Los Lances

The beach splits into two clearly distinct zones. Los Lances Sur, on the town side, is closed to kite in high season (July-August) to make room for swimmers: it then becomes the domain of windsurfers and wingfoilers, who enjoy the same wind in a less crowded area. Los Lances Norte, from the Río Jara onwards, is the official kite zone, marked out and supervised. The bottom is sandy, with no rocks, the sea makes short chop with the levante and stays flatter with the poniente.

Technically, Los Lances is a beginner and intermediate spot par excellence. The levante comes in side-onshore, slightly weakened by the point of Tarifa, giving 5 to 8 knots less than at Valdevaqueros, often an advantage when it is blowing 35 out there. The poniente is more direct and side-shore, ideal for first independent runs. Watch out for the current of the Jara river on the ebb tide: it pushes out to sea and has already caught out more than one beginner.

In the evening, this is where all of Tarifa gathers. The chiringuitos line up their sunsets, riders rinse their gear at the shower, and locals play footvolley on the sand. It is probably the most "social" beach on the Cadiz coast.