area. :Limestone formation, transformed to ravines, declines and caves. Large colonies of Spanish fir ("pinsapo"). :Bird watching, archeological and botanical excursions. :Hiking, climbing, mountainbiking, speleology, paragliding. :Spanish fir, cork oak, holm oak, gall oak, carob, oleaster. :Imperial eagle, golden eagle, fish hawk, vulture,
Egyptian vulture, mountain goat, deer, mongoose, (sea)otter, fox. =====
Straits of Gibraltar Natural Park===== in the strait :Is the most
meridional national park of Europe. :Its location at the southernmost point of mainland Spain, and of mainland Europe, at the point where the
Atlantic Ocean and the
Mediterranean Sea meet in the
Strait of Gibraltar, places it on the migratory route for many birds.
Natural reserves ::There are eight natural reserves in the province: Complejo Endorreico de Chiclana, Complejo Endorreico de Espera, Complejo Endorreico de Puerto Real, Complejo Endorreico del Puerto de Santa María, Laguna de Medina, Lagunas de las Canteras y el Tejón, Laguna de la Paja, and Peñón de Zaframagón (which straddles the border with the province of Seville.)
Natural sites ::There are seven natural sites in the province: Cola del Embalse de Arcos, Cola del Embalse de Bornos, Estuario del Río Guadiaro, Isla del Trocadero, Marismas de Sancti Petri, Marismas del Río Palmones, and
Playa de Los Lances. Parques Periurbanos: Pinares y Dunas de San Antón La Suara La Barrosa
Natural monuments ::There are five natural monuments in the province: Corrales de Rota, Duna de Bolonia, Punta del Boquerón, Tómbolo de Trafalgar, and Escarpes del Río Trejo en Setenil. ==Transportation==