Faces of Tarifa
Tarifa has long been known as a culturally-blended town, through
all its incarnations: frontier fortress, fishing village, trendy
tourist town. All the peoples who have settled in or near Tarifa
have left a mark, from ancient Roman soldiers to Moorish
settlers, Jewish merchants and Celto-Iberians. The Moorish style
of architecture is the most common here, but everything else
blends in with these walls to create a singularly beautiful
place to vacation. You'll find virgin coastline, fine hotels,
and tons of water sports to engage your interests.
Sports
Tarifa is a perfect place for surfers and beach lovers, and has
perfect windsurfing waters and winds. More sedentary beachgoers
can lounge on the warm sands and enjoy a spectacular view of the
Rif mountains, visible across the Mediterranean from Africa.
Virgin beaches and wild coastline offer room for birdwatchers
and hikers, rock-climbing and surfing. Scuba diving and
horseback riding are also available for those who are
interested, and world-class golf courses abound in the region.
Tarifa's Living History
Many parts of Tarifa have not changed in hundreds of years.
Local fishermenb stil use the Almadraba circling method of
fishing, over seven hundred years old, and the narrow alleys
paved with cobblestones stretch through walls cascaded over by
jasmine. Wrought iron rejas decorate homes lining the street,
and the castellated walls of the old city are closely woven with
the homes. The eighth-century city gate of Jerez has been
restored, and the church of San Mateo and buildings in the Calle
de los Azogues date back to the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries.
You can visit the Arab castle of Guzman the Bueno, built in 960
AD probably on the ruinms of an old Roman fort. Two high towers
in the east section once protected the entrance to Tarifa. And
on Calle de la Fuente you can find a historic and unique
fountain. La Alameda is an Andalucian paved garden decorated
with flowers and old villagers filled with stories.
Modern Tarifa
Tapas bars abound, particularly to the east of the Alameda. On
Batalla del Salado, north of town, surf shops and trendy
clothing stores line the streets. Wind turbines on the hills
generate enormous amounts of power, and they're certainly
something to get a picture of.
The most modern parts of Tarifa, though, are the beaches. For
families, try the Playa Chica. If you prefer rocky beaches,
check out La Caleta, a quiet beach often missed by tourists. The
large Playa de los Lances stretches ten kilometers down the
coast, and provides perfect surf and wind for kite surfing. Near
the Hurricane Hotel you'll find the Playa de Valdevaqueros.
You can also take the regular daily ferry across to Tangiers;
visit the souk for a day, or explore the unique nature of
Tangiers.
Nightlife in Tarifa is very entertaining indeed. You'll find
discos throughout the old town and the beach, and La Casa
Amarilla features flamenco music. Continental has live music,
and there are dozens of other music and other bars.
Where to Stay
You can stay in a number of hotels located in the town or its
outskirts, and you also have the option of camping out in
several areas along the beach. The Hotel Punta Sur is perfect
for families, and very convenient to the beach. The Hurricane
hotel has subtropical gardens that open to the beaches of Playa
de Valdevaqueros, and excellent views of Morocco. This hotel is
friendly, and its restaurant serves simple dishes with the best
and freshest ingredients they can find.
For some history, consider the Cortijo La Hoya, over a hundred
years old, or Casa Silos, a medieval townhouse within the old
town wall.
For honeymooners or those who prefer style and class, the
over-14 hotel El Aguilon may be ideal. Its swimming pool, set in
an orange grove, is lovely, and the building itself is an old
Andalucian Cortijo.