Nuevo Portil is a popular resort area built around a golf course, with trails for hiking and bicycling near the beach. The beach itself is wide and sandy, and is protected by a large sandbar that ensures calm waters. Islantilla is another resort area that is very popular with travelers from Spain. The beach, lined with palm trees, is wide with fine white sand. Islantilla is located between the small fishing towns of Isla Cristina and Lepe, which offer a more "old world" Spanish experience. La Antilla Beach in Huelva is another popular family beach.
Tarifa Beach, in Spain's southernmost town, has stunning views of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean as well as the mountains of Morocco and the Straits of Gibraltar and is popular with surfers. The area around Tarifa has not been extensively developed, and there are no hotels on this beach. Los Canos de Meca Beach is a popular tourist destination, and has a number of vacation rental properties right on the beach. This beach is best known for its large waves. In the nearby fishing village of Barbate, there is a smaller beach with calm waters that is popular with families. La Barrosa Beach is almost five miles long and features a promenade lined with shops and restaurants that are popular with visitors. This is one of the most developed areas of Costa de la Luz, but it is not overly crowded with high rise developments. Away from the beach at La Barrosa, visitors can enjoy golf, horseback riding and plenty of other activities at any of the resorts in the area.
The Costa de la Luz stretches from Spain's border with Portugal to Tarifa, at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea. There are several airports serving the area, depending on your final destination along the coast. The largest airports are in Sevilla and Malaga, which are served by most major airlines. The Jerez Airport is a smaller airport near the city of Cadiz, about a 30-minute drive from the coast. If you are staying near the border with Portugal, you have the option of flying into Faro, Portugal, and driving about 45 miles to the Spanish border. It is also possible to drive to Costa de la Luz from other points in Spain, and train service is available in the major cities. You will likely need a car to get around Costa de la Luz.
Accommodations in Costa de le Luz range from high-end resort hotels with extensive amenities, to rental cottages and apartments in the small villages and along the beach. Most accommodations in the region average about $150 per night, as of 2010.
