Why move to Costa De La Luz
Move here to enjoy unspoiled beaches, year-round sunshine, authentic Andalucían charm and delicious tapas washed down with local sherry.
With more than 300 days of sunshine per year, the aptly named Costa de la Luz (Coast of Light) is the perfect place to soak in some glorious serotonin-boosting rays. Located in southwestern Spain in the region of Andalucía, the costa lines the Atlantic sea with its fine, golden sands.
Unlike the neighbouring Costa del Sol, you won’t find many high-rise developments or resorts here but you will find plenty of authentic Andalucían charm. Beautiful pueblos blancos (whitewashed towns) pepper the coastline, seasoning the breathtaking natural landscape with ancient monuments, arty boutiques, and intimate peñas (music venues) where you can discover Flamenco in its natural habitat.
It’s not just Flamenco that is native to the area – delicious seafood drawn fresh from the Atlantic sea finds its way into the local tapas bars and restaurants. Here, you can sample mojama (sun-dried tuna), squid, stuffed spider crabs, baby sole, langoustines, fresh mackerel and red tuna in one of the many tapas bars and restaurants along the coast. With a strong Moorish influence in this part of Spain, you can also expect to find local cuisine infused with North African spices, such as unctuous tagines and delicious little meat pastries. It’s highly recommended to wash it all down with a sweet – or dry – local sherry, this is sherry country, afterall. Reported to be Shakespeare’s drink of choice, it really is the perfect accompaniment to the big flavours of tapas. Sherry vinification and aging are confined to the ‘sherry triangle’ of Jerez de la Frontera (the largest sherry producing town), and the neighbouring coastal towns of El Puerto de Santa Maria and Sanlucar de Barrameda.
Of course, with such a relaxed atmosphere filled with food, drink, music and good living, this stretch of coastline is popular among native Spanish holidaymakers as well as surfers and kitesurfers. This windy coastline has some of best spots in the world for watersports, so it’s no wonder dozens of schools have popped up, offering courses for all levels of experience. Of course, if you’d rather just laze around on the beach, there are plenty to choose from – whether you are looking for some quiet solitude, a family day out, a place to take the dog for a walk, or even a nudist beach, there is something to suit every preference. Getting around is a breeze too, with regular air-conditioned buses and trains, and Jerez airport around 35 minutes drive from Cádiz.
