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General
We have been to Spain on and off for 20 years but only in the winter months, and as windsurfers Tarifa, Bolonia and Canos de Meca are a must. They are placed at the narrowest point to Africa and spaced over 50 km. They are quite different, beautiful and require different skill levels.
In the 2021 winter (a time of the Covid pandemic) it was still busy but not with the English tourist vans, in fact it was at least 50% Germans. Many campsites were closed but “wild camping” was accepted in a loads of areas, probably due to the Spanish need for tourism.
Getting There
We went overnight from Portsmouth to Santander (not cheap as in a big van, about £1000 return) to save days on our maximum 3 month tourist Schengan visa. We used Park4Night website which told us all the spots to stop, empty fill etc.
Spots
Tarifa Winds are most often Levante (from left) slightly cross off depending how far round the Bay you are, usually close period waves unless a West swell is pushing in. You can sail mainly sandy beaches from Tarifa town for 10Km round the Bay so drive down every road to the beach and check them all, the town end is mainly Kiters.
Canos De Meca About 50 Km from Tarifa a mainly rocky but good wave spot with usually a bit less wind than Tarifa and again mainly Levante wind but a better cross shore wind angle, worth the drive.
Laundries
Self Service Laundries are now common in Tarifa and elsewhere
WiFi
Just use Three.uk or O2 to get no roaming charges at the moment
Recycling
Rubbish and recycling is fine everywhere.
Weather Links
Windguru - Playa de Valdevaqueros, Tarifa Spin Out
Wind, waves & weather forecast Tarifa / Hotel Arte Vida - Windfinder
Tarifa, Andalusia, Spain Day and Night Weather | AccuWeather
Wind, waves & weather forecast Caños de Meca - Windfinder
Conil de la Frontera, Andalusia, Spain Three Day Weather Forecast | AccuWeather
Windsurf shops