“I love Tarifa because of the variety of conditions through the year, the beautiful landscapes and mix of people from all over the world.” Mallory De La Villemarqué, F-One pro rider and Tarifa local.
THE LURE
Tarifa is a kiteboarding mecca. Sitting at the very bottom of Spain at the beginning of the beautiful Costa de la Luz, this spot is windy all year round with numerous rideable locations along ten kilometres of beach. There are more schools here than in perhaps any other single kiting destination as well as over 40 kiteboarding related businesses being based here. The percentage of top riders who’ve grown up here or chosen to make Tarifa their home is high. Over the years it has manufactured many of the biggest names in the sport, giving them the opportunity to train in a wide variety of conditions.
Tarifa is building a solid reputation as the ‘Adventure Capital of Europe’ with over 40 activities to try. Plus there’s great food, wine, friendly locals and a lovely family atmosphere! This is the busiest kitesurfing destination in the world. Luckily the huge beaches can cope with the thousands of kiters that descend on Tarifa each season and you can expect wind and sun for 300 days a year. All this is just a cheap, quick flight from anywhere in Europe.
GOOD FOR: Tons of wind, a wide range of spots and a legendary party scene!
THE SET-UP
Just 14 kilometres across the water from Africa, this vibrant venue in Andalucia lies at the meeting point of the Mediterranean and Atlantic seas. Strong, reliable, year-round winds blow here and the beaches, such as Los Lances (just outside of town) are wide, open (ten kilometres long), made of soft sand and are obstacle free.
Being so popular, the designated kite zones do get busy from June to August, although there’s usually space further out back, but its important to observe the rules and respect each rider. Outside of those peak months Tarifa delivers wind and great weather almost year round, so you can avoid the crowds and get some solid riding in across a range of spots. Ride flat water close to the beach or in the lagoon (when it’s full – and when you’re allowed) or find onshore wave riding on a ‘Poniente’ wind direction out of summer.
When things switch up to Levante, particularly during winter, score some cross-off down-the-line wave riding, too! Most of the kiting happens between Los Lances and Valdevaqueros but there are also a number of other spots nearby, including a flat water spot to the east with kickers called Palmones in the bay of Gibraltar.
Balneario is right next to town and popular with the many pros. The road out to Isla la Paloma forms a breakwater with butter flat water when the Levante blows and you’ll see some epic mega-loop and wave performances going down there when it’s on!
If the wind gets too strong or offshore, then take a drive to another beach, the closest being Palmones. There are many options from bump ‘n’ jump to classic cross-off down-the-line wave conditions on the day. Head an hour north to Canos de Meca for a better chance at quality wave conditions, or if the Levante is too strong in Tarifa. There are plenty of options. Get the full low down from a shop when you arrive.
Daniele from KTS at Valdevaqueros / PHOTO: KTS
The stunning countryside outside of Tarifa / PHOTO: Kiteworld
The picturesque village of Vejer is worth visiting / PHOTO: Kiteworld
Men’s 2013 PKRA World Champion Alex Pastor lives here / PHOTO: Toby Bromwich
WIND, WEATHER & WATER
There are two vastly different wind directions here - the westerly, cross-onshore Poniente which come in steadily from the right and rarely gets up to much more than 25 knots; and the legendary Levante wind which comes from the east. Levante blows cross-off on the main beach at Los Lances, sometimes gusty and can be absolutely nuclear in strength, so pack your smallest kite and do you harness up nice and tight! There can be some superb Levante sessions that are less strong though, and as it’s a warmer wind, can be great for summer time.
When the Levante blows it’s a good idea to grab some rescue boat tokens if you’re already a proficient kiter but would like to have an insurance policy if you make a mistake in offshore conditions - Explora Watersports can organise this as well as lessons and coaching.
Head to Valdevaqueros in a Levante which is more cross-shore and where the beach wraps round to catch you if you can’t get your kite back up (providing you’re not very far out). The Levante wind is the most regular wind direction in the summer and it’s great when it’s not blowing too ferociously, while the Poniente is more frequent in spring, autumn and winter.
The wind stats don’t really reflect the part that thermal effects have to play with the wind strength in Tarifa and, from May through until October, you can usually rely on there being several knots more than is forecast. Usually, there's enough wind to at least get out on a 12 every day with the local effects because there are a lot of different beach options. It’s a very good idea to hire a car as if the wind gets too strong or offshore, then drive to another beach.
