Tarifa
Inside Out and Round About
By an Insider
This website came into being when I realized just how much the visitors to my Dar Cilla Guest House appreciated all the information -and more especially my own opinions and recommendations - in the Welcome folder in each apartment. Many guests suggested I put it into book form.
In collaboration with Tarifa Holidays I am now sharing much of this information with a wider readership, and it will indeed be in book form and available to all through many hotels, tourist information centres etc. by the end of 2008/ begin 2009.
Tarifa Inside Out and Round About is in the final stages of publication. Between now and year end (2008) excerpts will be on this website. Please be patient!
You can subscribe here if you wish to receive a copy once the book is published.
--- Tarifa Inside Out and Round About ---
I would stress immediately that it is not a guide, that all opinions and recommendations are entirely my own, and that I certainly stand to be corrected on any factual information, although I have done my best to be as accurate and up-to-date as possible.
My own relationship with Tarifa, dating back some 20 years, was initially a hate-love relationship. Now it is without doubt a love relationship 90% of the time! (The 10% surfaces in the overcrowded month of August or when officialdom is particularly irksome).
Tarifa is known as a High Wind Area and is particularly well known for windsurfing and latterly kite surfing. I understand it has a lively disco scene, but both surfing and discos I leave to the younger generation to document.
--- Tarifa Inside Out and Round About ---
My book is geared to travellers, for those who want to do more than only surfing and sunbathing however fantastic both those ‘activities’ are here. The visitors to my Dar Cilla Guest House are largely young professionals who do not yet have children, or the junior league of the senior citizens whose children have just left home. They love the sun beds on my fabulous roof terrace, but also want to see more of the area.
You can’t find better beaches anywhere round Europe… kilometres of fine, golden sand, dramatic rock formations, excellent swimming, long morning walks when you seldom meet anyone other than the local fisherman and his donkey, and sitting on the dunes watching the sun go down is just magic. Yes, as I say, I am pretty sold on Tarifa now.
--- Tarifa Inside Out and Round About ---
My aim is to help the curious, the culture vulture, the bird watchers (lots of vultures), the picnic and nature lovers to optimize their holiday in this area of Andalucia. The scenery in the mountains is breathtaking, the famous black pigs lie prostrate across your path, flowers abound (always of course depending on the season). There are also many residents who, to my surprise, are unaware of some of the charms Andalucia has to offer beside the well-known cities of Granada, Cordoba, Sevilla and Ronda.
However, first I want to introduce you to Tarifa itself. Then I would like to make suggestions for trips that you can do in half a day or a day, starting from and returning to Tarifa. Thereafter I want to take you somewhat further afield, but always with Tarifa as your base camp from which to plan further.
Thus
the title of my book, TARIFA INSIDE OUT AND ROUND ABOUT.
Please let me know if you have read something which is wrong or dated by clicking the link below.
Enjoy your Tarifa Holidays!
Tarifa
Inside
A small, still authentic Spanish town with a labyrinth of narrow white streets, a colourful, working fishing harbour, a castle, a market on Tuesdays, more and more small boutiques now attracting not only the surfers but the more sophisticated from further afield, restaurants, cafés and bars galore, and a nightlife.
The ferry for Tangier leaves several times daily from the harbour (35 minutes across). The view across the busy shipping strait to Africa is fabulous - ‘I never thought Morocco could be so near’ you hear many say.
It has something for everyone.
What you will find on Tarifa Inside'
An
overview
A
brief history
Events
in Tarifa
Things
to do
Tarifa
beaches
Weather
Tarifa
Tarifa
restaurants
Tarifa
- Outside
Westwards we take you as far as Vejer de la Frontera which is an easy half day excursion. Eastwards we take you via El Cuarton and El Pelayo, where there are some attractive places to stay, to Algeciras which is the nearest larger town with a great ‘fruit and veg.’ market daily and a worthwhile general-and-clothes market on Tuesdays. Gibraltar is usually a ‘must’ for English visitors given its history. All are easy half-day excursions.
Recommended places to visit - 'Westwards'
What
is the coast like between here and Cádiz
Roman
Ruins in Bolonia
A
great walk from Bolonia
Evening
drive: Facinas to los Barrios
El
Palomar de la Breña
Montenmedio
golf, riding and special events
Vejer
de la Frontera
Recommended places to eat - 'Westwards'
Restaurants
outside Tarifa - westwards
Recommended places to visit - 'Eastwards'
Agua
park Algeciras
Gibraltar
Tarifa
- Round About
All the recommended excursions take a full day - but are really worth it!
Going Westwards I take you as far as Cadiz and Medina Sidonia. The fields are ablaze with sunflowers from end May into June.
Eastwards, I hope you will visit Castellar de la Frontera (another former ‘frontier’ town established by the Moors), a unique small white village perced on a hilltop with its castle (currently being converted into a Parador i.e. a state-owned hotel). It is less ‘hippy’ than it used to be!
Recommended places to visit
Benalup
Golf and Country Club
Medina
Sidonia
A
day (or two) in Cádiz
Castillo
de Castellar
Recommended
places to eat
Restaurants
round about Tarifa
Tarifa
- Further Afield
Most of these excursions you can also do in a (long) day (such as Jerez , and even Genalguacil and Ubrique) but I personally would recommend you incorporate them into your travel programme on your way to or from Tarifa, staying a night or two. There are so many places to stop en route, such great views (‘miradors’ = easy stopping places to admire the view) and picnic spots.
I do not include Sevilla or Ronda as these are in absolutely every guide book. However, I do thoroughly recommend a two night stay in the little white village of Cartajima from which you can easily visit Ronda.
The excellent restaurants I recommend you would be highly unlikely to find without a ‘pointer’!
Recommended places to visit
Yeguada
de la Cartuga
Jerez
Escuela
Feria
Jerez
Cota
Doñana
Genalguacil
Alto
Genal
Tarifa
- Further Afield
Morocco
How come there is a section on Morocco on a website about Tarifa, you may well ask!
Firstly,
it is only a 35 minutes ferry crossing from Tarifa to Tangier (so in fact
Tangier could conceivably come into the section ‘Round About’),
and secondly I so enjoy visiting Morocco myself with my starting point being
Tarifa, that I want to share it with you. It does take a certain ‘mind-set’,
it is Africa and not Europe , and for some it can be a real culture shock.
I remain convinced that if you follow my recommendations (elaborated by and
bookable through Tarifa Holidays) you will enjoy it, feel safe, not be hassled
and return exhausted but richer for the experience.
Tangier
Asilah
Chefchaouen
Marrakech
Tarifa
- Morocco
About Zoë and her guesthouse
Zoë
is the owner of Guesthouse Dar Cilla which is unique of its sort in Tarifa.
It is located on the outskirts of the old town within the old 12th century walls.
'Dar' is an Arabic word for a town house in which a series of suites are grouped
around a central courtyard. Each suite is fully independent, but there is a
pleasant air of 'sociability' and you will meet Zoë and fellow guests on
the roof terrace over a glass of wine.
More
about Zoë
More
about Guesthouse Dar Cilla
From
Tarifa Spain Inside Out and Round About to the Tarifa Holidays home page
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