Costa de la Luz East holidays

Popular holidays

Holidays to Costa de la Luz East are all about sleepy villages and beaches without the frills.

Authentic Spain

The Costa de la Luz couldn’t be more different from its Costa cousins. Facing the Atlantic on Andalucia's westerly stretch of coast, it's Spain without its make-up – a place where the scenery and traditional way of life hold sway over high rises and holiday crowds. You’ll often see it split in two halves – east and west. The former runs from the Strait of Gibraltar up towards the Guadalquivir River, and is the livelier of the two, with lots of bustling resorts in its remit.

Fly and flop from Jerez

All our Costa de la Luz East holidays start with a flight to Jerez Airport. From there, you’ve got your pick of lots of beachy bases, like the up-and-coming Chiclana de la Frontera. The jewel in its crown is Playa de la Barossa, a six-kilometre sweep of sand that’s been left to its own devices in parts. Even the more commercial section, complete with shops, restaurants and a promenade, is a world away from some of the bigger Spanish beach resorts. The city of Jerez itself, meanwhile, puts you within easy reach of Moorish buildings and flamenco bars.

Fishing villages and pine forests

If your ideal beach break pairs sunbathing and exploring, you’re in luck. There are lots of places in Costa de la Luz East where you can get the best of both worlds. For example, Barbate – a quaint fishing village known for serving up fresh tuna at mealtimes – has its own natural park packed with pine trees and cliffs. In Rota, meanwhile, old town streets lead the way to a 13th-century castle, which was once a Muslim fortress. And Chipiona has a bit of everything – think tapas bars, a fortress, plus Spain’s tallest lighthouse.

Popular hotels in Costa de la Luz East

Top things to see and do in Costa de la Luz East

Beaches

A wide, windswept coast

Costa de la Luz East lines up the beaches. There coastline in this part of Spain is outfitted with long sandy stretches and quieter coves, many of which come with Blue Flag status. Lots are popular with windsurfers, too, as they get more breeze than the shorelines along Costa de la Luz West.

The big beach

There’s plenty of room to lay out your towel on Playa de la Barrosa. This sandy beach, which is just a 15-minute drive from Chiclana de la Frontera, stretches out for eight kilometres. The water’s nice and shallow, so it’s ideal for little paddlers, too.

The secret beach

You get a buy one, get seven free deal on beach days to the Calas de Roche, where things like beach bars are nowhere to be seen. This series of secluded coves near Conil de la Frontera are backed by rugged cliffs, and they’re all connected – visit at low tide, and you can walk between them.

Shopping

Bargain buys

You can’t beat a street market on holiday, and the one in Conil de la Frontera is pretty good for affordable finds. It’s on every Friday, and features stalls selling everything from nuts and handicrafts to jewellery and leather goods.

Mid-range buys

El Corte Ingles is Spain's flagship department store – think Debenhams but slightly more upmarket. You'll find it in the town of Cadiz, and it's packed with shops including home favourites like Mango, Zara and Benetton. Fashion stores in Chiclana de la Frontera are a little less mainstream, but worth a browse. Head to Novo Center and Calle Fierro 1 to find pieces you won’t get back home.

Designer buys

If you’re serious about spending, head for the streets of Seville. You’ll find the best choice of goods along the Calle Sierpes avenue, where there are countless Spanish fashion boutiques and designer stores. There’s also a string of smart pavement cafés and patisseries for when you need a little break from retail therapy.

Nightlife

Laid-back evenings

Chilled-out evenings are best spent in Zahara de los Atunes. Everything stays on a go-slow well into the evening in this place – even in peak summertime. Spend sunset watching the sunlight sparkle on the waterfront or pull up a seat at one of the local chiringuitos – they’re traditional Spanish beach bars.

Lively evenings

The after-sun scene in Chiclana de la Frontera is none too shabby. Calle La Gaviota, Calle San Antonio and Carretera de la Barrosa are the names to watch out for. The bars in these areas put on live music and happy hours, and stay open pretty late. For a real taste of Spanish nightlife, though, you’ll want to head into Seville.

Food & drink

Gazpacho

If you fancy a change from tapas, order this time-honoured dish as a starter. Traditional recipes combine tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and garlic, plus a splash of sherry vinegar. In Costa de la Luz East, purists will only use vinagre de Jerez – a nutty, tangy variety that originates from the Andalucian city.

Fabada

If you’re really hungry, try this belly-warmer. It’s a rich bean stew made with white beans, meat and chorizo, and it’s sprinkled with saffron to give it extra flavour. Fun fact – the dish was invented to fuel rural workers in the winter months. No judgement if you order it on your summer hols, though.

Rabo de toro

If you like oxtail soup, you’ll enjoy this local classic. Rabo de toro is a popular dish that consists of the tail of a bull. The tail is braised with onions and tomatoes and, as a finishing touch, the chef will add a splash of the region-produced sherry.

Jabugo ham

This dry, cured ham is a staple when it comes to Spanish picky bits. It’s made from the acorn-eating pigs that roam the forest on the border of Portugal, and has a sweet, nutty taste that pairs well with Manchego cheese and picos – crunchy, salty breadsticks dished out in tapas bars across Andalucia.

Sherry

Sherry is the tipple of choice for Costa de la Luz locals. In fact, the stuff has been produced in the region since Phoenician times. Grapes are harvested at the start of September, and there’s even a festival to mark the occasion.