Let me tell you about a little corner of Cadiz called Zahara de los Atunes. A small town of fishing tradition that has reinvented itself as one of the best tourist destinations in Spain. Today, the Zahara brand is known throughout the country and, I dare say, in part of the world. Its beaches, its gastronomy, the atmosphere it offers during the summer months and its people... what more could we ask for? A small town with an immense presence. It has an extensive coastline of wide beaches with fine sand and crystal clear waters. Absolutely all the beaches of Zahara are a delight for the senses. For convenience, the town beach may be the most accessible option if we go with family or even if we plan to spend a few hours surfing. But if we want to go a little further and look for tranquility, all along the coastline towards Barbate, we can find the area of Playa de los Militares, for more calm and less crowds of swimmers.

A day in Zahara de los Atunes begins with breakfast on an outdoor terrace with a good country bread with tomatoes from the gardens of the area and a good coffee to enjoy the rest of the day. A morning at the beach includes from a quiet reading or a walk along the shore collecting ears to a session of surfing or paddle surfing in any of the many surf schools found on the beaches of the municipality. Lunchtime, the best time of the day for gastronomic lovers, has dozens of options. And the gastronomy in Zahara deserves a special mention. It doesn't matter if we are just going to eat some tapas and a couple of beers with friends in one of the small bars in the center of town or if we go to one of the avant-garde restaurants of Cadiz-fusion cuisine. The experience will be totally pleasurable in either case. The main dishes of this area are based on fish and seafood, including red Almadraba tuna, snapper, sea bass and lemon fish; without forgetting the squid, delicious grilled; all fresh and locally caught. Beef from the Retinta breed, bred in the surroundings of Zahara, is becoming more and more appreciated.

The afternoon plan may include some activity such as hiking trails to Playa del Cañuelo, in the area of Atlanterra; some snorkeling under the waters of the Bunker beach or around the old and well known sunken steamer that is on the beach of the village. For this last activity, we must pay close attention as the currents are not always predictable and it can be dangerous. Horseback riding along the beach is revitalizing, the contact with nature and wildlife is the perfect way to get to know the surroundings and enjoy a few hours of complete serenity. In addition, we can encourage us to do it by bike; the modality that everyone is practicing lately is the "fat-bike", whose wheels help to make the rides through sandy areas much easier. A good workout for a summer afternoon.

Sunset is the magic hour in Zahara de los Atunes, the world stops for a few minutes and everyone contemplates the spectacle of the sunset. From the beach, from the rooftops, from a terrace, a beach bar or, our favorite, from the Camarinal Lighthouse. A daily spectacle that no one ever gets tired of. Once the sun goes down, the rhythm of Zahara life reappears and live concerts begin in the beach bars. Dancing among laughter and mojitos becomes the best plan for a full day. But Zahara de los Atunes is not only entertainment and leisure, although we like to think so, it is much more. Zahara has a centuries-old history that we can see today reflected in many places like the old Palace and Walls of the Dukes of Medina Sidonia. A construction of the sixteenth century that served as a factory, shipyards and fortress against the Turkish-Berber piracy. In addition to having the area of chanca where the tuna was ronqueaba, quartered and salted for later export. Today, in the area of the wall, we can enjoy craft markets during the summer, concerts, attractions for children .... The enclosure itself is protected although, to this day, the town and the Ministry of Culture are studying several ideas of what could be the destiny of such an emblematic wall.

The different activities that can be carried out in its surroundings, make this town a different tourist destination, away from the exclusive tourism of sun and beach. The village, offers plenty of plans such as archaeological routes where you can visit caves with cave paintings, hiking in the Sierra de la Plata, we can even turn our stay into an intercontinental adventure and cross to Morocco from the ports of Tarifa or Algeciras, and spend a day immersed in other cultures. Any time of the year makes Zahara a perfect destination. Summer or spring with its vibrant life, its people, its atmosphere and its paradisiacal beaches; but also autumn and winter where to make this town a sanctuary where to disconnect, rest, stroll along the eternal beaches and get away from the city and the rush.