Tarifa, the windsurfing capital of Europe
Cadiz apartments: Sun, beach and windsurfing in Tarifa
If you like surfing and Spain, I am sure you know about Tarifa. If you still haven’t heard about it, you better read this post and start planning a vacation to this small town located on the Costa de la Luz in Cadiz, Andalusia. Tarifa is well known for its buzzing social scene during the days of summer. It provides a small-town friendly atmosphere, with many activities for children, while also offering exciting activities for adults at night. In recent years it has become a popular spot for northern-Europeans to spend their summers.
Tarifa is the windsurfing capital of Europe due to the strong winds of the straits. For this reason Tarifa is also dotted with hundreds of wind turbines. Its wind reliability probably tops them all. It is very difficult to have two consecutive non windy days. Tarifa is famous for two prevailing winds that blow through the Straits of Gibraltar. The levante from the south-east is most common in summer when it can blow for weeks, day and night. It is generally stronger, warmer and produces flatter conditions. The westerly poniente, most prevalent in autumn and spring, comes in from the Atlantic, is cooler and can bring waves.
The mountainous terrain and other elements such as the temperature difference between the Atlantic and Mediterranean, high and low pressure, are the cause of winds in Tarifa. As well there is a thermal effect that usually means the wind is strongest in the afternoon. Ideal for party animals. Beginners’ courses start at 10 a.m.! Conditions can change rapidly and a gentle force 3/4 can be a 6 to 7 within half an hour.
Tarifa is ideal for windsurfing slalom blasting with sail sizes varying from 3.5 – 6.5. The levante gives flatter water in a slightly offshore wind and little shorebreak. The poniente is more bump and jump with shorebreak building up more the closer to town you sail. If conditions look good, it can be worth a trip to Bologna or Canos de Meca (site of the Battle of Trafalgar).
As with windsurfing, Tarifa is at the forefront of development in kitesurfing. The large beaches in Tarifa make it easy for learning to fly the kite. On the water it is best during a poniente when the wind is blowing cross onshore. Conditions in Tarifa can vary considerably so you need to be prepared to be flexible, especially if you are a beginner. It is a destination that is most suitable for improvers or for those wishing to combine windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Near the port of Tarifa there is a well-preserved castle, the Castillo de Guzman. T Tarifa is an excellent place to watch migrating birds, in particular the storks which cross the Straits of Gibraltar in spring and autumn. Also whale and dolphin watching can be done on the 14 kilometer wide Straits. Like the name Costa de la Luz suggests, Tarifa enjoys many hours of sunlight each year.
