What to see in Vejer de la Frontera

Perched on the top of a hill some 8 km inland from the Atlantic Ocean, Vejer de la Frontera is probably the most picturesque of all white villages on the Costa de la Luz. At an altitude of about 200m above sea level, the village commands breathtaking views over the surrounding hills and fields, over nearby beaches and Strait of Gibraltar. In the distance one can even see the coast of northern Africa. Vejer de la Frontera enjoys relatively cool temperatures even in summer, thanks to the breezes coming in from the Atlantic. The historic centre of the town is a fascinating maze of narrow, steep streets where at every turn one is surprised by unexpected views, curious patios and passages, notable buildings and monuments. In Vejer one finds some of the more select hotels in Costa de la Luz and the extensive and unspoilt beaches of the Atlantic coast are only a short drive away.

Vejer was claimed by the Kingdom of Castille and the Muslim population expelled by 1285, however for the next 250 years Andalusia and Vejer were frontier territory between Christian Castille and the Muslim kingdoms of Al-Andalus. It is from this turbulent time of ongoing skirmishes and battles, when Vejer was a rough little border town, that “de la Frontera” was added to its name. Today Vejer is more known for its culinary outlets and for the cultural activities it hosts, such as Vejer Art, Vejer Weekend Fashion, Vejer Flamenco Nights. People flock to the town for its weekend markets, to browse in its local craft shops and to delight at the variety of delicacies in its gourmet boutiques.

BEACHES

One of Vejer’s greatest attractions is its proximity to the extensive beaches of the Costa de la Luz. Unlike so many other coastal areas of the Peninsula, in Vejer, fortunately, its coastline remains almost virgin. From the beach of Palmar, through Zahora and up to Trafalgar, there are more than 11km of uninterrupted fine sand. This long stretch of beaches offers, according to the taste of each one, different environments in various sections, with a much lower density of bathers than elsewhere, even in season.

El Palmar

The hamlet of El Palmar is formed by a concentration of single-family homes with certain services such as stores, pharmacy, tourist information booth, although it is known above all for having one of the longest beaches of the Costa de la Luz. Of fine golden sand, it stretches for almost 8km to the mouth of the Salado river in Conil. With shallow waters, the Palmar beach is the ideal place to practice all kinds of water sports. Being one of the busiest beaches in the summer season, it offers a wide variety of bars, beach bars and restaurants. It is a good option to stay in a hotel in Vejer de la Frontera and make the 20-minute drive to the beaches of El Palmar. In the westernmost part towards Conil, is the area of Castilnovo, a stretch of beach preferred by nudists and lovers of the purest nature. But El Palmar in winter is also a beautiful, quiet and uncrowded place. With the longest days in Western Europe, it is the perfect place for walks, horseback riding, fishing and to contemplate the beautiful sunsets that in December happen after six o’clock in the evening…

Zahora y Zahara de los Atunes

They are two distinct districts, although the similarity of their names often tends to confuse them. Zahora, is a group of houses located between El Palmar and Caños de Meca. Its accessibility, a little complicated, makes its beach about 3km long has a low occupancy, even in season. It is a virgin beach, with few services around, offering visitors a totally natural experience. Its eastern end borders Trafalgar beach, where the lighthouse is located and where the famous naval battle of the same name took place in 1805. On the other hand, Zahara de los Atunes, is a small coastal town of about twelve hundred inhabitants, 20 km from Vejer between Barbate and Tarifa. In addition to its spectacular beaches overlooking the African coast, it stands out for the large number of restaurants and bars. The summer nights of Zahara are animated with street markets, concerts and large influx of people. It is an excellent place to taste the freshest products offered by the sea.

Caños de Meca

At 15km from Vejer is the well-known settlement of Caños de Meca. It derives its name from the jets of water that once fell from the cliffs of La Breña and were known by sailors from all over the Mediterranean as a place of water supply. It is said that the Arabs found the place so paradisiacal that they gave it its name inspired by the holy city of Mecca. Today it is an alternative site where a relaxed and tolerant atmosphere prevails. The visitor can be distracted by street stalls of handicrafts, beach bars, bars and restaurants, in addition to the famous Castillejos beach, with a markedly “hippie” atmosphere.

NATURAL PARKS

The rich landscape surrounding Vejer is home to no less than three Natural Parks, each with very distinct characteristics:

Marismas de Barbate

This park is located on both banks of the Barbate River and extends in an area between the hamlet of La Barca de Vejer and the mouth of the river into the Atlantic. It is an area of marshes and lagoons that serves as a refuge and migration passage for a great variety of birds. You can walk along a marked path of about 8km in length.

La Breña

This park sits on top of the cliffs that separate Caños de Meca and the fishing port of Barbate. It is an impressive stone pine forest where a path of about 7km wanders at times along the edge of the cliff. In the stretch between the beach of Hierbabuena and the watchtower of “El Tajo”, the views over the sea, the coast of Africa and the coming and going of ships in the Strait are spectacular.

Los Alcornocales

About 35km from Vejer, near the village of Facinas, is one of the entry points to Los Alcornocales. Being one of the largest natural parks of the entire peninsula, its variety of landscapes, fauna and lush vegetation are exceptional. It enjoys a microclimate similar to subtropical areas, thanks to abundant rainfall brought by ocean fronts and the presence of summer fogs known as the “barbas del levante”, which provide humidity in the long dry season.