20 January, 2013
surf in Andalucia

Where is the best place to surf in Andalucia?

Where is the best place to surf in Andalucia? Read on…! On the exhilarating wind-swept beach three distinct groups of sports men and women zip along the surface of the Atlantic Ocean in a cloud of spray, the rush of adrenalin clearly visible on their faces. Behind the ocean spray you can Tangiers, Morocco forming a hazy backdrop to the scene.

surf in Andalucia

This is Tarifa in Andalucia, Southern Spain, just a short hop away from Africa and the best place to surf in Andalucia.

Tarifa beach comprises of various ‘patches’ dedicated to the swarms of water sport fanatics the town attracts. Closest to the port is the patch ‘owned’ by the body surfers, with their distinct short, fat boards. The body surfers are closely followed by the kite surfers, all acrobatic and colourful, lovingly caressing their brightly designed power kites which tow them along across the water with the ease of a motor boat.

The most westerly part of the beach is the domain of the regular surfers. With their blonde hair, VW camper vans and the Eagles ‘Hotel California’ blasting out of the sound systems, Tarifa surfers ooze with the style of their Californian counterparts.

It has to be said, Tarifa beach can get pretty crowded at weekends during the summer. Although with kites all over the sky and with all of that sailcloth whirling around, making it difficult to tell which surfer is attached to what kite, Tarfia beach is quite a spectacle! Although some surfers prefer to come here in the winter because the beach is near empty and the waves are much bigger.

There are hordes of kite surfing schools and equipment hire shops in Tarifa, so whether you simply want to learn the art of surfing or kite surfing or get on the water as a pre-skilled sportsman, all you need to bring to Tarifa is your body and your wallet. The local sport shop dealers will take care of everything for you.

For those wanting a break from the surf it is easy to get over to Tangiers for a day out from Tarifa. Just a short ferry journey across the water and you’ll soon find yourself in a different world, haggling and bartering around colourful market stalls, the smell of spices, and the sound of a foreign tongue.

It is safe to surmise that the first time that you visit Tarifa and maybe Tangiers is certainly a time that you will never forget.