Surfers paradise, endless beaches, sunny, windy, rich in history and culture. This is Tarifa, the most southern town of not only Spain but whole continental Europe.

Tarifa is a typically Spanish town, with a pretty old centre, a small harbour and some newer residential areas. Officially it has only 17.000 inhabitants, but in summer this amount probably doubles. Especially in July and August all hotels, apartments and camping�s are fully booked. On top of that there are a lot of campers parked on the beaches northwest of Tarifa, owned by mostly surfers and alternative people enjoying the relaxed atmosphere the town has, even in summer.

Tarifa has a lot to offer. Most obvious and well-known are the water sport activities. Tarifa is a mecca for surfers. Most surfers agree that it is the best place in Spain for surfing, but some even say it�s the best place of whole Europe. Reason for the popularity among surfers is the wind, which is blowing most days of the year. Although the wind has moderated over the last years, there are still enough windy days to attract surfers from all over the world. There are year-round competitions, even some international. Although initially windsurfing was very popular, nowadays the kite surfers dominate the scene. Most of them are concentrated northwest of Tarifa on the Playa de Los Lances. For people who can�t surf yet but like to try it there are loads of local kite schools.

Another water sport activity that is becoming more popular the last few years is diving. The currents can be strong sometimes and the water can be chilly, but the visibility is always good and the marine life is interesting. Besides scorpion fish, octopuses, moray eels, spider crabs and other fish, there are also a few wrecks to visit. Although it is possible to dive from shore, most of the diving is done from boats around the Isla de las Palomas, a peninsula at the most southern end of Tarifa, and is organized by one of the few local dive centers. As the water temperature during winter and summer is more or less the same, this is year-round activity.

People with some cultural interest also don�t have to be bored. Probably the most interesting part of Tarifa is the old town. Entering through the Puerta de Jerez, a Mudejar arc built after the Reconquista, you can just stroll through the narrow streets and look at the pretty old buildings. During daytime lots of doors are open, which gives you an opportunity to peep inside and see some really beautiful patios. From the Mirador de Miramar, in the southeast of the old town, you have a beautiful view to the mountains of Morocco, which is only 14 km away. A few tour operators offer daytrips from Tarifa to Morocco (Tanger), which is 35 minutes by boat. There are two churches to visit; the Iglesia Mayor de San Mateo and the Iglesia de San Fransisco. Most well-known is the Castillo de Guzm�n El Bueno, a castle built in the 10th century by Muslims. Since the 10th century it has been occupied by different people and nations. In 1294 Alonso P�rez de Guzm�n was the protagonist of Tarifa and the castle. He sacrificed his own son to some Africans who tried to attack the castle, in order to protect the castle and his king. Because of this heroic gesture, the castle still carries his name. Another castle is the Castillo de Santa Catalina, close by the earlier mentioned Isla de las Palomas.

For less active people who just want to enjoy the sun, there are quite a few beaches. They all have clean, white sand. Most popular among local people is the �Playa Chica�. This very small beach, sheltered from the wind, is situated at the left (Mediterranean) side of the entry road to the Isla de las Palomas. At the end of the road there�s another small, sheltered beach. If these two beaches are too crowded for you, at the other side of the road, on the Atlantic side, starts a more than 10km long beach, the Playa de Los Lances. Although most of the time also occupied by kite surfers, there�s enough space left for people who just want to relax.