Story of the day
Thursday 10 September · live from the riders on the spot
SuivreResets at midnight
Wild beach, giant dune and Roman ruins
Bolonia
SurfingLongboardKitesurfingWindsurfingSUPSwimmingSnorkellingSandboardingHikingFreediving
Twenty-five kilometres north of Tarifa, a wild bay with its 30-metre dune and the Roman city of Baelo Claudia.
The spot
Bolonia is one of the most beautiful wild beaches in Andalusia. Four kilometres of white sand framed to the south by Cape Camarinal and to the north by the Sierra de la Plata, and above it all the famous Duna de Bolonia, 30 metres of shifting sand you can climb barefoot. The water is clearer than in central Tarifa, and the area is protected as Parque Natural del Estrecho.
On the sport side, it is a complete spot. The levante drives windsurf and kite when it funnels into the bay; surf exists when the Atlantic swell comes in, mainly on the western half. Local longboarders enjoy soft, long waves when the wind drops. The truly more committing surf sessions are to the north, at El Cañuelo and Punta Camarinal, reached by a coastal path.
For SUP and swimming, Bolonia offers remarkably clear water and a sandy bottom. The dune is climbed at the end of the day for a 360° view over the bay and the strait. To the north, rocky coves are perfect for snorkelling and freediving.
Bolonia's other dimension is Baelo Claudia: the 1st-century Roman city, set with its feet in the sand at the edge of the beach, is one of the best-preserved coastal archaeological sites in the Mediterranean. The ticket gives access to the museum and the ancient theatre. Bolonia is that unique blend: a session in the morning, ruins in the afternoon, atún rojo in the evening.
Live now
Live wind, on site right now.
Live wind · Open-Meteo
6kt
S · gusts 13 kt
Temperature
22°C
Current level
No wind
72h forecast
See on Windguru ↗Marées
Prochaines · Open-Meteo MarineMarée haute
14:54↑
dans 4 h 32 · +0.72 m
Marée basse
21:09↓
dans 10 h 46 · -1.41 m
Carpooling
Rides to Bolonia this week
No rides to Bolonia in the next 7 days.
Post the first rideDominant wind
Levante: the wind that makes the spot work · Poniente more temperamental inside the bay
Required level
Windsurf, kite and surf intermediate to expert (waves) · swimming all levels
Best season
All year for swimming and the ruins · wind sessions vary with the shifts
Access
CA-8202 road off the N-340 · 25 km from Tarifa · free parking at the entrance to the village
Where to eat & drink
Restaurants, cafés, bars and chiringuitos a stone's throw from the spot. Closest first, filtered by Google rating.
Schools here
All schools ↗- Surf school Bolonia (Tarifa Surf Camp uses the spot)
- Pura Vida Surf Bolonia
On site
- Paid parking in summer (~€3-5)
- Showers
- Baelo Claudia archaeological site next door (€1.50 entry)
- Restaurants in the village
Good to know
- Wind can be violent and unpredictable (venturi effect)
- Winding access road from the N-340
- Very busy on summer weekends
- Currents when the poniente blows hard
The local's tip
- 01Combine a morning session with a visit to Baelo Claudia after 5pm: golden light and no more tour groups.
- 02The great dune is climbed at the end of the day, a 360° view over the bay and Morocco.
- 03Snorkelling and freediving on the northern side in the rocky coves, water clearer than anywhere else on the coast.
Coordinates
36.0888°N · 5.7746°W
The other spots
Keep exploring the coast.
