Crowds flock to Tarifa events

As in many catholic towns throughout the world, Tarifa celebrates a number of religious festivals throughout the year and these are enjoyed by both Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Tarifa, however, may well be unique in that it also frequently holds major competitions on the world windsurfing and kitesurfing circuits. The town which is never dull, becomes even more alive as townsfolk and visitors enjoy the further extension of hospitality of Tarifa events.

Tarifa events – Carnival

Tarifa carnival takes place in February following months of preparation. Rivalling the better-known carnival in Cadiz, Tarifa puts on three days of fun and laughter for everyone to enjoy. Arguably, the Tarifa event is more intimate and therefore more accessible to feeling part of the celebrations. Naturally all those typicalities of southern Spain are showcased with music, flamenco and plenty of sweet treats.

Tarifa events in Holy Week

Catholics the world over celebrate Holy Week with carnivals and processions. Southern Spain is no exception and, like many of its neighbours, Tarifa events include colourful processions with floats (some hundreds of years old), religious artifacts and people specially dressed up for the occasion.

Tarifa events celebrating San Isidore

On 15 May each year, Tarifa celebrates the feast of Saint Isidore. Venerated as the patron saint of peasants and day labourers, Saint Isidore has been honoured for hundreds of years with a liturgical feast on this day.

Tarifa events – Las Fiestas Patronales de la Virgen de la Luz

Tarifa comes alive in the first week of September with the festival of the Patron Saint, the Virgin of the Light, who was summoned by King Alfonso XI to protect Talifa from the Moors during the Battle of Salado in 1340. Every year her effigy is carried in procession from its sanctuary a few kilometres out of town to the church of San Mateo. The procession is accompanied by a stream of Andalusian horses and people in carnival mood. Festivities carry on long into the night.

Kitesurfing and windsurfing Tarifa events

The PKRA regularly holds Tarifa events. In 2007 the World Kitesurf Championship was held there as was the World Cup two years later. Other world class events frequently feature on the calendar. Tarifa also sees world class windsurfing events, the next to watch out for being the RS:X Worlds Windsurfing Championships (U21 Class) in Cadiz from 20 to 29 March, 2012.

Tarifa Ferry

The Tarifa Ferry

For EU citizens Tarifa is the perfect departure point for a trip to North Africa. For anyone staying in the town, it would be silly to miss the opportunity to make the short hop across the Gibraltar Strait on the Tarifa ferry, to spend at least a day in Tangier.
Fast ferries from Tarifa leave regularly and take only 35 minutes for the crossing to Tangier. Non-EU citizens cannot leave from Tarifa; their nearest port is at Algeciras.

What you need to travel on the Tarifa Ferry

All visitors to Tangier require a passport valid for at least six months. EU citizens do not need a visa for stays of less than three months and visitors from Europe do not need special vaccinations. For EU-registered cars, the green card is valid but you will need to check with your insurance company to see if you need extra insurance for Tangier. All visitors must fill out customs declarations.

Tarifa Ferry – FRS Iberia

The FRS Iberia ferry company has eight sailings a day from Tarifa to Tangier. The first is the fast ferry departing at 9.00 am. Services thereafter run at two-hourly intervals, the last sailing being at 11.00 pm. The fast ferry and slightly slower ferry alternate throughout the day. The earliest ferry from Tangier to Tarifa starts out at 7.00 am and again services run at two-hourly intervals until the last ferry at 9.00 pm. (Bear in mind the time difference between Tarifa and Tangier).

One-way tickets are 31 EUR for adults and 19 EUR for children. Cars up to 6 metres long cost 85 EUR, caravans up to 8 metres cost 143 EUR and motorcycles are charged 31 EUR. Return tickets are discounted around 10%. FRS also offers one-day excursions from Tarifa that include a guided tour and lunch in Tangier from 125 EUR.

Tarifa Ferry – Comarit Espana

The other Tarifa ferry company operating between Spain and Morocco is Comarit Espana. It, too, runs eight services per day with sailings at two-hourly interval. Comarit, however, starts one hour earlier from both Tarifa and Tangier. As with FRS the fast ferry, makes the trip in 35 minutes.

Prices are comparable with those of FRS. An adult one-way ticket is 32 EUR while a child is 18 EUR. Cars cost 82 EUR and motorcycles cost 30 EUR. Comarit also has one and two-day excursion packages beginning at 60 EUR for one day and 96 EUR (including accommodation) for two.

Flights to Tarifa - landing at Gibraltar

With no airport of its own, there are no direct flights to Tarifa and the town depends on four nearby airports to service its visitors.

Flights to Tarifa landing at Gibraltar

The closest of these airports is Gibraltar. Only four airlines fly into Gibraltar: British Airways, American Airlines (operated by BA), easyJet and Monarch. These only fly to and from British airports.
Gibraltar is a good option for the traveller. A short walk across the border to La Linea in Spain and taxis are available for the 26 km trip to Tarifa. Hire cars are also available. Buses run to Tarifa only once a day so the best option is to take a bus to Algeciras and change buses to go on to Tarifa.