You’ll rarely need a bigger kite than a twelve but when it’s really blowing through you’ll need a five metre (if you’re brave enough) so take your full quiver to be safe. You can get big spring tides in Tarifa with lagoons often forming in autumn and winter, which is great for some flat water action!
In this past year, surf foiling has also become popular among the locals with the vast array of water conditions that Tarifa throws up, from small and big swells, to more wind powered rolling swells. Anything goes and this is home to some very experimental riding groups and pioneers.
Air temperatures are always pleasant, but can dip to 14°C / 57°F in January with highs of 38°C / 100°F in July / August. The average is 15 - 20°C / 59 - 68°F November to April and 25 - 30°C / 77 - 86°F in spring and autumn and the water gets warm in the summer so you’ll need only boardies or a shortie wetsuit. The average water temperature is 15 - 18°C / 59 - 64°F throughout the year and you’ll need a spring suit in the winter.
SCHOOLS
EXPLORA WATERSPORTS offer 1:1, semi private or group lessons in Tarifa, using the latest Duotone gear and fully qualified instructors. They also have rental gear and organise epic downwinders, too.
www.explorawatersports.com
info@explorawatersports.com
Photos: Explora Watersports
Just smiles
Once you get good enough…
Lesson stoke
Lenguaventura have provided summer camps for teenagers aged 14 to 17 years since 2003, and welcome young students from all over the world to attend their summer camps in Tarifa.
Lenguaventura combines language learning (in Spanish and English) with Kitesurf and Windsurf courses on all levels, in either group or semi-private courses. They also offer gear rental with supervision for advanced young kitesurfers.
Accommodation is provided in Tarifa town centre.
www.lenguaventura.com
email@lenguaventura.com
Photos: Lenguaventura
SHOPS
WET Watersports
Passion for the ocean, combined with diverse ways of enjoy it is what's has driven WET to create a business combining fun and virtue, based on the quality of products and excellent customer service. One of the biggest shops in Tarifa!
www.wet-store.com
info@wet-store.com
Photos: WET
TRAVEL AGENTS
KITEWORLDWIDE specialize in delivering extraordinary kitesurf holidays to exotic destinations while avoiding the tourist traps.
www.kiteworldwide.com
info@kiteworldwide.com
Planet Kitesurf Holidays specialise in luxury tailor‐made kitesurf holidays worldwide. Through its team of highly experienced kitesurf travel professionals, the company offers expert impartial advice, backed up by full ATOL and TTA financial protection. Planet Kitesurf belongs to the Planet Travel group, a market leader in active holidays since 2000.
www.planetkitesurfholidays.com
info@planettravelholidays.com
Sportif Kitesurf Holidays provide kitesurfing and multi sport holidays to the very best destinations worldwide. Sportif centres have the latest equipment and highly qualified, experienced staff. Whatever your level, you'll find a range of flexible rental or instruction packages, with a choice of accommodation from budget to luxury 5* hotels, right next to the centres.
www.sportif.travel
info@sportif.travel
ION CLUB with 21 Wind - and Kitesurfing centres at 12 destinations, ION CLUB are one of the leading companies in this industry. Also offering Surfing, Stand Up Paddling and Biking. Sustainability is one of ION CLUB's core values as they believe that we have a real responsibility for the natural environment - the place where we practice our amazing sports - and for the local societies in which we are allowed to operate and play.
www.ion-club.net
travel@ion-club.net
KITEBOARDING CLUB
www.kiteboarding-club.com
+49 867 766 860 99
ACCOMMODATION
Tarifa is well set-up to meet popular demand with plenty of accommodation, from boutique hotels within the picturesque old town, luxurious beach hotels as well as mid-range and budget hostels, numerous campsites and a wealth of self-catering villas, apartments and houses. A short distance out of town is Facinas, on the natural park, Los Alcornocales. It’s far quieter here and gives you the option to escape the madness in Tarifa and fully relax in a picturesque Spanish village with stunning houses (see Facinas Houses).
If you’re wanting lessons or rental with your accommodation, then Explora Watersports provide a choice of accommodation, from the good-value Tarifa Surf House to private studio apartments. Despite all the talk of partying, Tarifa is also great for families and couples. There’s plenty of family-friendly hotels, like the Hurricane Hotel which is right on the beach – the first wind sport inspired hotel in Tarifa. There are also self-catering properties and campsites, but book well in advance for summertime.
