Tarifa experience guide
Tarifa’s beaches
Playa Chica for swimming, Los Lances for space and wind, Valdevaqueros for the dune, Bolonia for a whole day. Which one fits today, the wind decides: in a Levante, Playa Chica on the Mediterranean side is sheltered; in a Poniente, Los Lances is the beach outside our door.
As of August 2026
- Coastline
- Nearly 40 km in the municipality
- Two waters
- Mediterranean and Atlantic
- From AMARA
- Los Lances five minutes on foot
Four beaches
Four beaches, four days
From the cove at the causeway to the dune of Bolonia: four beaches that feel different.
Closest to town
Los Lances Sur
The stretch right in front of town, five minutes from our door: sand to the horizon, facilities and in summer a bathing zone with flags.
Space and wind
Los Lances Norte
The long part towards the west, nature reserve and kite beach. This is where the schools and the kites are; swimming is in the marked areas.
Dune and kites
Valdevaqueros
The bay with the big dune, ten minutes by car. In summer full of kiters and bathers, in winter wide and empty.
A whole day
Bolonia
The bay further west with the shifting dune and the Roman town of Baelo Claudia on the beach. By car, for a whole day.
Depending on the wind
Playa Chica in a Levante, Los Lances in a Poniente
The wind decides which beach is lovely today.
Swimming
Playa Chica at the causeway
The small cove on the Mediterranean side at the causeway to the Isla: in a Levante it lies sheltered, the water is calm, and the town is a few steps away.
Wind
Los Lances Norte and Valdevaqueros
This is where the kites are. If you want to watch, sit down in the sand; if you want to ride, the school is at Tarifa Surf Club.
Quiet
Bolonia in the morning
If you want space without kites, drive to Bolonia and come in the morning. The dune is protected; you go up by the signposted path.
Getting there
On foot or by car
Los Lances you reach on foot from our door, everything west of it by car along the N-340.
On foot
Los Lances and Playa Chica
Los Lances is five minutes from Family & Surf, Playa Chica behind the old town at the causeway, ten to fifteen minutes on foot.
By car
Valdevaqueros and Bolonia
From the underground garage straight west: ten minutes to Valdevaqueros, just under half an hour to Bolonia. In July and August parking at the beaches is scarce; come in the morning.
Practical questions
Which Tarifa beach is best for swimming?
In a Levante, Playa Chica on the Mediterranean side; in a Poniente, the bathing zone on Los Lances in front of town. The Atlantic is always a little cold.
Is Bolonia close enough for a half day?
It is possible, but beach, dune and Baelo Claudia together are a whole day. We set off in the morning and come back for dinner.
Where can you kite, where can you swim?
From 15 June to 15 September the town divides the beaches into zones; buoys and flags show them. Outside the bathing season the beach is open, and the lagoon at the Río Jara stays closed at all times.
Explore further
Links to look into it yourself
Tarifa tourist office and the municipal beach-use plan, as of August 2026.
Your direct-booking advantage
What we recommend to friends is in the Guest Guide.
Book directly with us and the AMARA Guest Guide for Tarifa comes with your stay: the addresses we give our friends, and the details that make the day easier.
- Our addresses in Tarifa: restaurants, beaches, walks, some of them only there
- The way from your front door, in minutes
Your AMARA stay in Tarifa
Space for active days and quiet evenings
AMARA Family & Surf welcomes up to four guests with sea views, a private balcony, pool access and a reserved underground parking space.