Costa de la Luz in Spain
The southern part of the Spanish is called Costa de la Luz. In German the name means coast of light. One romantic name for a beautiful piece of earth. On the Strait of Gibraltar separate the Costa de la Luz and the African Morocco only 14 kilometers. The two continents Europe and Africa almost meet at Tarifa.
The Costa de la Luz consists of two parts. It is divided by the mouth of the Guadalquivir and the Coto de Donana National Park. The southeastern area belongs to the province of Cadiz, the northwestern area to the province of Huelva, both provinces belong to the autonomous region of Andalusia.
The landscapes of the Costa de la Luz
The regionally important places are located along the coastal strip. Among other things, Ayamonte and Huelva are located here. Chipiona, Rota, Cadiz, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Jerez de la Fronetra, Chiclana de lla Frontera, Conil de la Frontera and the famous Tarifa also belong to the area of the Costa de la Luz. The Rio Guadalquivir River flows through the area, dividing it in half. The southernmost point of Spain is also located on the Costa de la Luz.
The coast consists of 99 percent of the finest sandy beach. That is why the area is so popular with vacation and holiday tourism. Also the famous white villages, which were built directly on the Atlantic, attract many visitors. The mix of Andalusian charm and the many Moorish influences of the past is particularly appealing.
The surroundings of the Costa de la Luz have dark forest areas, extensive dune areas and also salt marshes. The people of the region became aware of the multifaceted landscape here. Numerous nature reserves and national parks were created to protect flora and fauna.
Sports and entertainment
The famous Andalusian horses are in Jerez, the seat of the Spanish royal riding school. The sherry also comes from here. Cadiz is the oldest city in Western Europe and therefore has numerous culturally significant monuments. A uniform flair of the Costa de la Luz runs through the entire villages. The region’s past can be felt in every village and town.
In addition to city tours and walks, there are of course all kinds of water sports. The strong wind makes it wonderful to surf or sail here. The numerous diving schools offer some diving courses and guided dives. In this way, guests can explore the fascinating underwater world of the Costa de la Luz.
In addition to hikes and bike tours through the beautiful hinterland of the region, there are also excursions on horseback. Riding is very popular throughout the region and there are numerous well-developed riding trails available. A little ride on the beach also brings great new impressions and an incomparable feeling of freedom.
Those who want to go further can take a trip to Africa or treat themselves to a golf course.
These possibilities are sure to keep you from getting bored during your stay on the Costa de la Luz.
There are numerous accommodation options available throughout the Costa de la Luz. You can choose between a hotel, apartment or holiday home. All variants are available here, depending on personal taste and budget.
Costa del Sol (Spain)
The coast of the sun is the German name of the Costa del Sol. Absolutely true. Because the coast in the south Spain is located in the region of Andalusia. She meets them in the east and to the west on the Costa de la Luz. The famous Strait of Gibraltar separates the two coastlines. The Costa del Sol stretches for an impressive 300 kilometers. This corresponds to a route from Frankfurt am Main to Munich.
The Costa del Sol includes the fantastic Mediterranean beaches of the Andalusian provinces of Malaga and Cadiz. There is a Mediterranean climate here, which ensures pleasant, mild temperatures all year round. The special thing about the Costa del Sol is not only its wonderful climate and the multifaceted landscapes, but also that it is embedded in the mountain ranges. These protect the coast from strong north winds.
Tourism on the Costa del Sol
The beautiful climate and the wonderful surroundings make the coastal region a popular holiday and travel destination for tourists from all over the world. The region has been flourishing ever since the idea of further promoting tourism and expanding important infrastructures and services came up in the 1960s. The catering and hotel industry is one of the largest employer sectors on the entire Costa del Sol. The 320 days of sunshine a year attract a great number of sun seekers to the country.
However, the economic upswing and the rethinking of the population also brought with it the disadvantage that the cityscape of the places on the Costa del Sol changed significantly. Today there are many large hotel complexes and apartment buildings in the immediate vicinity of the beach. Although the people living there benefit from the source of income, the overall visual appearance suffers from the large complexes.
In addition to the expansion of the accommodation, various sporting leisure activities were also included in the offer. Today there are many water sports, diving schools, riding stables and no less than 60 golf courses here.
Unpleasant side effect
In addition to business with tourists and the construction industry, the industry is also booming Crime. Whole areas of the Costa del Sol are in the hands of the Camorristi. In addition to drug trafficking and illegal prostitution, these mainly conduct money laundering in construction projects. The Camorristi call the Costa del Sol “Costa nostra”, which means “our coast” in German. The politicians do not intervene, however, because they have made a tacit agreement with the Camorra that the criminals can go about their business, but only as long as it does not provoke military activity – which is one interpretation. Many local residents also say that some of the major politicians benefit from the money from crime.
The serious criminals often come from Russia and the former Yugoslavia. But one would like to counteract the whole thing in the meantime and founded various special police units that deal with it.
As a tourist, however, you don’t have to worry. If you only want to go on vacation here and do not want to do drug deals, you are always on the safe side… In addition, the beach has much more charm and beauty to offer than the dark alleys of the Camorra.