FACINAS HOUSES are a little way out of Tarifa in the beautiful, small Spanish village of Facinas, with a number of rural houses available for rent. All are immaculately designed and offer a quiet retreat in beautiful surroundings.
www.facinashouses.com
hola@facinashouses.com
HURRICANE HOTEL is situated directly on the beach, five miles west of Tarifa. Stylish and private, it’s set in sub-tropical gardens with spectacular views as well as a superb restaurant, pool, sauna and gym. It’s partnered with the nearby Punta Sur hotel a little further west and across the road.
www.hotelhurricane.com
info@hotelhurricane.com
KITEWORLDWIDE have a large townhouse with an atrium in the middle of it with a beautiful open courtyard. Each studio within the house has a bathroom and kitchenette.
www.kiteworldwide.com
info@kiteworldwide.com
TARIFA BEACH RESORT offer modern houses and apartments on the famous Los Lances beach. Providing luxury and practicality, they are equipped with a range of amenities to keep wind and kite lovers happy and each one is individually styled and decorated.
www.tarifabeachresort.com
info@tarifabeachresort.com
ROOM TARIFA hotel is based right in the middle of the beautiful old town, perfectly positioned for long, lazy evenings in a cool environment.
www.roomtarifa.com
reservas@roomtarifa.com
TRAVEL AGENTS
KITEWORLDWIDE specialize in delivering extraordinary kitesurf holidays to exotic destinations while avoiding the tourist traps.
www.kiteworldwide.com
info@kiteworldwide.com
Planet Kitesurf Holidays specialise in luxury tailor‐made kitesurf holidays worldwide. Through its team of highly experienced kitesurf travel professionals, the company offers expert impartial advice, backed up by full ATOL and TTA financial protection. Planet Kitesurf belongs to the Planet Travel group, a market leader in active holidays since 2000.
www.planetkitesurfholidays.com
info@planettravelholidays.com
Sportif Kitesurf Holidays provide kitesurfing and multi sport holidays to the very best destinations worldwide. Sportif centres have the latest equipment and highly qualified, experienced staff. Whatever your level, you'll find a range of flexible rental or instruction packages, with a choice of accommodation from budget to luxury 5* hotels, right next to the centres.
www.sportif.travel
info@sportif.travel
ION CLUB with 21 Wind - and Kitesurfing centres at 12 destinations, ION CLUB are one of the leading companies in this industry. Also offering Surfing, Stand Up Paddling and Biking. Sustainability is one of ION CLUB's core values as they believe that we have a real responsibility for the natural environment - the place where we practice our amazing sports - and for the local societies in which we are allowed to operate and play.
www.ion-club.net
travel@ion-club.net
KITEBOARDING CLUB
www.kiteboarding-club.com
+49 867 766 860 99
NO WIND
The wind doesn’t usually kick in until the afternoon, so the mornings give a chance for other activities. The non-kiting options are vast as Tarifa is hailed as the ‘adventure capital of Europe’. Among Tarifa’s beaches are small coves of more difficult access that offer a quieter day, as well as beaches with impressive dunes that are well worth visiting (one of them, Bolonia, has well-preserved Roman ruins that can be visited).
Travel to other cities like Malaga or Seville takes about two hours by car. The proximity of Africa also offers the possibility of making a quick visit to Morocco, with ferries leaving from the docks everyday. There are also companies that specialise in excursions for whale or bird watching around this area.
You’ll find a cable park in Marbella, while Malaga - the birth place of Picasso - is 90 minutes up the road and is packed, as you might imagine, with museums and art galleries. For more action sports, there’s incredible mountain biking and hillwalking, climbing to the north and at the bouldering wall in town, gorge walking and horse riding to be done.
For nightlife, choose from rammed dance clubs to laid back bars. There are also a few options on the way to the beaches if you dont want to venture into town. Next to ION Club at Valdevaqueros, there is a great chiringuito bar - Tumbao - serving wicked caipirinhas with DJs as sunset approaches and later into the night. This is a popular kiting spot as it’s nicely sheltered from the wind for non-kiting partners to catch the sun and relax.
