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Tarifa is much more than just one spot. On the stretch of beach in the picture above alone, between the dune of Valdevaqueros and the small town of Tarifa on the horizon, there are more than ten different spots on around ten kilometres of sand, which provide a wide variety of conditions depending on the wind direction and strength: from mirror-smooth shallow water through the offshore strong wind called Levante to rough bump and jump, to surf waves with a sloping, onshore poniente. It could hardly be more varied. To explore this area alone (and to explore and surf the beautiful, historic town of Tarifa), you should ideally bring more than a week's holiday with you and, above all, bring or hire a car.
In general, the Strait of Gibraltar is a damn windy place - and for Central and Northern Europeans who have just survived the winter, it is usually already cosy and warm at Easter. Tarifa is completely geared towards windsurfers and kiters - apart from Haiku on Maui, there is hardly a town with a greater concentration of surf bars and shops than here. And that's exactly why many people stay here - Tarifa gives you the feeling of being at home as a wind and water sports enthusiast and keeps you captivated in the narrow streets of the old town. For this reason (and because, as we all know, there are other wind-powered water sports that can take up a lot of space at the spots), it's worth taking a look beyond the dunes of Valdevaqueros. A road trip from Tarifa to the north-west is often rewarded with other great conditions.
Between Valdevaqueros and Cadiz there are various spots for wave fans and flat water heaters, which are not necessarily secret, but are a little further away from the wind metropolis of Tarifa. If you take between half an hour and an hour and a half in the car, you will reach our top four behind the dune.
The best Tarifa alternatives
Bolonia
A real paradise, especially in strong Levante, which is actually only a few kilometres behind the dune. However, there is no direct road along the coast, so the journey is a little longer than you might expect: Follow the N340 northwards until the exit to Bolonia is signposted. Coming from the ridge, turn left onto the main road and follow it to the end. The spot develops wonderful bump & jump conditions downwind. If you cross about 200 metres to windward, you will also find beautiful flat water, as exposed reef slabs - especially at low tide - stop the waves. At no other spot does the Levante blow so consistently, and even when it's choppy over in Tarifa, you can still have a relaxed ride. Bolonia is also home to Baelo Claudia, the best-preserved Roman harbour in Spain. Always worth a visit on windless days or after a good session.
Canos de Meca
If the Levante blows very strongly over several days, a moderate sideonshore wave begins to build up over the reef, which is particularly suitable for jumping, but also for riding off. Also works with only a light Levante in combination with a west swell.
At Poniente, however, the spot reveals its true quality: now it becomes a radical point break with wind from the right, brilliant for riding down. Be careful - the stones in the entry area have already clipped many a fin. Caños can be reached from Tarifa in just under an hour. Follow the N340 for around 35 kilometres in the direction of Cadiz, Caños de Meca is signposted. Local tip: Check the swell forecast on windless days. You can often go SUPing or surfing here.
Conil
The town of Conil de la Frontera is only around five kilometres north of the beach of El Palmar, which is very popular with surfers. From the A48 motorway, take exit 26 towards Conil. You can park at the mouth of the Rio Salado river and set off directly onto the wide sandy beach. This is where the buildings upwind come to an end and the strong Levante can blow unchecked, diagonally offshore, over the sandy beach into the sea. Accordingly, you will find a nice long, albeit somewhat rough shallow water slope, on which - depending on the swell - a small ramp can occasionally roll towards you near the shore.
Sancti Petri
A little further north, just before Cadiz, lies the old, extinct fishing village of Sancti Petri - the flat water and therefore freestyle Mecca on the Iberian Peninsula. Here you can spread out as much as you like, only rarely do you meet a few locals on the water. Take the N340 to Chiclana de la Frontera and then follow the signs. Before Sancti Petri is Nuovo Sancti Petri, which is the wrong place! You have to go further to the old, extinct Sancti Petri. The huge lagoons in the hinterland converge with the Atlantic here, the narrow passage is 90 degrees to Poniente and Levante - so you will find perfect flat water on both sides to practise tricks and manoeuvres in any wind direction.
