A guide to things to do in Costa De La Luz

Visit Cadiz

There are a few large towns and cities you can visit in Costa de la Luz, including Seville and Huelva, but Cadiz – halfway down Andalucia’s west coast – is easily accessible from El Rompido and Punta Umbria. Cadiz claims to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the western world and is where Christopher Columbus set sail to the new world. Visit the cathedral, the museum of Cadaz, the Torre Tavira – a watch tower where you can view the port, the Roman theatre and the pretty plazas and beaches.

Explore the coast of light

There’s no doubt the beaches are the main draw for people planning package holidays to Costa de la Luz, which literally means ‘Coast of Light’. With an extensive coastline to explore, don’t just stick to the sands immediately outside your hotel. Bird watch at the River Piedras estuary, learn to kite-surf at Valdevaqueros or walk the protected Parque Dunar sand dunes from Matalascañas.

Archaeological ensemble of Baelo Claudia

Head south to visit this Roman city ruin on the beach at La Bolina. There is a small museum on-site with good English captions and videos, and the whole area is well maintained and sign-posted. You’ll learn about the historical importance of the area as a Roman port. If you’re planning on visiting during your holidays to Costa de la Luz, take your British passport for free entry and don’t forget to pack a hat, as shade is limited.

Wine and art at the Bodegas Tradicion

Prefer your culture with a dose of vino? Then visit the local wineries in Jerez de la Frontera for a wine or brandy tour. The tour includes a lesson in sherry and brandy making, tasting and a walk around the beautiful gardens. Interestingly, Bodegas Tradicion are also home to a private art collection with more than 300 paintings from 15th to 20th century Spanish masters including Valdes Leal and Goya. Visitors can view part of the collection while tasting the wines.

Waterpark at Cartaya

A short journey north of El Rompido is Cartaya and the Aquopolis waterpark. It’s not one of the biggest waterparks in Spain but kids enjoy it and it has everything you’d expect from a family-friendly attraction. There is a range of big slides and it doesn’t get too packed, even in the height of summer.

Learn about Columbus

The La Rabida Monastery in Huelva makes for a lovely morning out if you can find it, and if it’s open! It’s currently being developed as a tourist attraction, so is lacking English signposts as yet. However, visitors get to see the Monastery itself and a short distance away, the lagoon with full size replicas of the three tall ships that Christopher Columbus took across the Atlantic.

Explore the Parque Nacional de Doñana

You need to book a tour to experience this national park at its best, although there are some paths leading away from the visitor centre, if you want to go it alone. The park is one of Europe’s most important wetland reserves and a major site for migrating birds including geese, flamingo and one of the world’s largest colonies of Spanish imperial eagles. The walk is tiring in the summer heat so take lots of water and sensible shoes.