Tarifa

Introducing Tarifa

Even at peak times, Tarifa is an attractive, laid-back town. Relatively unknown until 15 years ago, it’s now a windsurfing and kitesurfing mecca, with some of the very best conditions in Europe for these sports. The beaches have clean, white sand, and inland the country is green and rolling. The old town has narrow streets, whitewashed houses and cascading flowers. A hip, arty, international scene with an eclectic bunch of restaurants, bars and lodgings has grown up around the surf crowd. The only negative – though not for the surfers! – is the wind; for much of the year, either the levante (easterly) or poniente (westerly) is blowing, which is ruinous for a relaxed sit on the beach and tiring if you’re simply wandering around. August, however, can be blessedly still.

Tarifa takes its name from Tariq ibn Malik, who led a Muslim raid in 710, the year before the main Islamic invasion of the peninsula.

Orientation

Two roads head into Tarifa from the N340. The one from the northwest becomes Calle Batalla del Salado, ending at Avenida de Andalucía, where the Puerta de Jerez leads through the walls into the old town. The one from the northeast becomes Calle Amador de los Ríos, meeting Calle Batalla del Salado in front of the Puerta de Jerez. The main street of the old town is Calle Sancho IV El Bravo. To the southwest protrudes the Isla de las Palomas, a military-occupied promontory that is the southernmost point of continental Europe.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009