ABOUT EL CUARTON
El Cuarton is a small gem of an urbanization with some 200 houses and villas sprawling from the top of a hillside, across the road and down into the valley. It does not have any of the regimented and souless feel like so many of the urbanization’s along the much more built up Costa del Sol.
It is only 8 kilometers from the lovely small bohemian town of Tarifa, and its fantastic wide uncrowded beaches, and the starting point of Costa de La Luz. The urbanization itself looks directly down a valley, and is the shortest point across to Africa...only 14km away.
El Cuarton enjoys its own local micro-climate and almost always has a pleasant cooling breeze which reduces the temperature by 3 or 4 degrees Celsius compared to the surrounding areas....very welcome in the hot summer months.
The inhabitants of El Cuarton are incredibly lucky,- mainly surrounded by Los Alcornacales national park and land designated as rural and thus non-buildable. It makes EL Cuarton a beautiful, unspoilt and tranquil place for that relaxing family holiday.
Tarifa town
Tarifa town, based on the Costa de La Luz, has been a holiday destination that the Spanish have been going to for decades, but is still not that well known to foreign tourists when compared to the other much more touristy and populated “Costas”.
There are no high rise buildings in Tarifa, and it is composed of a quaint old part of town and the newer part of town as you walk through the arched main gate. It is steeped in history, and was a important stronghold over the various centuries due to its location of seeing all ships passing through the Straits of Gibraltar. Today, it still retains its small fishing village feel.
Over the last few decades the windsurfers, and now kite-surfers, have discovered Tarifa due to its predictable winds. It has brought a more bohemian feel to the town and does not have the pretentiousness of some holiday areas.
Tarifa is small enough to walk around in 30 minutes or so, and is blessed with numerous restaurants and bars to suit everyone. Restaurants are generally low key, serving excellent local tapas, and with an emphasis on fresh fish.
Please see some links below that give more details of the town, and what is on locally at different times of the year.
THINGS TO DO IN THE AREA
The chances are that if you are looking to holiday in the Costa de La Luz, then you are already aware of what the area has to offer and just importantly what it does not want to offer.
Obviously Tarifa is world renowned for its kite-surfing and windsurfing, holding various prestigious competitions each year. For those seeking these thrills there are numerous surf and kite shops in the town and schools along the beach for trying or improving your skills.
Just 8 km from Huerta Belinda is the first of many white sandy beaches which literally stretch for kilometers. There are many beaches to choose from, starting at the doorstep of Tarifa and going all the way up to Cádiz. Local favorites are Punta Paloma, and Bolonia (a small fishing village some 10km off the main road, and about 25 minutes drive from El Cuarton) which has some rather impressive Roman ruins where they stored their tuna catches.
In addition to the beaches, there is excellent walking and mountain biking routes that are just up the hill from Huerta Belinda (bikes can be hired in Tarifa) or from Tarifa itself. Depending on time of year you may well see some of the abundant migratory bird life that is coming / going to Africa, particularly certain types of vultures.
A number of hotels, and other establishments also offer horse-riding either inland or along the beach (depending on time of year).
Other favorites include whale and dolphin watching ( departs from Tarifa), tours of bodegas in Jerez (the home of sherry) which is 45 minutes drive away through a beautiful national park, or even a day trip to Tangiers in Morocco (35 minutes away by fast-ferry from Tarifa .....remember the time difference !!!).
Going eastwards from El Cuarton, brings you to numerous golf courses ( the well known San Roque is one of the closest at 20 minutes away), or to the Polo fields at Sotogrande (25 mins). Alternatively, there is the monkeys and tour of the caves in Gibraltar if you fancy ticking off another country on the list (don’t forget your passport).
.... but with all the amenities at Huerta Belinda and the lure of just relaxing by the pool as you watch the ships passing through the Straits of Gibraltar, it might be that many of these attractions and activities are left for another time.