Costa De La Luz holidays

Things to do

See the magnificent Mosque of Córdoba and its spectacular red and white arches. Meander through the cobbled streets of Barrio Santa Cruz in Seville and discover the incredible gothic cathedral and fragrant courtyards of the Alcázar, Seville's Moorish Palace. Visit the sherry bodegas of Jerez and the Natural Park of Doñana, a sanctuary to hundreds of migrating birds.

Explore your destination

Doñana National Park
Head into Spain's largest park, in search of its amazing wildlife. A fantastic trip, you'll travel by Jeep through Doñana National Park, which is home to thousands of animals, many in danger of extinction.

Jerez
Explore this famous city, known for its sherry and wine cellars, taking in the beautiful churches, monasteries and palaces before visiting the Royal Equestrian School of Art, where you'll see a stunning horse show.

Guadiana River Cruise
Take an unforgettable cruise along the Guadiana River, a natural waterway dividing the countries of Spain and Portugal, spotting fantastic wildlife and glimpsing little villages untouched by time as you sail along the water.

Highlights

• Falling in love with the magical city of Seville, exploring its medieval streets, beautiful cathedral and stunning Alcazar palace, surrounded by the scent of orange trees
• Lazing on the Costa de la Luz's unspoilt sandy beaches on holiday here, wandering up to little seafood restaurants and relaxing in beach bars
• Driving around Doñana National Park, spotting endangered species like the pardel lynx and Spanish eagle, as well as six million other birds, including flamingos
• Ambling around Jerez's sherry bodegas, beautiful old quarter and shops, and catching a fiesta with colourful horse parades
• Grabbing your caddy for a round of golf at Islantilla's 27-hole course and El Rompido's two 18-hole courses
• Seeing the Mezquita of Córdoba, a mosque with spectacular red and white striped arches and its Patio de los Naranjos, a courtyard with orange trees and fountains
• Hitting the waves in Tarifa, a surfer's paradise where local fishermen still bring in their catch; stroll around the old town and enjoy views of Morocco from Miramar Gardens
• Exploring the walled city of Cadiz, including the old quarter's gold-domed cathedral and churches of Santa Cruz and San Felipe Neri, and the port's Spanish restaurants
• Heading to Huelva city to see its municipal museum, striking pink cathedral and whitewashed chapel where Columbus prayed before setting sail to the New World
• Strolling around Huelva province's whitewashed villages, hidden in the rolling hills of the Sierra Morena mountains, with bright wildflowers and cobbled squa

Food and drink

The Spanish love to eat and while you're on holiday in the Costa de la Luz, you'll want to join in.

Tapas bars serving cured hams, spicy chorizo, garlic prawns and juicy olives are perfect for a leisurely lunch or try gazpacho, a chilled tomato soup made from, cucumber, peppers, onion and garlic.

Fish fanatics: head for El Rompido's seafront restaurants with fish so fresh, it's just come off the boat; look out for the white prawn and accompany with a dry white wine.

Try the many varieties of Spain's sherries and brandies on guided tours of Jerez's bodegas, as well as local wines like Tio Pepe.

Evening Flavour

Nightlife on Costa de la Luz holidays is all about sunset strolls and long leisurely meals. Inviting fish restaurants and cosy tapas bars line Islantilla's beachfront promenade, so you can have a few drinks, enjoy a delicious dinner, followed by a stroll along the shore.

El Rompido and Punta Umbria offer a similar vibe, you can almost feel the warm breeze on your face as you watch the sunset over the ocean. If you do fancy a bit of a boogie, Tarifa has a good choice of bars and clubs, popular with the surf-set.

Shopping

If you're planning a day of serious shopping on your Costa de la Luz holiday, Seville's old town has everything you could wish for, from high street names to charming souvenir shops, or head across the river to Triana to pick up hand-painted ceramics and colourful tiles.

Islantilla is another good pick, with two main shopping centres and Cadiz in its pretty streets leading off Plaza del San Juan Dias. Cadiz and Tarifa both have traditional markets, where you can pick up delicious fresh fish and fruit.

Local weather

Information

Language: Spanish. Currency: Euro. Standard GMT: +1hr. Spanish Tourist Office: 2nd Floor, 79 New Cavendish Street, London, W1W 6XB. Tel: 020 7486 8077. www.spain.info

Travel money

Euro

You can get commission-free foreign exchange on currency notes and travellers cheques at most First Choice Travel Shops and Holiday Hypermarkets.