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Costa de la Luz, Cadiz Province:  The Coast of Light, Whose Shores Launched the Discoveries of Columbus, Magellan and Conquistadors, Welcomes You

The Costa de la Luz for a Voyage of Discovery and Surprises

When you come to the Costa de la Luz, you’ll find yourself in the middle of sites that bring up questions about world history.

Did Columbus deserve credit for the discovery of the New World, or did the residents of nearby Huelva, the Pinzon brothers, introduce Columbus to a sailor who told him the way after visiting it himself? Ask a local guide here and you’ll get a new take on these historic events.

Did Magellan really take off from Seville? Yes, but he departed from Europe from the Costa de la Luz. You’ll see the shores that launched Magellan and welcomed the surviving return ship, that made his expedition the first official voyage to circumnavigate the globe. Upon these same shores, you’ll see the place where Columbus left for one of his famous voyages.

You’ll discover brand new worlds yourself in the Costa de la Luz, and find surprises everywhere.

Surprises - From Temple to Great Tasting Food to Regional Sherry

The Romans who settled on this costa 2,000 years ago, were also some of its greatest explorers. How do we know this?  Well, when you see the Temple of Isis (an Egyptian Goddess) dropped in the Roman town of Baelo Claudia, perhaps you’ll have as many questions about how that happened as one of the local archaeologists you may be fortunate enough to meet.

This spirit of worldliness, yet particular town-by-town pride, is steeped in the food too. The food of the area is traditional Andalucian fare, with each town and area giving it its own twist. 

Expect to eat late, 9 or 10pm, to enjoy such gastronomic delights and holiday beverages as white wine, Muscat, the special sherry of each part of the Sherry Zone, tapas and fresh seafood, that in some cases comes from a town’s own marshes and estuaries, if it isn't from the ocean.  Oven roasted pork, sausages, cabbage stew and Moorish almond pastries are equally tasty.

Costa de la Luz Climate and Weather

This coast’s long beaches, on the southern shores of Andalucia, offer cool breezes and a more verdant climate than much of Andalucia. Winters tend to be mild, summers are hot but enjoyable, and spring and autumn are ideal.

Getting to the Costa de la Luz

The province of Cadiz has 260 kilometres (161 miles) of coast with 138 kilometres of beaches.  Its coastline starts at Sanlucar de Barrameda and includes the walled city of Cadiz, built on a peninsula on the Bay of Cadiz. 

One of its points is Tarifa, which is only 11 kilometres from North Africa, across the Straits of Gibraltar - you can even see the African Rif Mountains from the popular shores of its fine beaches.

Costa de la Luz Airport

The Costa de la Luz, Cadiz Province is serviced by a number of airports. The closest airport is Jerez Airport, which is 40 minutes away from Chiclana, a popular tourist destination. Ryanair offer flights from London Stansted to Jerez Airport (XRY). Gibraltar is located around 90 minutes, by car, from Chiclana and Monarch offer flights to Gibraltar (GIB) from London Gatwick and London Luton. EasyJet fly to Gibraltar from London Gatwick.

Malaga and Seville airports also service the Costa de la Luz, but are several hours away from the closest cities.

Car Hire

To make the most of your Costa de la Luz holiday, it is definitely worth hiring a car. Cars can be hired through your airline, travel agent or by shopping around on the Internet, and the easiest thing is to arrange car hire so that you can pick up the car from the airport. Hiring a car will allow you to explore the many attractions of the Costa de la Luz and the Cadiz Province.

Rent a car to see these many towns, or use taxis and buses inside the cities.  All along this coast of the Atlantic, Mediterranean, facing North Africa you’ll see the world with new eyes.