ITINERARIES
Itineraries Costa de la Luz
As you can see on the
pictures, the Costa de la Luz is very different from the Algarve coast. The
coast of Huelva is mostly characterized by long sandy beaches and of course the
very special light (Luz is Spanish for light). Especially the sunsets are
spectacular! Before suggesting some itineraries on the Costa de la Luz, we will
give you a short description of the most important villages and marinas you will
find on this coast.
The Costa
de la Luz is a coast with long beaches interrupted by the following rivers:
Guadiana, Guadalquivir, Tinto, Odiel and Piedras. The following villages
have marinas: Ayamonte, El Rompido, Isla Cristina, Mazagón and Punta
Umbría.
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Ayamonte
is situated in the mouth of the river Guadiana.
From this point we can choose to go down to the marshes and salt mines of the
Nao swamp, which leads us to the famous bridge over the Guadiana. The itinerary
up the river
Guadiana is a pleasant trip by boat and an opportunity to contemplate the beauty
of both the spanish and the portuguese bank. Ayamonte also has some beautiful
beaches
(Isla Canela y Punta del Moral) and beautiful spots,
both in natural surroundings and within the historical center. |
 From Punta
del Moral you can already see Isla Cristina, an
authentic fisherman's village. In the past, Isla Cristina has known some
moments of real economic splendor, and many factories of salted and tinned fish
were opened. Part of the marshes was transformed to make place for the salt
mines, some of which can still be admired nowadays. Islantilla
is a modern tourist complex that is shared by Isla Cristina and its neighbour La
Antilla. |
 Once we leave behind the
pine groves of Isla Cristina and La Redondela, we reach la
Antilla, a beach belonging to the town of Lepe. In the western
part there is still a small fishermen's district, where boats in vivid colors brighten up the beach. From the sea you can see the mall situated on the
promenade. |
 Then we reach the arrow of
El Rompido,
through which we have access to the river Piedras. El Rompido is a village with
great dedication to the sea and tourism. Here you will find many restaurants
where you can enjoy the excellent fish and seafood brought in the fish market
every day. Here you can also contemplate a group of typical andalusian houses and
a very beautiful old retired lighthouse and the new one substituting it.
Another possible gastronomic stop is the fishing harbor of El Terrón,
where you can also taste some of the typical sea products while you enjoy the
wonderful view. The natural area of the Piedras marshes and the arrow of el
Rompido has a splendid nature with abundant fauna. |
 El Portil is a
tourist area. It is situated near the lagoon carrying the same name, that was
declared natural reserve. El Portil is very quiet, almost ghostly in low season
and becomes very lively and festive in the summer months. |
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Punta Umbría
is the pioneer for what tourism in this province is concerned, as more
than a hundred years ago it was chosen by the foreign colony installed in Huelva
as resting and holiday resort. A pointer of clean, wonderful sand goes out into the
sea. Today we can still see some of the wonderful and peculiar wooden houses the
english tourists used to pass their holidays. Punta Umbría has a promenade that
goes from the fishing docks up to the Point of the canaleta, separating
estuary and the sea. If we choose this itinerary, you pass through the Canoas
dock, from where you will have a wonderful view, especially at dusk. In this
estuary you will find the nautical club and the pleasure quay. Maybe you
will be interested to know that in the Punta Umbría market place you will
always find excellent fish and seafood and in summer you will find the
characteristic prawn and crab stalls in the
plaza Pastor. |
 Before reaching Mazagón,
you will see what is commonly known as the espigon, separating the open sea from
the Huelva estuary. On the espigón it will be likely to see sport fishing from
the rocks or underwater. At this point, especially in summer, you will be able
to observe a great number of marine species such as gannets, black ducks and
sometimes even dolphins or other cetacean species. |
 Mazagón,
with its neverending golden sandy beach line, has good restaurants, a national
parador on a cliff, surrounded by pine trees at little distance from the sea and
the recently constructed Marina Colón. |
 The river Odiel passes
through Huelva. The view over the harbor offers an image of hustle with
background of salt mines and heaps of salt. The new bridge over the Odiel river
splits the Natural area in two. In the north you will find the Natural
Reserve of the Burro marshes and towards the south you will see the harbor and
the industrial salt mines, the shipyards and the Tharsis dock, out of service
due to the absence of mine activity. |
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Matalascañas
is the door to the Doñana park. Facing the Doñana park you will find long
sandy beaches with no protection at all from the waves. This means that this
area is not ideal for anchoring. To ensure a good night sleep without any
seasickness, we recommend to spend the night in a nearby marina... |
| ITINERARY
AYAMONTE
- SANLUCAR DE GUADIANA |
1 or 2 days
Total distance: 36 miles
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 Ayamonte - Sanlucar de Guadiana.
(18 millas). From the mouth of the Guadiana, you will go up the river,
surrounded by a pure landscape, of extraordinary beauty. You will be able to
spot a great variety of birds within their natural environment. The end of the
itinerary will be Sanlucar de Guadiana, a quiet white village, with many
foreign boats anchored in the river. Facing this village is the Portuguese neighbor
Alcoutim. After a meal served in one of the restaurants of the village,
you will start the return to Ayamonte.
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