The Great Outdoors on the Costa de la Luz

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The Great Outdoors on the Costa de la Luz

The mild winter climate of the Costa de la Luz means a wide range of outdoor activities are available throughout the year. These include golf, tennis, hiking and walking, horse riding, fishing and water sports.

Cádiz Province

The Parque Natural Sierra de Grazalema is a stunning natural area located in Cádiz and Málaga provinces. The park is an ideal location for hiking, rock climbing, canyoning and other outdoor pursuits. The Garganta Verde is a 400-metre deep canyon that is home to a large colony of Grifon Vultures (Buitros Leonados) and birds of prey. Access to the walking paths is restricted at all times and access to the Garganta Verde is restricted during the Grifon Vulture breeding season. A permit is required and is available from the Grazalema Oficina de Turismo.

• Parque Natural Siera de Grazalema Visitor Centre
  At: Avda. de la Democracia s/n., 29380 Cortes de la Frontera (Málaga)
  Tel: 952 154 599 

Huelva Province

The Parque Natural Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche is a 186,000 hectare natural park with several rivers running through it. The Cerro de los Bonales is the highest peak at 1,059 metres. The park has hilly terrain, whitewashed villages and a very good selection of more than two dozen walking paths, some of which may also be of interest to cyclists. One of the most popular walking routes is between Talenque and Valdelarco. Due to the many oak trees in the park, the black pigs raised for Iberian Ham are bred here as acorns are a dietary staple for them.

• Parque Natural Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche Visitor Centre (Cabildo Viejo)
  At: Plaza Alta, s/n., 21200 Aracena
  Tel: 959 129 553 / 959 129 554

Walking, Hiking and Rock Climbing 

Walking (excursionismo), hiking (caminata) and rock climbing (escalada) in Spain are overseen and promoted by the Federación Española de Deportes de Montaña y Escalada (Spanish Federation of Mountain Sports and Rock Climbing). The Parque Natural Sierra de Grazalema, with its many canyons and caves, is a popular destination for hikers and climbers. The highest peaks in Cádiz province are found here.

Rock climbing and mountaineering are very popular sports in Spain.

• Federación Española de Deportes de Montana y Escalada
  At: C/ Floridablanca 75, 08015 Barcelona
  Tel: 934 264 267
• For a full list of natural parks in Andalucía: Click here

The Federación Andaluza de Montañismo (Andalucian Federation of Mountaineering) is a not-for-profit umbrella organisation for mountaineering and climbing clubs in Andalucia. The federation works to provide mountaineering and climbing education and coordinates the construction and maintenance of mountain refuges. The federation website includes maps of refuges in Andalucia and contact information for member clubs.

• La Federación Andaluza de Montañismo
  At: Calle Santa Paula, nº 23, 2ª Planta, 18001 Granada
  Tel: 958 291 340
  e-mail
• For a list of member clubs in Cádiz province: Click here
• For a list of member clubs in Huelva province: Click here

The Sierra San Bartolomé in the Parque Natural del Frente Litoral (Cádiz province) and the Parque Natural Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche (Huelva province) are popular venues for rock climbing as well as many other outdoor sports. 

Cycling and Mountain Biking

Good road as well as mountain biking is possible in both Huelva and Cádiz provinces. Vejer de la Frontera and Conil de la Frontera are especially good places for off-road mountain biking, with maintained paths as well as single track. 

Vías Verdes are paths, open to walkers as well as cyclists, created along disused railway lines; these paths make for easy riding with only slight gradients. The Sierra Greenway Via Verde is 36 Km long and connects Cádiz to Seville.

Hang Gliding and Paragliding

Hang gliding and paragliding are especially popular in the hilly and mountainous terrain of El Bosque and the Sierra Morena (Huelva province) as well as in the Parque Natural Sierra de Grazalema of Cádiz province. There are schools available for those wishing to learn.

• To find gliding schools, see The AngloFILE category: Adventure Sports

Golf

As the Costa de la Luz enjoys a temperate climate and a large number of sunny days, golf is a popular activity in the area. 

• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Golf in Spain
• See The AngloFILE for Golf Clubs & Courses

Fishing

Fishing (pesca) in Spain requires a permit.

• For further information regarding fishing guidelines see the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Fresh & Seawater Fishing on the Costa de la Luz
• For a list of companies that organise fishing trips see The AngloFILE Fishing & Angling: Sea & Freshwater

For information concerning clubs and competitions, contact the Federación Andaluza de Pesca Deportiva (Andalucían Sport Fishing Federation).

• Federación Andaluza de Pesca Deportiva
  At: Calle Paraíso 4, Edificio Jerez 74, 2ª Planta, Oficina 6, 11405 Jerez de la Frontera
  Tel: 956 187 585
  e-mail
  

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