travel
EXPLORING THE COSTA DE LA LUZ
The spectacular 'Coast of Light' is often overlooked by visitors to southern Spain in favour of the Costa del Sol, with its popular locations like Málaga, Marbella and Benalmádena. The Costa de la Luz is a perfect escape from many of the international tourists, since this coast is a beloved vacation spot for Spaniards but still remains relatively unknown to other nationalities.
BY PENELOPE BIELKUS
T
he Atlantic facing coastline extends all the way from Tarifa, home of the southernmost point in continental Europe, up to the Guadiana River, which marks the border between Portugal and Spain. There are so many spots along this coast for a getaway and you could easily spend weeks exploring many of the smaller towns as well as larger cities. For now, however, we will focus only on the area up to Cádiz, since this is an ideal distance for a small getaway from Gibraltar. Whether you do a day trip and combine a few locations or if you spend a relaxed weekend or longer and make the most of one of the beachfront hotels on this coast, the Costa de la Luz is truly a beautiful destination.
ZAHARA DE LOS ATUNES The village of Zahara de los Atunes is well known by Gaditanos for its long beaches, meaning that there will always be a spot without too many people crowding you! The most popular beach is the Playa de Zahara (also called the Playa del Carmen); a 6.3km long sandy beach dotted with chiringuitos.
Only the largest adult tuna are caught and lifted from the nets When visiting Zahara de los Atunes, you can't miss trying the village's namesake. Atlantic bluefin tuna, or atun rojo, has
been caught along this coast for centuries. The traditional technique (called 'almadraba') of catching the tuna is still used, and you can enjoy the delicious result at many restaurants and chiringuitos, including the popular Chiringuito La Luna. Atún de almadraba: The technique involves a labyrinth of nets which are positioned in a particular section of the sea where the tuna pass on their migration to warmer waters. Invented by the Phoenicians 3,000 years ago, this technique catches the tuna when they are at their most succulent. The tuna swim through different parts of the net until they reach a circular central area which is surrounded by a ring of boats. Fishermen then select the best tuna - only the 77
