Tarifa to Albufeira
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RouteXpert Jannes van Dijken
Last edit: 06-03-2025
Route Summary This route gives a good impression of the history, culture and nature along the southern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.
This route, which I have given 4 stars, gives a nice impression of this part of Spain and Portugal. The route runs for the most part through sparsely populated areas with a characteristic nature for these coastal areas. The roads are generally well maintained.
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Verdict
Duration
9h 52m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
484.86 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review On the way to the capital of Andalusia, Venta Junta de los Rios is a nice place for a cup of coffee. As you approach Seville, the traffic also increases. Once you cross the river and leave the stretch of highway, it quickly becomes quieter again.
You can fill up your tank in Bollullos de la Mitación and this might also be the right place for a cheap lunch.
The next stop is El Rocio, a major tourist attraction in Andalusia. El Rocío is a charming village known for its unique character and religious significance. It is located on the edge of the Doñana Protected Natural Area, in the province of Huelva. The village has a special atmosphere with its white houses and sandy streets, which makes it look a bit like a village from the Wild West.
El Rocío is especially famous for its annual pilgrimage, the Romería del Rocío, which takes place during Pentecost. During this pilgrimage, thousands of pilgrims come to the village on foot, horseback or in covered wagons to venerate the Virgin of El Rocío, also known as "La Paloma Blanca". This event attracts more than a million visitors each year and transforms the quiet village into a vibrant place of devotion and festivities.
In addition to its religious significance, El Rocío also offers beautiful natural surroundings. The village overlooks the marshes of the Doñana National Park, where thousands of flamingos and other migratory birds spend the winter.
Once back at the coast, the route continues west. Cartaya is the next town with many opportunities for a drink. Cartaya is a picturesque town on the Costa de la Luz, close to the Atlantic Ocean, and has a rich history dating back to the 15th century.
The town is known for its beautiful beaches, such as El Rompido and Nuevo Portil, which are popular with both tourists and locals. Cartaya also has a number of historical sites, including the Zuñiga Castle and the Parish Church of San Pedro Apóstol.
Barely 30 kilometers further after passing the Rio Guadiana the route enters Portugal. This part of Portugal is sometimes surprisingly green and in contrast to the part in Spain even has some height difference. After a long ride the route ends in Albufiera.
Albufeira is a popular seaside resort in the Algarve, Portugal. It is known for its beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife and charming old town. Once a quiet fishing village, Albufeira is now a vibrant tourist destination that attracts visitors from all over the world.
Albufeira's old town, also known as "Baixa de Albufeira", has narrow cobbled streets, white houses and plenty of cozy restaurants and cafes. It's a great place to wander and experience the local culture. Albufeira's beaches, such as Praia dos Pescadores and Praia da Oura, are perfect for relaxing and soaking up the sun.
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Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
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Andalusia
About this region
Andalusia (UK: , US: ; Spanish: Andalucía [andaluˈθi.a]) is the southernmost autonomous community in Peninsular Spain. It is the most populous and the second largest autonomous community in the country. It is officially recognised as a "historical nationality". The territory is divided into eight provinces: Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga, and Seville. Its capital city is Seville. The seat of the High Court of Justice of Andalusia is located in the city of Granada.
Andalusia is located in the south of the Iberian peninsula, in southwestern Europe, immediately south of the autonomous communities of Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha; west of the autonomous community of Murcia and the Mediterranean Sea; east of Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean; and north of the Mediterranean Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar. Andalusia is the only European region with both Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines. The small British overseas territory of Gibraltar shares a three-quarter-mile land border with the Andalusian portion of the province of Cádiz at the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar.
The main mountain ranges of Andalusia are the Sierra Morena and the Baetic System, consisting of the Subbaetic and Penibaetic Mountains, separated by the Intrabaetic Basin. In the north, the Sierra Morena separates Andalusia from the plains of Extremadura and Castile–La Mancha on Spain's Meseta Central. To the south the geographic subregion of Upper Andalusia lies mostly within the Baetic System, while Lower Andalusia is in the Baetic Depression of the valley of the Guadalquivir.The name "Andalusia" is derived from the Arabic word Al-Andalus (الأندلس). The toponym al-Andalus is first attested by inscriptions on coins minted in 716 by the new Muslim government of Iberia. These coins, called dinars, were inscribed in both Latin and Arabic. The etymology of the name "al-Andalus" has traditionally been derived from the name of the Vandals. Since the 1980s, a number of proposals have challenged this contention. Halm, in 1989, derived the name from a Gothic term, *landahlauts,
and in 2002, Bossong suggested its derivation from a pre-Roman substrate. The region's history and culture have been influenced by the Tartessos, Iberians, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Vandals, Visigoths, Byzantines, Berbers of North Africa, Jews, Romani, Arab Umayyads, and Moors. During the Islamic Golden Age, Cordoba surpassed Constantinople to be Europe's biggest city, and became the capital of Al Andalus and a prominent center of education and learning in the world, producing numerous philosophers and scientists. The Castilian and other Christian North Iberian nationalities reconquered and settled the area in the latter phases of the Reconquista.