Flights to tarifa landing at Malaga

Around 130 kms away from Tarifa lies Malaga Airport. Unlike Gibraltar, Malaga is served by a good number of airlines, the vast majority being European although some US airlines also fly in. Flights to Tarifa landing at Malaga means travelling into the town centre by bus or train and from there, taking the bus to Algeciras and from there a further transfer to the Tarifa bus.

Flights to Tarifa landing at Sevilla

Sevilla is mainly served by a number of European airlines including British Airways, Air France Iberian and Spanair. There are regular domestic flights and international flights to European destinations like London, Amsterdam, Paris, Munich and Lisbon. Flights to Tarifa with Sevilla as the destination airport means an onward journey of around 200 kms, The most comfortable option for transfers between the two is private taxi which has a set charge of 160 EUR or car hire at variable rates.

Flights to Tarifa landing at Jerez

Airlines flying into Jerez include British Airways, Air America, Iberia, Air Berlin, Ryanair, Condor, TUfly and Flyniki. They mostly serve a number of domestic and European routes. From Jerez to Tarifa is about 130 kms. Visitors heading to Tarifa using the bus have a choice of either, travelling first to Algeciras or Cadiz and then changing buses for the final leg into Tarifa.

Other travel options

It might not be the first thought that springs to mind when considering flights to Tarifa but it is also an option to fly into Tangiers International Airport and then take the ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar.

Tarifa Tourist Information Office

If you are a visitor to Tarifa and need information on what to do and where to go, you can obtain most of what you need at the Oficina de Turismo de Tarifa located in the Plaza de Santa Maria, a beautiful old square in the centre of town. What you can’t find out from the Tarifa Tourist Information office, the staff at your hotel will probably be able to tell you.

Tarifa tourist Information – sporty things to do

Tarifa is renowned for its beaches and wind. It is the perfect place for the beginner wanting to learn to kitesurf or windsurf and for the expert. Sun worshippers will delight in the several kilometres of magnificent sandy beaches while watching the oft mass but exhilarating activity on the sea. For the golfer, Valderrama Golf Club is not too far away but, if one of the top ten courses in Europe poses too much of a challenge, there are many other course around Cadiz.

You can explore the opportunities yourself by looking online or wandering around the town, but the Tarifa Tourist Information office has a wealth of information about the sporting facilities in the town.

Tarifa tourist information for historians

Tarifa itself is an ancient town and exhibits many features of its Roman and Moorish past. There is plenty for the historian to savour. The Castillo de Guzman el Bueno and the Church of San Mateo, which was built over a mosque, are stand out features while there are many Roman ruins in the surrounding area, the most popular of which is possibly the Archeological Ensemble of Baelo Claudia. Again, the Tarifa tourist Information office can provide details including how to best reach sites of interest outside the town.

Tarifa tourist information for nature lovers

Whale watching and dolphin watching are very popular choices, particularly during the summer months when orca (killer whales) can often be seen in the Straits of Gibraltar. Bird watchers also enjoy the annual migrations of storks and other birds which cross the Strait heading north between February and June and going south from late July to early November. The Tarifa Tourist Information office will have details of the various whale watching tour operators but bird watchers are probably better advised looking online for twitching news.

General Tarifa tourist information

Tarifa is an ideal base to locate for a tour of the southern tip of Spain and most certainly perfectly located for those wishing to take the ferry across the Strait to Tangier. Malaga, Sevilla, Cadiz and Gibraltar are also only a stone’s throw away by road. Tarifa Tourist Information can provide details of car rental agencies or public transport.

Something for everyone
Tarifa has something for everyone all year round. It caters for the sporty and yet those who want a relaxing vacation will find the tranquillity they crave. Climate, history and nature combine at Tarifa to make the perfect holiday location.

The weather in Tarifa

Situated on the southern tip of Spain, the weather in Tarifa is typically Mediterranean.

Summer weather in Tarifa

Tarifa enjoys pleasantly warm summers with average temperatures much lower than those of other regions of southern Spain. Typically summer temperatures do not get above 24C in August, the hottest month, while from May to September the lowest temperature is around 15C. Summer weather in Tarifa is also very dry with only 30mm of rainfall between June and September with July and August having practically no rain at all.

Mild Winter weather in Tarifa

Due to its southerly location, the winter weather in Tarifa is mild with average temperatures not falling below 11C, though night-time temperatures when the weather is clear may drop to around zero. Winters in Tarifa can be wet. Most of the area’s rain falls in December, January and February; December is the wettest month with an average rainfall of just under 120mm.

Winds of change for the weather in Tarifa

The climate and weather in Tarifa is affected by two winds. Blowing from the east, El Levante carries mild, moist air. It may occur throughout the year but is most common between July and October (when it is usually no more than a light breeze occurring in spells of fifteen days), and in March. It is sometimes accompanied by low cloud, haze, fog and light rain. In winter months, however, EL Levante can reach gale force.
El Poniente is usually a winter phenomenon. It blows in from the Atlantic Ocean to the west bringing cool sea air.

Weather in Tarifa is ideal for the visitor

The weather in Tarifa makes the town an ideal year-round holiday destination. Even the hottest months are not oppressive and the mild winters offer a welcome break from the miseries of winter. The ever-present breezes moderate the temperature and offer the water sports enthusiast excellent ocean conditions for wind-surfing, kite-surfing and sailing. The weather in Tarifa is pretty much suited to anyone.