Tarifa, a world reference for windsurfing near Marbella
28 Sep 2021 | LifestyleSituated at the point in Europe closest to the African continent, where the waters of the Mediterranean Sea meet those of the Atlantic Ocean, Tarifa, the capital of wind, overlooks the sea and the neighbouring continent.
Tarifa is about 100 kilometres from Marbella, that is to say, approximately one hour and twenty minutes by car, which makes it a very comfortable journey to discover a charming town in the province of Cadiz.
The city has approximately 18,000 inhabitants, a figure that multiplies in the summer months. It is a multicultural and very cosmopolitan town.
Its location makes it one of the best places in the world for surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and wing foiling, attracting countless enthusiasts and professionals of these sports worldwide.
Arriving in Tarifa, we can see unmistakable signs of its history, which welcomes us with the famous Puerta de Jerez, which is part of the walls that once surrounded the city.
Next to its port, the two emblematic castles of Tarifa, Guzman El Bueno and Santa Catalina, lead us to the island of Tarifa, which is the closest point in Europe to the African continent, separated by only 14 kilometres of Mediterranean-Atlantic waters.
The streets of Tarifa form a typical Moorish grid of narrow, sun-sheltered streets and pretty squares such as Santa María, where the town hall is located.
Another interesting attraction in the surrounding area, located 12 kilometres to the west, next to the beach of Bolonia, are the ruins of the Roman city of Baelo Claudia, which dates back to the 2nd century BC.
Today Tarifa is internationally renowned for being one of the best places for surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and the innovative wing foil, regularly attracting the best professionals in these sports in top-level competitions.
In addition to wind sports, the city also offers the possibility of practising other sports such as climbing, scuba diving, horse riding, mountain biking, paragliding or hiking and activities such as whale watching excursions, cycling and quad biking.
And of course, its beaches. Bolonia, Valdevaqueros, Los Lances, Playa Chica, Punta Paloma, Atlanterra, Los Alemanes and El Cañuelo are Tarifa’s hallmarks for its visitors who eventually become regulars.
In our country, no visit to any town or village is complete without visiting its gastronomy and tasting it. In Tarifa we can do so in its numerous tapas bars, in its restaurants, both select and traditional, and of course, in its beach bars on the beach.
Tuna is the star of these coasts, the “black leg of the sea”, and this is reflected in the menus of Tarifa’s establishments, complemented by typical fish and meat dishes.
The Benarroch Real Estate in Marbella, from our office in the El Pilar shopping centre on Estepona’s New Golden Mile, recommends a trip to Tarifa, the capital of the wind. We are sure you will thank us for it.
Article by Brice Benarroch Mennessons
28 Sep 2021