Andalusia has historically been an agricultural region, compared to the rest of Spain and the rest of Europe. Still, the growth of the community in the sectors of industry and services was above average in Spain and higher than many communities in the Eurozone. The region has a rich culture and a strong Spanish identity. Many cultural phenomena that are seen internationally as distinctively Spanish are largely or entirely Andalusian in origin. These include flamenco and, to a lesser extent, bullfighting and Hispano-Moorish architectural styles, both of which are also prevalent in some other regions of Spain.
Andalusia's hinterland is the hottest area of Europe, with cities like Córdoba and Seville averaging above 36 °C (97 °F) in summer high temperatures. Late evening temperatures can sometimes stay around 35 °C (95 °F) until close to midnight and daytime highs of over 40 °C (104 °F) are common. Seville also has the highest average annual temperature in mainland Spain and mainland Europe (19.2 °C, 66.6 °F), closely followed by Almería (19.1 °C, 66.4 °F).
Read more on Wikipedia
Andalusia is located in the south of the Iberian peninsula, in southwestern Europe, immediately south of the autonomous communities of Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha; west of the autonomous community of Murcia and the Mediterranean Sea; east of Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean; and north of the Mediterranean Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar. Andalusia is the only European region with both Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines. The small British overseas territory of Gibraltar shares a three-quarter-mile land border with the Andalusian portion of the province of Cádiz at the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar.
The main mountain ranges of Andalusia are the Sierra Morena and the Baetic System, consisting of the Subbaetic and Penibaetic Mountains, separated by the Intrabaetic Basin. In the north, the Sierra Morena separates Andalusia from the plains of Extremadura and Castile–La Mancha on Spain's Meseta Central. To the south the geographic subregion of Upper Andalusia lies mostly within the Baetic System, while Lower Andalusia is in the Baetic Depression of the valley of the Guadalquivir.The name "Andalusia" is derived from the Arabic word Al-Andalus (الأندلس). The toponym al-Andalus is first attested by inscriptions on coins minted in 716 by the new Muslim government of Iberia. These coins, called dinars, were inscribed in both Latin and Arabic. The etymology of the name "al-Andalus" has traditionally been derived from the name of the Vandals. Since the 1980s, a number of proposals have challenged this contention. Halm, in 1989, derived the name from a Gothic term, *landahlauts,
and in 2002, Bossong suggested its derivation from a pre-Roman substrate. The region's history and culture have been influenced by the Tartessos, Iberians, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Vandals, Visigoths, Byzantines, Berbers of North Africa, Jews, Romani, Arab Umayyads, and Moors. During the Islamic Golden Age, Cordoba surpassed Constantinople to be Europe's biggest city, and became the capital of Al Andalus and a prominent center of education and learning in the world, producing numerous philosophers and scientists. The Castilian and other Christian North Iberian nationalities reconquered and settled the area in the latter phases of the Reconquista.
Andalusia has historically been an agricultural region, compared to the rest of Spain and the rest of Europe. Still, the growth of the community in the sectors of industry and services was above average in Spain and higher than many communities in the Eurozone. The region has a rich culture and a strong Spanish identity. Many cultural phenomena that are seen internationally as distinctively Spanish are largely or entirely Andalusian in origin. These include flamenco and, to a lesser extent, bullfighting and Hispano-Moorish architectural styles, both of which are also prevalent in some other regions of Spain.
Andalusia's hinterland is the hottest area of Europe, with cities like Córdoba and Seville averaging above 36 °C (97 °F) in summer high temperatures. Late evening temperatures can sometimes stay around 35 °C (95 °F) until close to midnight and daytime highs of over 40 °C (104 °F) are common. Seville also has the highest average annual temperature in mainland Spain and mainland Europe (19.2 °C, 66.6 °F), closely followed by Almería (19.1 °C, 66.4 °F).
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