West of HuelvaThe stretch of coast between Huelva and the Portuguese border is lined with some of the finest beaches in the whole of Andalucia. The coastal towns along this strip remain Spanish holiday destinations which rarely see a foreign tourist.
A town located near the capital is a favourite summer destination for the citizens of Huelva given its magnificent beaches. Surrounded by Pine groves, the town owes its origins to a tower that sits on top of the peak known as Punta de Umbria. The tower was built in the 14th century with the intention of warning the populace of potential invasions. As with the rest of the province there are wonderful, sandy beaches along the northern and southern sides of the punta (point) all of which have the ecofriendly blue-flag classification due to their pristine waters.
As the name implies, this was once as island but infilling has transformed it into a pleasant resort surrounded by tidal estuaries. Isla Cristina is a modern town with a long seafaring tradition, a great place to find salted meats and canned fish. It has a fair sized fishing fleet which create a lively scene as they land their days catch at the Puerto Pesquero. For most of the year the town’s prevailing atmosphere is one of peace and tranquillity with the exception of August when tourists descend on the town.
Ayamonte has a cheerful frontier town energy about it. Located on the banks of the Guadiaro river, bordering Portugal, Ayamonte was always a quiet fishing village. However, with Portugal only a few hundred metres away there’s a pronounced Portuguese feel to the town. The warren of narrow streets behind the main square Paseo de la Ribera overlooking the harbour leads up to the old town. In the tallest point of the city, on top of the ruins of an ancient Roman castle, stands the Parador de Turismo with beautiful views of the town and the Guadiaro river mouth.
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