Ayamonte & Andalucia:
The very pretty fishing port of Ayamonte on the Spanish/Portuguese border is lined with street cafes, restaurants, tapas bars and nice boutiques. It's picturesque squares and park with small zoo are typical of an Andalucian town. Andalucia is renouned throughout Spain for it's flamenco, all year round fiestas and it's food and drink - notably seafood, tapas and sherry - The freshly caught fish and seafood in the restaurants at Isla Canela and Ayamonte is a must! Other nearby places of interest are Huelva, from where Columbus first sailed to the New World; El Rocio famous for it's annual pilgrimage; and Andalucian capital Seville (90 minutes drive), home of tapas, flamenco, Moorish architecture and so much more. For younger family members, on the road into Cartaya (approx 30 mins) you will find Kartodromo de Cartaya (Karting) open year round, and the very popular Aquapolis water park which opens normally the middle of June until first week in September.
Go exploring in the Portugese Algarve:
The eastern end of the Portuguese Algarve is also worth a day trip or two. It is a beautiful and largely unspoilt region with lovely long sandy beaches, small fishing ports and villages. A little ferry from Ayamonte, or by car over a beautiful bridge, will take you across the Guadiana River, which separates Spain from the Algarve and Portugal. The 10 minute Ferry trip will take you to Villa Real de San Antonio (famous for pottery, linen & towels.) You can drive up to Alcoutim and enjoy lunch at this picturesque village. Monte Gordo is further into Portugal and numerous other villages follow. The attractive, historic town of Tavira is only 40 mins drive away and has a lovely square next to the river with a hilltop castle/gardens, churches and other ancient buildings. It is also lined with street cafes and restaurants. 45 mins over the border into Portugal, near to Faro, you will find the Aqualand water park and not far from there you will get a full day out at Zoo Marine.
Beaches and Other Days Out:
The long pristine sandy beaches right on Isla Canela provide a base from which to enjoy the watersports for which the area is famous. If you do not want to try it yourself, you can just relax on the beach and enjoy the skillful gymnastics of the kite surfers and windsurfers. The beach bars all serve delicious food for lunch so you can easily stay for the whole day.
There are marinas at Isla Canela & Isla Cristina where sailors of all abilities can hire boats to enjoy the Atlantic Coastline. You can also book Ocean and River cruises.
The Andalucian area is a wildlife haven from the Marismas at Isla Canela to the National Park at Donana (45 mins drive). A little nearer (approx. 25 minutes) you will find the Crocodile Park (Terra Exotica) at Isla Cristina - a reptile breeding farm and sanctuary. Europe´s largest (Over 2000 reptiles) collection of Crocodiles, aquatic turtles and land tortoises, snakes and lizards are kept in breeding projects here.
Golf:
For the keen golfer the eastern Algarve, Costa de la Luz, and Huelva are as yet “undiscovered', certainly when compared to the western Algarve and the Costas. Green fees are lower, the courses less crowded & less busy, making it much easier to get a start time that you want & enabling you to play a round in reasonable time & without delay. The courses are also some of the best in all of Spain. There are two excellent courses nearby, Isla Canela and the international standard Islantilla, winter home of the Swedish & Danish Golf Unions. Facilities include Driving Ranges, Putting & Chipping Greens, Practice Bunkers, Resident Golf Pro. Isla Canela also has 2 international standard bowling greens, tennis courts & football training areas. Other nearby courses are Costa Esuri, El Rompido, Nuevo Portil and, just across the border into Portugal, Castro Marim, Quinta de Cima and Quinta da Ria.