Costa da Luz/Sol - where are the nice beaches?
 

Hi,
we are planning on spending 2 wks in Andalusia with 1 week at a seaside location - open to anything between Chiclana de la Frontera down south, round the bend and up to Malaga. Any ideas on where would be a good base with nice golden sandy beach/es (not pebbly please). I was looking at Alcaidesa which is supposed to be uncrowded but I see that the colour of the sand is not so nice. I know it does not mean it's dirty but just gives it that feel. A place good for kids would be ideal and with some amenities. Any hidden gems not so frequented by the tourist crowd. We will have a car.
Thanks,
Fran

It really does depend on the quality and what you prefer with your beaches - the quality of those on the Costa Del Sol are generally not good and the development that goes with them is nothing short of a disgrace to the United Kingdom - considering we built or paid for 99% of the grotty buildings that have been thrown up there.

The Costa De La Luz was beautiful 10 years ago but the development is starting to appear.

I would suggest the following beaches as very good quality without painful development :

Tarifa
Bolognia (with Roman ruins)
Canos De Meca (with lighthouse)
Chiclana (with low key deveopment)
Barbate (with outrageously good fresh tuna)
Zahara - was the best beach/hideaway within a 5000 mile radius until the developers appeared - the north end is borders by a military zone so the development is limited.

It has been five or six years since I've been there and things change, but the little town of Sanlucar (west of Jerez) had a beautiful wide, sandy beach. The town was very un-touristy and had a lovely central plaza with several restaurants, tapas bars, pastry and ice-cream place. The evening we were there, the plaza was filled with families, including everyone from babies to the elderly, all eating and enjoying each other. We appeared to be the only visitors.

I really liked the beach in Conil de la Frontera. The old part of the town is nice too.

The nicest beaches are the ones in the Atlantic, tide keeps them clean and they are not so overbuilt as the mediterranean ones.
The bad side is that water is colder and tides make them somehow more dangerous.
My favorite is "Playa de Roche"
just in between Conil and La Barrosa.
The beaches on the right hand side of the lighthouse are magnificent.
Playa de los alemanes and playa de roche. You can find some photos here:
www.cadizalmar.com/playas.htm

tt

I tried to buy a house at Playa de Roche for retirement but it was too expensive for my pension. It was right on the beach.

For my vacation along the Cosat da Luz it would be Cadiz. The beach is good (as compared the other beaches) but the restaurants adjacent at the beach is unbeatable.

Vista Hermosa has a good beach too. I liked the all-night bars right on the beach. And, you can find great "Ventas" nearby. Ventas are small great places to eat cheaply.

Miammmm!

Blackduff

Great! Appreciate your replies. Going to check them out. Car - the photos in your link look lovely.
Thanks,
Fran

I agree with Sassafrass: Sanlucar de Barrameda (Costa de la Luz, west of Jerez de la frontera) has nice beaches - it's not as built up as Cadiz. It's also where Manzanilla (very dry) Sherry comes from.

I like playa de Mazagon (Huelva) because it's near the Portuguese border. There's also a Parador on the bluff there, but it's a 'hike' down to the beach (or back up after you're done with the beach

I'm not a big "beach person" but I recall a really beautiful beach at Zahora de los Atunes--miles and miles of soft sand.