TAKE a look at the little-known sunshine spot with amazing food, iconic beach bars and 30C heat in summer - with €40 flights from Ireland. Zahara de los Atunes, in the Cadiz province in southern Spain , is only a 40-minute journey to the southernmost tip of the country. The little town is most well-known for its incredible food, in particular its devotion to the red tuna (Atlantic bluefin tuna, famed for its rosy flesh) and the red-skinned Retinto cow.
Hence the namesake of the town; Zahara de los Atunes translates to the "Sahara of the tuna". Zahara's red fin tuna is so prized that it has been granted the name “the ibérico of the sea”. The Palace of the Dukes of Medina Sidonia and the fifteenth-century walls are a major tourist attraction for this small town.
The Fortress was a palace, and place where tuna was chopped up, salted and prepared. The small town has been renowned for its seafood for centuries making this place a foodie's heaven. With Chiringuitos lining the beach - small beach bars that sell snacks and tapas as well as drinks.
These little huts morph from the late lunch providers during the day, to DJs until dawn, with one famous chiringuito even having their own record label. The music doesn't get going until at least midnight so be sure to stick around to see the beach transform into a party. With fresh seafood, good music and an even better atmosphere, what more could us tourists want? But there is one more important component to an unforgettable seaside holiday - the beaches.
And The Playa de Zahara de los Atunes stretches from the town centre almost all the way to the Cabo de Gracia, this over 5km of breathtaking coast line. Picture crystal clear waters and turquoise tones throughout. And even better, the beach is a Blue Flag Beach meaning that its water quality has been tested and the amenities surrounding the beach are top notch.
There is also water sports available for those adrenaline junkies in the form of windsurfing and even diving. This is the beach that is closest proximity to the centre of town meaning there is areas safe for children to swim, sunbeds to rent and plenty of chiringuitos. However it does also come with crowds on the hot days, so if you are in search of a quieter area check out Playa del Retin, a northern beach.
While it has far less facilities available, it does come without the crowds. And if you a nature lover this could be as great opportunity to spot some of the native Retinto cows, they are red in colour with long horns and tend to hang around this area. This gorgeous yet slightly remote area can be reached by a two hour car journey from the busy Malaga Airport with flights from Dublin Airport for as low as €40.
And finally another great feature run by the community of Zahara de los Atunes is their open air cinema which runs throughout the summer months. During the summer nights you can also enjoy the Cine de verano (open air cinema) at the ruins of the Palacio de la Chanca, a palace that was built in the 15th century by the dukes of Medina-Sidonia..
