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Costa de la Luz

The infinite beaches of Costa de la Luz, lined by pine groves, form an arch from Ayamonte to Tarifa, from the mouth of the Guadiana River to the Strait of Gibraltar.

Costa de la Luz comprises sun and sand; the rivers flow in channels before reaching the sea; water and earth combine in the swamps, estuaries and salt mines. Its name comes from a bright, vivid light that highlights the comeliness of its streets, the whitewash of its walls, the golden hue of the dunes and the reflection of the silver sea, the only greyish tint in this land of colour. Inland you will find varied landscapes of wild sierras, fertile countryside, pastures of fighting bulls, world-renowned vineyards and hidden villages where time passes slowly by. Spring brings with it an explosion of flowers, fiestas and processions; winter, mild and sunny, attracts millions of birds to the area.

The Costa de la Luz (Coast of light) is the western part of the Andalucia coastline that faces out to the Atlantic. The sand is finer and a more golden colour than the neighbouring Costa del Sol. The typical beaches here are more expansive and probably backed by sand dunes and pine trees. This part of the coast has not seen the high-rise hotel development of other areas. The temperatures are slightly milder and the often strong Atlantic winds and waves are favoured by wind surfers and surfboarders alike.

Ayamonte

Ayamonte, next to the River Guadiana that divides Portugal and Spain marks the start of Huelva´s part of the Costa de la Luz. Known as the ´gateway to Spain`, it is a lively trading centre with an important port. It has a thriving canning and salting industry, It also boasts a rich architectural heritage.

Huelva

Huelva. The province of Huelva offers immense beaches, scattered with shells. The coastal area is taking the overspill from the crowded Costa del Sol. There are ample good quality hotels in the area and several major golf courses. The province is also well known for the Doñana National Park, one of the most noteworthy places in Europe. By the mouth of the Guadalquivir River, the area covers a huge expanse of protected land.

Huelva has always had a fishing industry and this still remains today, distributing fresh produce to the whole of Spain. In it's past, Huelva has also been the centre of mineral mining from the nearby river beds.

On the other side of the Rio Tinto stands Moguer, a beautiful town with many interesting sights to see including the famous Convento de Santa Clara where Christopher Columbus gave thanks after returning from his first voyage. From here, head to the coast to find the beach of Mazagon, dotted with pine trees and home to a fine marina and many splendid hotels.

The beaches along here are particularly good for wind surfing and other water sports. From this point you are very close to the Doñana National Park.

Novo Sancti Petri.

Novo Sancti Petri. Novo Sancti Petri is a total resort complex built around a 36 hole, Ballesteros designed, golf course set alongside the stunning sandy beach of La Barrosa, near the small town of Chiclana, near Cadiz, on the unspoilt Costa de la Luz, on Spain’s Atlantic coast.

The resort offers a comprehensive range of on site sporting facilities, restaurants, shops and essential services and is ideally placed for touring the historic cities of Jerez, Seville, Cordoba, Granada and unspoilt Andalucia, with its famous “white villages” (pueblos blancos).


Things to see.

At Huelva, a large statue on the west bank of the river commemorates the departure of Christopher Columbus on his third voyage of discovery. About 7km (4 1/2 miles) up on the east bank of the Tinto River, a monument marks the exact spot where his ships were anchored while they were being loaded with supplies before departure.

South of Huelva is the Monasterio de la Rábida, Palos de la Frontera (tel. 95-935-04-11), in whose little white chapel Columbus prayed for success on the eve of his voyage.

Even without its connections to Columbus, the monastery would be worth a visit for its paintings and frescoes. A guide will show you around the Mudéjar chapel and a large portion of the old monastery, which is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 1pm and 4 to 6:15pm. Admission is 2.50€. The monastery is on the east bank of the Tinto.