The Thrill of Tarifa, Spain

Val Beach in Tarifa Spain

There are two winds that blow through Tarifa. One is called Levante, which means sunrise. It comes up from the Sahara desert and blows east across Tarifa. The other is Poniente. This means sunset and it is a cold wind, which blows west across Tarifa.

Back in the Eighties, the town was little more than an unknown fishing enclave. The small population depended on the sea to make a living and the land around the town was under-developed and totally untouched by the modern signs of tourism that are typical of Spain’s other coastlines such as the Costa del Sol and the Costa Brava.

In that decade, windsurfers from the north of Europe discovered Tarifa. They drove down from Holland, Germany and France in camper vans with their surf equipment tacked to the roof. They came for Tarifa’s ideal weather conditions but fell in love with the town’s virgin landscape.

At first just a handful came. Then word got out. By the nineties, a flood of surfers hit the town every summer and Tarifa became a spot for international windsurf competitions. Lots of the surfers decided to live in Tarifa buying fincas in the countryside around the town and refurbishing townhouses in the old town. They also opened surf shops.

Around 2003 a new sport soared in popularity. That sport is kitesurfing. Over the course of the next five years, Tarifa became third hottest kitesurf location in the world after Hawaii and the Canaries. Alongside the windsurf competitions, kitesurf events also became popular.

Today it is normal to see the sky above the beaches in Tarifa full of kites. This is a fantastic sight. Imagine driving through a mountain, reaching the other side and being greeted by a five-mile long stretch of golden beach with a rainbow of kites colouring the skyline.

 

Because of Tarifa’s proximity to Africa, the town also has strong links with Morocco. A boat sails from Tarifa to Tangier each hour carrying the thousands of Moroccans who have emigrated to Europe home for a visit as well as countless tourists who are visiting Morocco for the first time.

These diverse influences give Tarifa a totally unique atmosphere. As well as being home to a wide mix of nationalities, the old town is sprinkled with assorted shops. Bistro cafés, ethnic shops and artisan boutiques share the cobbled streets with traditional Spanish bodegas and local corner shops.

As well as being recognised as one of the wind capitals of the world, Tarifa is a truly unique corner of Spain. Just like the surfers back in the Eighties, most people who come to the town immediately fall in love with it. Whether they come to surf or simply to explore, none escape the enchanting lure of this special town.

One Response to “ The Thrill of Tarifa, Spain ”

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   February 17, 2012 at 8:54 am

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