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Latest update: 27 July 2023
Zahara de los Atunes in Spain is one of those coastal towns you do not know but can fall in love with instantly. And mainly because of the raw beaches. Miles of soft, golden sand, crystal clear blue water with a green beach entrance. No fancy fuss, just nature.
Summer stay in Zahara de los Atunes
On the Atlantic coast, about 30 kilometers north of Tarifa, lies the former fishing village of Zahara de los Atunes – so in Spain, Andalusia, to be precise. Zahara de los Atunes is better known among Spaniards than among foreign tourists. Do you know the Netflix series Entrevías? In one of the episodes, bartender Pepe talks about Zahara de los Atunes: he would like to buy a house there. I get it, but a summer house please.
Zahara de los Atunes in Andalusia is extinct in winter. How different is that in the summer, when people from all walks of life like to visit the town. I read online that the beach of Zahara de los Atunes is no less than 8 kilometers, or 12, or 7. It just depends on which website you check. I didn’t measure it for you, but I can tell you it’s long, very long stretch of beach. Enough space for all those day trippers and other visitors. As you can see from my photos: I clearly have to go back to Zahara de los Atunes on a sunny day!
Natural beach of Zahara de los Atunes
The beach of Zahara de los Atunes is quite unspoiled. There is no beautifully landscaped pedestrian boulevard, such as in Chiclana de la Frontera. No, it’s much more natural. There are several beach bars along the beach. Most close for the winter months and to give the interior a facelift. Get ready for summer. And ready to cook delicious Spanish food again. The specialty of Zahara de los Atunes is Atlantic bluefin tuna. You can try it at the simple but good chiringuito El Pescador.
Tuna fishing in Andalusia
This part of Andalusia is known for wild bluefin tuna and a fishing technique. It is called the Almadraba technique and is said to be one of the most sustainable fishing techniques in the world. The nets are cast when the wild bluefin tuna pass through the Strait of Gibraltar in May and June. Most fish is transported directly to Japan, and only a small part remains in Andalusia. The word Atunes in Zahara de los Atunes means tunas, but maybe you already guessed that.
The castle of Zahara de los Atunes – or what is left of it
The ‘center’ of Zahara de los Atunes consists of a few streets. Most liveliness can be found around the Castillo de las Almadrabas. In the 15th century, the castle had to protect Zahara de los Atunes against pirates. After that, the tuna catch was processed here. Nowadays, there is absolutely no attention paid to maintenance and preservation. They are neglected ruins with some fences that are supposed to protect visitors from falling rocks. The castle’s glory days are long, long over.
Visit caves in Zahara de los Atunes
I attempted to find the Cueva de los Orcas (also called Cueva de Atlanterra). A cave with murals, but I didn’t manage to by the car and Google Maps (here). Maybe you want to give it a go?
Accommodation in Zahara de los Atunes
There are so many options for accommodations in Zahara de los Atunes. Mostly small-scale holiday resorts. But it is a search for ‘normal’ decor. Let’s just say that the Spanish interiors could use an upgrade as far as I’m concerned. If you’re looking for a good hotel in Zahara de los Atunes, check out these options:
- Hotel Porfirio Picota: small, neat rooms with attractive common areas.
- Akutuna: luxury holiday home for up to seven people.
- Hotel Zahara Beach & Spa: fancy! Large, stylish rooms where you can relax after a long day at the beach.
- Hotel Antonio II: small-scale hotel with fresh rooms with lovely details.
- Melia Zahara Atlanterra: a somewhat larger, four-star resort with no less than three swimming pools.
More Spain inspiration?
Helpful links for your Spain trip
- Accommodation. All-time favorites: Booking.com and Campspace. Rather stay in a hostel? Try HostelWorld.
- Activities. You book the best tours and activities with GetYourGuide and Viator. Another good option is WithLocals. And Freetour.com and GuruWalk both offer ‘free’ walking tours, while Baja Bikes has bike tours.
- Attractions and museums. Get a 5% discount at Tiqets on museums and attractions with the discount code: KIMOPREIS22
- Boat. You can catch a boat to Mallorca from Barcelona, for example. Book your ticket at Balearia. You can also get to the other Balearic Islands with Balearia. Compare ferry prices at Direct Ferries.
- Bus and train. Travel to Spain with NS International or Flixbus. Other useful companies are Busbud, 12go, and Omio, also for buses and trains within Spain.
- Car rental. My go-to car rental companies are EasyTerra and Sunny Cars as they have all-inclusive / worry-free offers. Want to compare more prices? Check out Discover Cars.
- Flights. Have a look at Transavia and Vueling, but do compare prices! Definitely check out Momondo, Skyscanner, and Kiwi.
- Money. Your debit and credit cards may not get accepted everywhere. You could opt for a Revolut card as an additional card when you travel.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? From The Netherlands, there is plenty of choice. ANWB vakanties, Tui, Shoestring or Sawadee, of rather D-reizen, Sunweb, Corendon or Vakantie Discounter?
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high calling and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Travel gear. Buy your gear at Bever or Decathlon, or simply at Bol.com.
- Travel guides. Let’s get you ready for your trip! Order a travel guide to browse through. For example, at Bol.com or Amazon.
- Yoga retreat. Or why not treat yourself to a yoga retreat in Spain!
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