Close to Zahara is the Natural Park of La Brena and marshes of Barbate, where together with wild and virtually untouched nature, we find medieval towers and cliffs with truly breathtaking views. Throughout the National Park there are numerous routes along the length or difficulty of the terrain, in most cases they are easy routes and even suitable for bicycles and highly recommended for watching migratory birds.
Before reaching our destination we found the beach Cañillos or Pajares, from the mouth of the river Cachon in Zahara to the mouth of the river Barbate. Due to its military this beach is very busy with tourists. During the summer season no military operations are carried out on the beach but not in the summer seasons we may deny passage if they are conducting military exercises on the coast (landings) as part of the Sierra Retin. One of the most attractive features of this beach for tourists are the retintas cows strolling along the shore and grazing mountain walk.
20 km from Zahara and past the town of Barbate are the Canos de Meca, formerly hippies refuge lost, it is one of the most evocative locations of the coast of Cadiz. A short distance away is the Cape of Trafalgar. It is a small island located between the coves of Conil and Barbate, joined to the mainland by a sandy isthmus. It is a lighthouse, a watchtower, archaeological remains of a salting factory and a Hispanic-Muslim settlement. In its vicinity it took place on October 21, 1805 the famous battle of Trafalgar, where the Franco-Spanish fleet was defeated by the English Admiral Nelson. Part of the network of natural areas of Andalusia.
On the way to Tarifa is the spectacular dune Bologna and the archaeological site of Baelo Claudia (National Historic Landmark). This city-Roman factory surprised by its condition. It was important at the time for its canned and cured, made with tuna catches trap.
In the third century A.D. an earthquake where it survived a small population center until the early seventh century AD when it is completely abandoned. Since then, Baelo Claudia remains a depopulated.
When, in 1917, the first excavations began performing in the Bologna area, researchers found the remains of a thriving city, built by the classical canons of Rome, under a perfectly planned and rational development project.
With the archaeological site of Baelo Claudia, Cadiz province preserves one of the best examples of Roman urbanism known.
Among the attractions Zahara offers we can find the opportunity to practice sports that put us in contact with nature, in a unique environment to enjoy the different options you find. Activities at sea or Mount as exceptional scenery make us to enjoy a unique and unforgettable experience and complement the leisure time that we enjoy in the city.
Because of its geographical and territorial situation, the Costa de la Luz has important natural parks and recreational areas for hikers and nature. The closeness of the mountains to the coast makes the rides are a unique setting therefore the kilometers of beach and the cliffs of the Barbate and Canos.
You can enjoy hiking in the nearby Natural Park of La Brena which, by the contemplation of fauna and flora of the area, allow to know some of the watchtowers that oteaban sea from the coast to prevent possible attacks, as we move through stunning locations. All of them are well marked, so there is no risk of getting lost.
We also have the opportunity to horseback riding, both on the beach as other areas of unquestionable beauty surrounded by green vegetation.
Another very good option is to rent bicycles, also possible in the village to travel the paths that allow the sport in Zahara and its surroundings are also quite a few.
The sea, the beauty that accompanies and clothes Zahara offers the opportunity to enjoy more than just bathing and sunbathing. Among companies based in Zahara we can find schools of diving, as the sea around the area are very spectacular.
In the nearby beaches of Valdevaqueros have the opportunity to play sports that use the wind that often blows here with the right intensity to navigate the water, such as windsurfing or kite surfing. These sports attract tourists from all over the world to the shores of Cadiz.
You can also enjoy boat cruises, sailing lessons and kite surfing on nearby beaches, activities combining sea, entertainment and beautiful views.
In this section you recommend the best walking trails in Zahara Area, a truly unique experience we recommend routes for its outstanding natural beauty, the possibility of seeing local wildlife, rich flora and vestiges of the rich history of this coast, from prehistory to the modern age.
Located in Barbate, about 15 minutes drive from Zahara, and is the perfect combination of coast and Mediteráneo forest. Throughout the National Park there are numerous routes along the length or difficulty of the terrain, in most cases they are easy routes and even suitable for bicycles and highly recommended for watching migratory birds.
One of the routes within the Natural Park is from the beach of Peppermint bordering on one end to the port of Barbate. By taking the road towards Barbate Canos de Meca we found necessary to enter into that trail along the cliffs to reach the Torre del Tajo and the Torre de Meca (medieval towers of the XVI century) indications. This route is also popular with surfers because of the pit under a wave of pretty good right forms.
This route connects two of the wildest beaches of Cadiz Cañuelo beach and the beach of Bologna. To get there we climb the lighthouse Camarinal and from there take the same path up to us but the Cueva del Moro, continue the journey to Bologna. The views of this route are amazing, promotion allows us to see the whole coast and then end up in the ruins of Baelo Claudia. This route has another side to the beach through the military zone connecting the beach and the beach Cañuelo Bologna taking a path parallel to the shore and leads to natural pools formed by the rocks of the coast.
From Zahara we can take a path towards the village of Almarchal walking the edge of the Rio Cachon. This route is very beautiful especially in spring by the amount of wildlife that is in this part between the two municipalities.
Once we get to Almarchal can continue to Facinas or climb to the Sierra de la Plata, this option is a little more difficult but the gap is still very suitable for all audiences.
The story of Zahara is obviously linked to fishing and conservation of tuna, although millennia ago and was populated by prehistoric men whose traces are visible today.
Most of the visitors They note this fact alone watching Palace batteries as they are the most visible remnants of the past but almadrabeño closest along the Costa de la Luz are numerous evidences of human presence in these lands and the importance of tuna in the economic and cultural fields in the area. From cave paintings, through the ruins of the Roman city of Baelo Claudia in the town of Tarifa, we present the best archaeological routes.
It is the most accessible cave as it is located a few meters from the road in the urbanization of the Germans.
Its orientation is towards Zahara so to get there you have to turn the whole mountain and when the Germans began to descend on a park road forks, with some containers and there just a few meters are some rocks where the cave is located. The cave is not very deep and protected, there is a small fence with a gate to prohibit the passage.
Inside the cave there are numerous paintings in which we can distinguish human and animal forms. Some studies say that through this cave Paleolithic men could know the cycles of tuna, their situation perfectly distinguishes the coast and whales that come to catch tuna.
striking crevices and wall paintings that seem to mark the seasons, namely spring when the tuna and the whales come. Around the cave, if you look carefully, you will find on the ground anthropomorphic tombs dating from the same period as the paintings.
To get to this cave need to have notions of climbing since it is at altitude and not at roadside as with the Cave of the Orcas.
First you have to climb the lighthouse Camarinal, for this we must leave the car in the parking lot just down there. Once you reach the lighthouse Camarinal follow a path that is signposted and asphalted with albero so it is a good route for cycling. If we continue along this path we will find a couple of viewpoints from which the dune Bologna is. The route takes less than an hour and a half walking and low difficulty as it is in very good condition and very hilly.
La Cueva del Moro has important paintings by conservation level and its significance, many animals decorate its walls. The cave is closed but from the outside, you can see perfectly all the paintings.
This building is situated on the highest point of the Sierra de la Plata point. To get there we can take the same route as the Cueva del Moro or enter drive from Bologna, with this journey in shorter overall. It is a more difficult path because we are in constant slope, by that way we found remains of ancient buildings and anthropomorphic tombs.
It is worth the climb still the most important building in local stone, both as an altar carved chair on the track of the top. In addition, there carvings of human figures in the rocks that surround it.
