Vejer is surrounded by spectacular landscapes and places far from the crowds, ideal for disconnecting and relaxing in contact with nature.
To enrich your stay, we have compiled a list of pursuits that will bring you closer to nature and breath new life into your stay in the Califa Vejer hotels.
Hiking. There are several routes in the natural environment in which Vejer is immersed. One of the best known is the Barbate cliffs route, which connects Los Caños de Meca with Barbate, crossing the pine forests of the Breña y Marismas de Barbate Nature Reserve. Along the route you can see the coastline with Barbate and Zahara de los Atunes, lighthouses such as Punta Camarinal and, just in front of you, Africa on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar. In addition, you can cross an enormous forest of stone pines next to one of the best masses of maritime junipers that remain on the coast of Cadiz. From Los Caños, in turn, you can reach the historic Cape Trafalgar. If you are interested in a private guide, there are companies such as Explore la Tierra that organise hiking routes in the area.
Bird watching. La Breña y Marismas del Barbate Nature Reserve is located in the southwest of the province of Cadiz, between the municipalities of Vejer de la Frontera and Barbate. It is made up of a very diverse set of ecosystems: marine systems, marshes, pine forests and cliffs (up to 100 metres above sea level). The cliffs of the coastal area are home to a large number of birds that seek protected nests in the rocky wall, especially the herring gull and cattle egret, although there are also egrets, rock pigeons, jackdaws and black starlings. The only populations of ibis eremita in the whole of the European Union can also be found here, from repopulation. In the pine forest area you can find sedentary birds such as the tawny owl, the coal tit, the raven and the Crested Lark.
Horse riding. Gallop along deserted beaches (except in high season) or take wonderful walks through the forest among pine trees. There is no better way to make the most of the natural heritage of the area than to get on the back of a horse and feel the freedom and let yourself go.
For further information:
Surfing lessons. Do you want to learn surf? The best surfing beach in southern Spain is just a 10-minute drive from Vejer. At its beach, El Palmar, not only can you surf uncrowded peaks, but you can surf almost all year round. Also, due to its proximity to Africa, the climate and water temperature is quite warm even in winter – it’s the perfect place! The best time to surf in Andalusia is from September to June, but you can find some surf almost all year round.
If there are waves coming into the area, there are definitely waves at El Palmar. In summer (July and August) the waves are usually small, ideal for beginners.
There are surf courses in several surf schools in the area. Some of them are:
- A-Frame Surfschool
- 9 Pies Surf El Palmar
- On the sea Escuela de Surf
- El Palmar Surf School
- South Coast
- Big Wave
Open-air contemporary art. Located in Vejer de la Frontera (Cádiz), the NMAC Foundation is a museum without walls that brings together works by internationally renowned artists created in the field and that speak to their natural environment. A museum without walls, with works of art of international renown and in the middle of nature. The NMAC Montenmedio Contemporary Art Foundation is a surprising and unique space in Spain. Visiting it is a special adventure from the moment you enter the Dehesa de Montenmedio in Vejer de la Frontera (Cádiz), where it is located. The setting alone is a work of art of nature. The museum’s collection is made up The collection is made up of more than 40 site-specific projects, created by national and internationally renowned artists, such as Gregor Schneider, Susana Solano, Marina Abromovic’, Adel Abdessemed, Pilar Albarracín, Cristina Lucas, Maja Bajevic, Maurizio Cattelan and James Turrell, to name but a few. It is currently open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00. More information on its official website.
