The Costa de la Luz
& Eastern Algarve

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"The Guadiana" is the weekly local newspaper focussed on the Costa de la Luz and Eastern Algarve regions.

View the latest edition or view the archive of recent issues.

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	Seville

The Costa de la Luz and Eastern Algarve is made up of 4 distinct areas.  Interactive golf and travel maps of the regions are available by clicking:

• Eastern Algarve

• Costa de la Luz (Huelva Province/
  Spanish Algarve)

• Seville

• Costa de la Luz (Cadiz Province)

The golf travel market to the Iberian Peninsula has long been dominated by the well-established and well-oiled commercial machinery that is the Algarve and Costa del Sol. These regions have served golf travellers well over the years but those with a more intrepid nature may well be on the look-out for an alternative, as these regions become increasingly more anglicised and, in some cases, over-priced. 

Customer comments about Costa de la Luz &
Eastern Algarve golf holidays

***STOP PRESS***STOP PRESS***STOP PRESS***
New international airport will boost tourism for Huelva
Huelva is to receive its own international airport valued at 150 million euros

"Huelva, in the western Costa de la Luz, bordering the Portuguese Algarve, is a region that is seeing phenomenal growth in both its tourism and property markets. The area was previously only accessible by air via Faro in Portugal or Seville, an hour away from key resorts such as Isla Canela and Nuevo Portil, but the new airport will reduce driving time to as little as 15 minutes and could be fully operational by as early as 2012. The existing 700 metre runway will be replaced by a 2,400 metre runway for intercontinental flights which will see an estimated 1.5 million passengers pass through within the first decade of operation and increase investment potential for those looking to buy Huelva property." (Source: Spanish Algarve Properties)

Nestling between the golfing heavyweights of the Costa del Sol and the Algarve lies the Costa de la Luz. Named after the bright little buildings that permeate the stunning natural landscape of the region, the Costa de la Luz runs from the great Guadiana River in the west through the Doñana national park and onward down the coast of the Cadiz province in the East.  The Doñana National Park is the home of the rare Iberian Lynx (above).  It is a largely unspoilt landscape that is gently edging its way into the psyche of the golf traveller.

Contact us by email or on freephone 0800 011 25 20 to discuss your tailor-made golf holiday requirements

 The area sits in the provinces of Huelva and Cadiz between the province of Malaga and the border with Portugal and to the South of Seville, and is part of the well-established golfing territory of Andalućia.

The local tourist boards are proud of their environmentally conscious development strategy and feel lessons have been learned from some of the mistakes made by their more high-rise neighbours. For example, any new accommodation projects that are authorised have a maximum height limit of five storeys and those responsible for the development of golf courses and facilities are bound to integrate their designs into the local landscape and ecosystem.

The result is a quiet, unassuming region that is still as popular with Spanish and Portuguese visitors as it is becoming with the more traditional golfing visitor from Germany, Scandinavia and Great Britain. With good weather all year round and an increasing level of choice, it is not difficult to see why interest in this golfing territory is on the up.

• Eastern Algarve

• Seville

• Costa de la Luz (Huelva Province/Spanish Algarve)

• Costa de la Luz (Cadiz Province)

DOÑANA NATIONAL PARK AND NATURE RESERVE

The park covers a protected area of more than 100,000 hectares, which is considered to be the most valuable protected area in Europe.

This ecological haven is home to an huge variety of environmental treasures such as pine forests, living sand dunes, fossils, beaches, marshlands and reserves, home to many fauna and plantlife species.

The park is home to a total of 300 different bird species and 33 mammal species, such as the fallow deer, stag deer, "meloncillo" (kind of common otter or mongoose), otter and rabbit..., 12 species of fish and 18 reptile species. These mammals and birds include famous endangered species such as the Iberian lynx and the Imperial Eagle. For these species, the park offers a refuge where they can survive.

Doñana was declared a Nature Reserve by the Regional Government of Andalusia in 1989 and extends along almost the entire border of the Nature Reserve, from its edges to the district of Doñana. Apart from absorbing the impact on Doñana, the conditions of the Nature Reserve are perfect for ensuring the natural and cultural conservation and public use of the area.

Ecological crops have been planted in the area bordering the Doñana National Park and within the Cortijo de Los Mimbrales country estate, and this area has also be partially reforested with autochthonous species such as strawberry trees and wild olive trees, to respect the authenticity of the place as much as possible.

El Rocio

The town of El Rocio, on the northern boundary of the Dunas de Donana National Park, is a must-see for all visitors to the region.  Think of the wild west or Mexicano towns of the 1950's Spaghetti Westerns and you think of El Rocio.  With wide streets of sand, typical western-style white-washed buildings and a spectacular church as the focal point this is a truly unique town - at times it is hard to believe that you are still in Europe!

Each Whisuntide (or Pentecost) hundreds of thousands of Catholic Pilgrims descend on the town for the festival of the Virgin.  Many arrive on horseback having ridden for weeks from all corners of the Iberian Peninsula.  Don't expect to secure yourself eny accommodation in the town at this time - rooms are fully booked literally years in advance; a better bet may be to bring your tent!

• Eastern Algarve

• Seville

• Costa de la Luz (Huelva Province/Spanish Algarve)

• Costa de la Luz (Cadiz Province)

COSTA DE LA LUZ PLACES OF INTEREST

♦ Port and Monastery of the Rábida (Columbus sites)  ♦ Hermitage of Virgen del Rocío  ♦ Natonal Park of Doñana (largest national park in Europe)  ♦ Grotto of Las Maravillas      ♦ Castle of Aracena  ♦ Mosque of Almonaster la Real  ♦ Moguer (House museum Juan RamonJiménez)  ♦ Seville  ♦ Algarve  ♦ City of Cadiz  ♦ Jerez and the sherry region  ♦ Historic hilltop towns such as Vejer de la Frontera  ♦ El Puerto de Santa Maria  ♦ The White Villages route  ♦ Jerez Motor Racing Circuit  ♦ Flamenco shows  ♦ Equestrian shows & exhibitions

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