Discovering Costa de la Luz in Andalucia

The translation of “Costa de la Luz” is “Coast of Light ” and it is not difficult to understand why the area was given this name.  The whitewashed villages, deep blue skies and endless sunshine combine to make this “Coast of Light ” a truly memorable destination.

Costa de la Luz is situated in the province of Huelva , one of the eight provinces of Andalucia. The other seven are Seville, Cadiz, Malaga, Cordoba, Almeria, Jaen and Granada .  It is in the southwest corner of and is the last province before reaching .

The capital city of the province is Huelva and it was here, in the eighteenth century, that football was introduced to by the British workers at the Rio Tinto mines.

On the outskirts of Huelva you can visit the Monastery of La Rabida and it is from here that Christopher Columbus set off on his discovery of .

The beaches in the Costa de la Luz area are stunning.  You can discover beaches with water sports, quiet beaches, naturist beaches, family beaches, deserted beaches – whatever you are looking for can be found here.

There many pretty towns and villages in the province one of which, Lepe, is famous for being the butt of Spanish jokes – the stupid man in the joke is always from Lepe.  It is also an agricultural area and produces strawberries which are shipped all over the world.  If you pass through the village between February and May you can smell the fruit in the air.

Another small town worth noting is Aracena.  It is in the Huelva mountains and has some fascinating caves which are well worth a visit.  The scenery in this area is beautiful, with lush, green trees, small rivers and fields covered with colourful wild flowers.

Ayamonte is the last town before reaching the Portuguese eastern . It is a stunning, vibrant town with pretty, tiled squares and narrow cobbled streets. There are various “fiestas” throughout the year and you can either observe or join in with the locals as they celebrate Saint days, carnivals, Easter and other important dates. The various bars and cafes serving delicious tapas, cool beer or piping hot coffee make it an ideal location for dining out, meeting friends or simply enjoying the timeless art of people watching.

Beaches

This area of has remained a well kept secret that only the Spanish knew about but it is now being discovered by those who are looking for an alternative, authentic Spanish destination. Here you will find miles and miles of fine sandy beaches surrounded by pine trees and dunes with the Atlantic Ocean gently lapping the shores. The closest beach to Ayamonte town is in Isla Canela , about a ten minute drive.  The beach is nearly four miles long with beautiful golden sand and there are restaurants and bars close by. There are several other beaches within easy reach. Isla Cristina, Islantilla and La Antilla beaches are all within a 20-30 minute drive from Ayamonte and have endless stretches of sand. You can enjoy various water sports on the local beaches including windsurfing.

If you decide you want a change from the Costa de la Luz beaches then you can swap countries and within ten minutes be lying on Portuguese sand soaking up the sun. 

Donaña National park

The national park is situated about 115kms from Ayamonte, close to the small town of Almonte and covering an area of approximately 53 hectares. It is a paradise for nature lovers with diverse landscapes which include lakes, sand dunes, beaches, marshland and woods.   The variety of flora and fauna in the park surprises most visitors.   You will find rosemary, thyme and red lavender growing in the higher areas and in the lower areas there is heather, and sweet smelling furze.  Many different species of birds choose Doñana as their winter home.  These include flamingos, ducks and geese.  Flocks of spoonbills, grey herons and white storks have made Donaña their permanent home.  The majestic Imperial eagle can be seen nesting in the pine trees.   The Iberian lynx, wild boar and mongoose can be spotted wandering around this spectacular national park. The best times of year to visit the park are winter and spring and there are various visitors’ centres close to the park where you will find all the further information you need.

 

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