Guide to the Costa del la Luz

Introduction

Extending along Spain’s southern coast from Tarifa at the mouth of the Mediterranean to the Portuguese border, the Costa del la Luz, or the Coast of Light, was virtually undiscovered by tourists until recent expansions in the airline routes to Spain. The wide beaches and stiff breeze that sometimes comes across from the Atlantic Ocean have made the more sheltered Costa del Sol or the Algarve have traditionally been more attractive to visitors.

The result is a region that has not had to deal with the huge overdevelopment of the more traditional holiday and overseas property destinations, and has managed to retain much of its character and natural beauty.

The region

As Andalucia’s only Atlantic coastline, the Costa de la Luz has an entirely different landscape to neighbouring regions. The beaches are of fine sand, and are wide and sweeping. They are also likely to be backed by sand dunes and pine trees.

Generally, the Costa de la Luz is divided into two parts – the Huelva Province which runs from the Portuguese border to the River Guadalquivir, while the Cadiz Province picks up from the opposite bank of the Guadalquivir to Tarifa, Spain’s most southerly point.

The major towns here are Tarifa, Cadiz and Huelva, though there are some small, modern resorts along the coastline.

Climate

While temperatures are similar to the neighbouring Costa del Sol, the Costa de la Luz often feels a little cooler due to sea breezes coming from the Atlantic Ocean. The topography of the region means that it is a little more exposed to the winds than further down the coast, making for ideal conditions for leisure activities such as kitesurfing, land yachting and windsurfing.

Getting there

Though none of the cities in the region have an airport of enough significance to promote itself as a route to low-cost or charter airlines, the road connections mean that flying to Gibraltar, Malaga or even Faro in Portugal allow easy access to the Costa de la Luz.

Seville and Jerez also host flights from the UK, though these services are far less frequent.

Property

The relatively recent emergence of the Costa de la Luz has had an influence on the property that is for sale in the region, in both the type of property and the arrangement of developments.

The regional government, in its keenness to preserve the natural landscape of the Costa de la Luz, has introduced significant controls on the building of new housing developments which mean that the high-rise hotel and apartment building that have occurred on other parts of the coast are not in evidence here.

The result is smaller, more personal developments than may be found in other parts of Spain. Individual villas are popular, often with gardens and private pools, though it is also common to have apartments in small developments around communal facilities.

Though there are a few towns of reasonable size, the tourist resorts are generally small, modern and low-density. The wide open coastline and the natural landscape are a major draw for property buyers and tourists alike, so most of the property is designed to meet these requirements. Most developments are within easy reach of the beaches and also close to bars and restaurants.

Prices are slightly lower here than on many of the more established Costas, and are therefore another reason for the growing popularity of the region. A two-bedroom apartment near a resort town centre can be found for around £115,000, while a three-bedroom villa will cost around £180,000.

Local life

Here more than anywhere else along the Spanish coast you are well-advised to try the local seafood. Fishing is still one of the major industries in the region, and with direct access to the Atlantic Ocean, the catches are as fresh as they are tasty.

Conclusion

The Costa de la Luz manages to have an atmosphere completely different to any of the other Costas, and it is possibly the wildest and most beautiful stretch of virgin coastline left in Spain. The visitors it attracts are also different to anywhere else in the country – a fact worth remembering if you are marketing your property for rental during the summer season.