| ACTIVITIES
COUNTRYSIDE
The spectacular pine forest with its rich indigenous
under-storey and the scenic countryside which
surround El Palomar de la Breña, are home
to a diverse variety of wildlife, and also to
livestock including the impressive fighting bulls
and the retinto cattle. It is also the natural
environment of the wild olive trees (Olea europaea
ssp. sylvestris), which are emblematic to this
part of the Cádiz province. The Natural
Park reaps produce by the slow extraction of the
tasty, coveted pine nuts. Thanks to the close
location of the Strait, the area is one of the
best places to observe birds of prey and migratory
birds passing through one of the main migratory
paths in Europe. Our friend and bird watching
enthusiast, Stephen Daly can help to discover
the birds that are harder to find: www.andalucianguides.com
All of this natural environment can be viewed
and enjoyed by walking straight from the hotel,
or by bicycle: www.naturexplorer.com.
To assist, we supply a free map of the pine Natural
Park that includes the Barbate cliffs. Alternatively,
there is no better way to see the mythical land
of bulls and horses of Andalucia, than by riding
out on an authentic Andalucian saddle with no
other than the famous bullfighter Paquirri. (photo)
www.picadero-camargo.com
The park borders onto the coast, where there
are stunning cliffs and the famous waters of the
Cape of Trafalgar.
To discover them, www.trafalgarsailing.com
can provide comfortable sailing boats. You could
also try to fish for amberjack fish, swordfish,
or red tuna from the very well prepared boats
of www.calipsopesca.com
If you prefer the deep seas, contact www.albacorabuceo.com
for scuba diving.
Lovers of marine life can try an excursion of
the Strait leaving from Tarifa with www.turmares.com
As well as lots of plants and animals to see,
remember that from November to May the countryside
is lush and green, and that in April there is
an explosion of flowers and colours.
HISTORY
Many civilizations have crossed the Strait leaving
the area full of memories, shipwrecks and legends.
Inside the grounds of the farmhouse, you can visit
the biggest dovecote in the world (Guinness Book
of Records), with 7770 clay nests (now unoccupied
by birds).
Heading towards the ocean only 5km away, you will
find the Trafalgar lighthouse at the end of the
famous tombolo (spit), which marks the terrible
naval battle. Moving inland there is the preserved
“white town” of Vejer de la Frontera:
www.turismovejer.com
Beacon Towers punctuate and follow the coast,
marking the border with Africa, which is noticeably
visible on a clear day…
In around an hours drive, you can visit:
The roman city of Baelo Claudia (actually in
Bolonia):
www.juntadeandalucia.es/cultura/baeloclaudia
The three thousand year old city of Cádiz:
www.guiadecadiz.com
Jerez de la frontera:www.turismojerez.com
and www.jerezdecine.com
Gibraltar: www.gibraltar.costasur.com
After 45 minutes crossing from Tarifa on the
“fast ferry”, you can enjoy looking
around Tangier: www.frs.es
CULTURE
In addition to the delights of nature, the local
area saves a few surprises for us, like the internationally
famous contemporary works of art of the NMAC collections,
many of which are influenced by the natural world:
www.fundacionmac.com
Vejer de la Frontera indulges its visitors with
numerous fiestas and music concerts, running of
the bulls, livestock feria in April, evening flamenco,
and concerts during summertime held within the
town walls …
Barbate, the marine face of the area, offers
the spectacle of the Almadraba, as well as its
gastronomic products, using the age-old methods
from Venetian times to catch the red tuna. The
products (salted tuna, fish roe…) can be
bought in the Salpesca shop:
www.salpesca.com , or from the Museum
(link) located in front of the fishing port, which
is still a place of great fishing activity. In
the bakery Pastelería Tres Martínez,
you can buy cakes made with pine nuts from the
Natural Park. (Salpesca and the bakery Tres Martínez
adhere to the “Natural Park Brand”)
SPORT
Walking, cycling, horse riding, sport fishing
and underwater pursuits, are some of the many
sports on offer in the area. Additionally, there
is sailing from the Barbate Port, and golf (18
hole) at the Dehesa de Montenmedio:
www.montenmedio.com
This is also where the international horse show
ground is located and the Olympic horse trials
of the “Sunshine circuit” are held:
www.sunshinetour.net
SEE BEACHES
GUIDE
|
)