TARIFA ADVENTURE invites you to try out a wide selection of activities in Tarifa, from kitesurfing and windsurfing to land based sports like horseriding along the beach, hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking and even airborne sports like hang-gliding and microlight flying.
Tarifa Adventure can arrange for you to take part in a variety of different activities which can be practiced all year round and recommend a wide selection of accommodation in the area including rental apartments, houses for rent and villas.
Make most of your visit and find your adventure now!
www.tarifaadventure.com
info@tarifaadventure.com
An old fort in the old town / PHOTO: Kiteworld
SUPing around the old town / PHOTO: Kiteworld
Mountainbiking with Pedal Freaks / PHOTO: Kiteworld
Looks can be deceiving - during the day, the town has a sleepy demeanor, but at night, Tarifa bursts into life, with fantastic food and nightlife on tap. Authentic tapas to high-class cuisine or pizzas are all a delight. There’s nowhere quite like it if you want to kite all day and then unwind and party with likeminded people in either chilled bars along the Calle de San Francisco or in the rammed nightclubs, some of which are open all night and well into the next day.
GET AROUND
Car hire is advisable, however the main spots are all within a ten minute drive of the Tarifa town centre. Within Tarifa itself you can walk from most places you’ll stay in the town. The walled old town has a unique blend of Andalucian white ‘Pueblo’ with a hint of Moroccan influence, resulting from a Moorish occupation in a previous life. This is a very safe environment for all the family, although, like everywhere, don’t leave valuables lying around in your cars.
If you’re staying with a school then they’ll usually ferry you to the beach in the mornings. It’s worth hiring a car to get to the various spots and make the most of the area, though. Top tip: set off to the beach early in summer as the beach road traffic can be slow.
CURRENCY
Euro (€) - £1 = €1.3 / US$1 = €0.9
FOOD & DRINK
Losing none of its old Spanish charm and white washed walls, Tarifa really comes to life at night. From incredible authentic tapas to high class cuisine to cheap and cheerful pizzas. As well as being a superb venue for young kiters to unwind and party, the Spanish way of life also sees children happily playing and socialising with the rest of the family late into the night outside restaurants, too. Vaca Loca, an Argentinian steak house, and Lolas are two of our personal favourites.
There are also a few options on the way to the beaches if you don’t want to venture into town and Ion Club at Valdevaqueros is a great place to hang out after a kite session and has a great restaurant right on the spot.
There are various supermarkets, the main one being the Mercadona just at the end of the high street offering similar produce to the rest of Europe, and probably cheaper, and the traditional Spanish meats, cheeses and the fresh seafood in the supermarket is amazing.
AIRPORT
Malaga (AGP) is a 90 minute drive from Tarifa with flights coming in from all over Europe. Jerez (XRY) is only about a 60 minute drive from Tarifa. Gibraltar (GIB) is just 40 minutes away. Make sure you collect your car from the Spanish side of the border to avoid the queues to get onto the island when returning, though.
TRAVEL AGENTS
KITEWORLDWIDE specialize in delivering extraordinary kitesurf holidays to exotic destinations while avoiding the tourist traps.
www.kiteworldwide.com
info@kiteworldwide.com
Planet Kitesurf Holidays specialise in luxury tailor‐made kitesurf holidays worldwide. Through its team of highly experienced kitesurf travel professionals, the company offers expert impartial advice, backed up by full ATOL and TTA financial protection. Planet Kitesurf belongs to the Planet Travel group, a market leader in active holidays since 2000.
www.planetkitesurfholidays.com
info@planettravelholidays.com
Sportif Kitesurf Holidays provide kitesurfing and multi sport holidays to the very best destinations worldwide. Sportif centres have the latest equipment and highly qualified, experienced staff. Whatever your level, you'll find a range of flexible rental or instruction packages, with a choice of accommodation from budget to luxury 5* hotels, right next to the centres.
www.sportif.travel
info@sportif.travel
ION CLUB with 21 Wind - and Kitesurfing centres at 12 destinations, ION CLUB are one of the leading companies in this industry. Also offering Surfing, Stand Up Paddling and Biking. Sustainability is one of ION CLUB's core values as they believe that we have a real responsibility for the natural environment - the place where we practice our amazing sports - and for the local societies in which we are allowed to operate and play.
www.ion-club.net
travel@ion-club.net
KITEBOARDING CLUB
www.kiteboarding-club.com
+49 867 766 860 99
