Sun and Action in Tarifa

Get a taste of this wind-blown surfers' haunt on the doorstep of Africa and, trust us, you’ll be hooked. At its southernmost point you're a mere nine miles from Africa, and the vibe is a unique blend of windy water sports, southern Spanish culture and African exoticism.

Tarifa was the first Spanish town taken in the Arab conquest and there is something ancient and intriguing about the place. Fishermen still use the almadraba method of tuna catching where the boats settle in a circle; and the seafood is fresh and cooked in a delightful fusion of heady local flavours. Many signs are in Arabic and Africa features heavily in this part of Spain. But on these southern shores the culture is dominated by the God of Wind: this is the kite surfing capital of Europe, with 14 kilometres of sandy beaches and the best and most consistent winds in the continent. For afters you can try wind surfing, surfing or even a spot of paragliding. It’s no wonder Tarifa is fast becoming the weekend break of choice for savvy culture and adrenalin seekers.

Kite surfing
If you don’t have the months to devote to mastering a skill like surfing or wind surfing, kite surfing is quick to pick up and promises an extreme adrenalin rush. A few years ago nobody had heard of it, but it has become all the rage in seriously windy spots around the globe. Most sports have a long period of frustration before you reach a certain level, but kite surfing is instantly exhilarating – even if you don’t master it, the fun factor is extremely addictive. Basically, it is to windsurfing what snowboarding is to skiing. You can pick it up quickly once you master the basics. Unlike windsurfing, where a sail is fixed to your board, when you kitesurf you are propelled along by an enormous kite attached to you by 90-metre nylon lines.

You do need a basic level of fitness but the force of the kite is absorbed by a waist harness, so you only need to manoeuvre the control bar and be comfortable with water. Having said that, plenty of people well past retirement age kite surf every day. Wakeboarding lessons are good preparation to develop your board skills. And if you’ve got kids, the good news is that it is completely safe for children to have a go as long as they are at least 100 pounds. Kites come in different sizes for various wind conditions and user types – the heavier the wind and the lighter the user, the smaller the kite. But they still pack a lot of power and anyone trying it for the first time should take lessons first.

Tapas and sangria
The après surf is pretty special too. Wind your way along the old stone streets of the Casco Antiguo, the medieval centre, with its bustling bars serving tapas and sangria. Soak up the Moorish atmosphere of the old fortified town, and take your pick from an array of buzzy eateries with tables spilling out onto the cobbled pavement. Foodies are in for a treat: this is proper Andalusian fare and if you ask us, worth the trip alone. For lunch sample montaditos (traditional tiny sandwiches), boquerones and cold pink wine. After a day of kite surfing, have a late afternoon snack at Torra de la Pena, a thatched beach bar which overlooks the sea, and nibble on toast rubbed with garlic drizzled with olive oil. For dinner, guzzle delicious seafood like squid ink croquettes and taste the local wines. Afterwards you can look forward to drifting from bar to bar dotted along the beach. Come summer, there is some wonderful live music, DJs and dancing around huge bonfires. Alternatively you can head to nearby fishing village Barbate for a taste of flamenco.

What else to do
If you’re after some down time after all that action, there are plenty of secluded and wonderfully windswept dunes to potter around. You can also take a boat trip into the Strait of Gibraltar to see scores of dolphins arcing through the gin-clear waters, or check out the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia in nearby Bolonia. Tarifa boasts some of the finest and wildest beaches in Europe, perfect for horse riding along, or you can take a riding excursion through unspoilt nature parks and finish off unwinding with a therapeutic massage.

Where to stay
Hurricane Hotel
Set in a modern, but timeless, building with a Moorish architectural style, this hotel has two pools, a health club and a relaxed bar with squishy sofas and snooker tables. The hotel has a friendly atmosphere and all the produce used in the restaurant is locally sourced. But it is the beach that makes the Hurricane unbeatable, as just beyond the pool, steps lead down to a vast vista of sand and warm Mediterranean Sea. Behind you, you are surrounded by cedar forests and vine terraces of the Rif Mountains, stretching from Tangier to the Algerian border, and at night Africa twinkles, brooding in the distance. Located just outside Tarifa town but right on the main beach, the Hotel Hurricane is the perfect base to master kite surfing. If chilling out after a hard day in the surf is what you’re after, this could be the perfect answer.

La Sacristía
A mixture of traditional tiles, old stone, silk lanterns and exotic lacquerware, it sounds like an Aladdin’s den, but the rooms are, in fact, wonderfully understated. Think white flowing muslin and driftwood accessories. The restaurant is in the glass-roofed Moorish courtyard and the chef dishes up highly acclaimed fusion food. Head here during the summer months for some great live music which kicks off in the late afternoon at La Sacristia’s lively in-house club.

So this year why not swap your sun-lounger and book for a board and kite and try your hand at one of the most exciting wind powered sports around. Once you’ve had your fill of adventure activities, spend your time sunbathing, drinking wine and stuffing yourself silly with tapas. Tarifa is without doubt one of our favourite short haul, big experience breaks. 

Black Tomato is a bespoke tour operator that specialises in putting together exceptional travel experiences. Black Tomato’s Tarifa experience is available from £799 per person based on two people sharing. This includes 3 nights’ Bed & Breakfast at the Hurricane Hotel, 2 days of kite surfing lessons, return flights and ground transfers.

For more information visit www.blacktomato.co.uk or call 020 7426 9888