Wind and Waves

Tarifa is a small town in the province of Cádiz, Andalucia, on the southernmost coast of mainland Spain, where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. From Quartiers Marbella Apartments to Tarifa, it is approx. 55 miles, and from Tarifa it is only 8, 70 miles across the Gibraltar Strait to the Moroccan coast in North Africa.

Wind and waves

The area has a completely different climate than the rest of Andalucia. The winds attract surfers, windsurfers and kite surfers from all over the world and the long, white and unspoilt sandy beaches bathed by the Atlantic Ocean are an unparalleled experience to be remembered. It is almost magical to see the African coast so close that you almost think you can swim there.

Tarifa is a small town, but with a lot to offer. The atmosphere is relaxed and the traditional air of southern Spanish small town is mixed with a refreshing youthful and international attitude. Tarifa is surf and camping!

The small whitewashed streets are surrounded by walls and have many small nice shops and cafes where food and drinks are served at reasonable prices. In July and August, it is usually literally packed with young people, families with children and tourists. The rest of the year YOU hardly meet any tourists at all, which gives a wonderful feeling of freedom. But don’t forget that it can be very, very, very windy. Not without reason, Tarifa is the most popular place for kite surfing throughout Europe and is often called “The Wind Capital”. Along the beaches you can rent surf equipment and take lessons, if you dare! Otherwise, you can enjoy watching kite surfers filling the sky with colour, it’s incredibly beautiful!

More than beaches

The beautiful beach is nearly 25 miles long, popular spots are Playa de los Lances, Bolonia and Punta Paloma where there are huge sand dunes, Playa Hurricane and Valdevaqueros.

Tarifa’s position at the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean meet, makes it a perfect place to see different types of sea life. You can get the chance to watch both whales and dolphins if you are lucky!

Unspoilt nature

A large part of the area that surrounds Tarifa is nature parks, Parque Natural Los Alcornocales and Parque Natural del Estrecho. The landscape changes quickly as you move away from the coast. Horse riding and hiking are popular activities.

Morocco – Visit Africa in a day

Day trips to Tangier in Morocco can easily be arranges from Tarifa, ferry and hovercraft vessels departs daily from the harbour in the middle of the town. Don’t forget that passports are mandatory!

Baelo Claudia

Just outside Tarifa, you can visit Baelo Claudia, it is one of Andalusia’s most important and well-preserved Roman archaeological sites. The extensive ruins are next to Bolonia.

Quartiers small tips: Always bring extra clothes. It is much cooler in Tarifa than on Costa del Sol, and it is almost always very windy. If it is a day on the beach you are planning, it may also be a good idea to check the weather before you go, on the Atlantic coast it can be extremely windy some days.