"Where the Ocean Meets the Sea: Tarifa" Tarifa (Cadiz) by TooTallFinn24

Tarifa (Cadiz) Travel Guide: 202 reviews and 413 photos

If you were to combine part of the old word charm of a white washed village with a combination of the beaches of the Mediterranean Sea nd the Atlantic Ocean then you know you must be in Tarifa. Driving from Gibraltar, you descend down a hill to Tarifa on your left. From the highway it is not particularly impressive but once you get into town and the beaches it is a completely different.

Tarifa is by no means a large place. Located on the Costa Del Sol it can be walked in a short period of time. During Roman times the city was known as Julia Transducta or simply Transducta. Some scholars believe that Tarifa is almost as old as Cadiz. The city got its current name in the 7th century from Tarif ibn Malik who led a Muslim raid on the area.

Because of the coming together of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean the area usually has very strong winds. The winds has made Tarifa a center for windsurfing. On a given day there could be tens to hundreds of windsurfers north of town trying their skills for a ride. However when we were there in May of 2012 there was very little wind.

Exploring the Town Versus the Area

We chose to stay north of town on a small farmhouse. The farmhouse was less than 100 yards from the ocean and a lagoon which is one of the windsurfers favorite spots in the area. The windsurfers arrive early and stay almost to sunset.

For us Tarifa's downtown was not as interesting as some of the neighboring cities in Andalucia. So after a brief visit to the old city we focused our two day stay on the area around Tarifa. This included stops for watching windsurfing, walking the boardwalk into town and along the beach, Punta Paloma Sand Dunes, and the ruins at Baeolo Claudia.

Jumping Off Spot to Tangiers, Morrocco

Tarifa is the best place to take a quick hydrofoil to Tangiers, Morrocco. The short ride takes about 35 minutes and the round trip cost is about 65 euros per person which includes a tour. hydrofoils leave every hour.

We decided against a trip to Tangiers and focused our two days in Tangiers relaxing and hiking with no interruptions from locals constantly trying to sell us goods. We definitely made the right decision hearing some of the reaction from tourists coming back from Tangiers after a full day excursion.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Relaxing Beach City With Oldworld Charm
Cons:Can Be Windy
In a nutshell:Recommended for a Relaxed Coast de La Luz Visit

Last visit to Tarifa (Cadiz): May 2012
Intro Updated May 26, 2012
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Reviews (13)

Continuing Excavations at Baeolo Claudia - Tarifa (Cadiz)

Baeolo Claudia: Current Excavations Off The Beaten Path (7)

While at Baeolo Claudia we noticed at least two rather large excavations going on. Many young and older folks were busy... more travel advice

View from Just Outside the Cortijo El Pozuelo - Tarifa (Cadiz)

Quiet Farmhouse Setting North of Town Hotels (1)

Located about 2 km north of the town of Tarifa, Cortijo El Pozuelo is a quiet alternative to the more noisy hotels in... more travel advice

Kite Surfing School Sports & Outdoors (1)

Kite surfing is something that nearly everyone we talked to has done in Tarifa. So it doesn't matter if you are too old... more travel advice

Map Showing the Separation of the Two Water Bodies - Tarifa (Cadiz)

Where the Mediterranean Meets the Ocean Things to Do (3)

By the waters edge in old town Tarifa, there is a walkway that leads out to a point in Tarifa. On the north side of the... more travel advice

Shopping (1)
Save Money By Using The Two Supermarkets

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Comments (2)

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GentleSpirit Feb 27, 2013 at 5:42 PM

I enjoyed the history lesson about Baelo Claudia. Quite amazing what the romans did. I remember hearing that Tarifa was popular for windsurfing but knowing more about the roman settlement here would have been great. You took lots of really good pictures, the contrast is really quite impressive. Bien hecho steven!
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Bwana_Brown May 22, 2012 at 3:57 PM

You managed to take lots of great photos of Tarifa and the surrounding area! I really liked your idea of getting some 'boardwalk' exercise while you were in the area - nothing like some fresh ocean breezes. Beaut photos of Baelo Claudia too and thanks for the history lesson!