Location

Zahara de los Atunes

Zahara de los Atunes is a small, coastal village in the province of Cádiz, which is part of Andalusia.
This small town is bordered on one side by the Atlantic Ocean and on the other side by a series of hills, which belong to the Sierra del Retin and Sierra de la Plata.

A 8000m long beach stretches from Zahara de los Atunes to Cabo de Plata and thanks to environmental protection laws, this coastline is the longest, well preserved stretch of beach in the Andalusian coast.
This makes Zahara, and the Andalusian coast in general, a great place for aquatic sports, ranging from surfing to fishing, from snorkelling to canoeing and even whale and dolphin watching.

Those knew to these sports won't have to worry. Plenty of water sports schools are available in Zahara and the nearby towns and cities.

Of course, aquatic sports aren't the only form of entertainment Zahara has to offer. Its pristine, golden beaches are perfect for gentle horseback rides, a long, romantic walk on the beach or watching the sun set in the horizon.
You can even see the African coast on any of the many clear days.

The Castillo de las Amadrabas, ruins of a castle build to protect against pirates in the fifteenth century, and the lighthouse at Cape Gracia are two great sights you don't want to miss.

For those looking for more nature, the Strait Natural Park is the place to be. 46727 acres of gorgeous land stretches across most of the South of Spain.
A huge variety of animals and ecosystems can be found in this park, but the huge numbers (10,000's) of migratory birds are often the most popular sight.

Climate

Due to its location next to the Atlantic Ocean, Zahara de los Atunes' climate is characterized by mild winters and summers.
The temperatures during the winter rarely drop below 10°C, while during the summer the temperatures usually stay around 25°C.
However, during very exceptional heat waves, temperatures can reach up to 40°C.

As is to be expected from living next to an ocean, anual rainfal is significantly higher than the rest of Spain. About 500-600mm of rainfall is the average you can expect.
But on the bright side, an average of 3000 hours of sun per year mean you never have to wait long for the sun to reappear.

During spring and autumn you can also expect the occasional heavy storm, which are influenced by the Atlantic Ocean.

Other towns and cities

The nearest, larger towns are Barbate to the North and Tarifa to the south. It's also 73km (45 miles) from the provincial capital, Cadiz, and 177km (109 miles) from the regional capital, Seville.
The nearest airport is Jerez, at a distance of 82km (50 miles), which has flights to many European cities available during the holiday seasons.

Tarifa and Barbate are significantly larger than Zahara de los Atunes, with a population about 18,000 and 23,000 respectively, compared to about 1250 of Zahara.
Tarifa and Barbate are only a short distance away, 26km (16 miles) and 9km (5.6 miles) respectively, which makes these towns the perfect places to do any large shopping you might need and might be unable to find in Zahara.

While Zahara has a great nightlife of its own, especially during the holiday seasons, these towns may also offer a nightlife more suited to your needs.

Besides the nightlife and shopping, Tarifa especially is home to various cultural and entertainment sights.
The Guzman castle, medieval walls, the Curch of St. Matthew and the ruins of a Roman city are all great historical landmarks.

Tarifa is the Southern most city in Spain and thus closest to Africa and the Straits of Gibraltar, making it the perfect place for bird watching and other nature and aquatic life, like dolphins and whales.

Tarifa is also home to and renowned for its annual African film festival, which draws tourists and movie lovers from across the globe every year.