Punta Paloma, sun-drenched beaches, sweet melons, and a splash of vitamin sea © Michelle Chaplow |
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Punta Paloma, Tarifa
Punta Paloma is the name of the headland just to the north of Tarifa that separates the expansive beaches of Tarifa from those of Bolonia. Playa Punta Paloma itself is an unspoiled paradise beach.
SAND DUNES
Dramatically high sand dunes rise up by more than 100m from the beach just to the north of Playa Valdevaqueros. Energetic visitors will climb the sand dunes to the top, take in the views and then race down again.
The dunes are the result of sand being blown from the beach up the headland, burying all the vegetation and even the trees. If you stand on the top of the dunes, you get fantastic views of the beaches all the way down to Tarifa town, across the straits to Morocco. Looking down the dunes, you can see dead tree branches in the loose golden sand and you realise that you are standing on the tops of trees.
In the 1990s the local authorities tried, unsuccessfully, to prevent the sand's movements by constructing a series of wicker fences - environmentalists have called for the fences to be removed as they are now buried, with only spikes left sticking out of the sand.
Behind the sand dunes is the A-2325 road - a less energetic way of reaching the top of the dunes. The road is constantly being covered by sand, so you need to drive carefully. there is a small car park on this stretch of road.
Tarifa - built in the Moorish style, set in subtropical gardens leading down to the unspoilt beach.
Stylish & contemporary hotel close to unspoilt beaches. Gardens and large pool. Ideal for families.
Fast 45 min Ferry service, Tarifa to Tanger Ville, choice of two operators. Ideal for exploring Tanger town including day trips. Choose Algeciras to Tanger Med for road trip south in Morocco.
Punta Paloma Lighthouse
The first Punta Paloma lighthouses date back to 1884. The current lighthouse, with its futuristic design, catches the eye of passing visitors. Work began in November 2019 and will be completed in October 2020. The current Punta Paloma lighthouse was lit for the first time on the night of 14 October 2020.
The previous lighthouse was built in 1915. It was a traditional octagonal half-height masonry tower. It was automated in 1973 and fully remote controlled in 1997. However, the tower was in a very bad condition. On 31 December 2008, when the Ministry of Defence closed down the army camp on the site, the tower was demolished and the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras installed a temporary beacon in a 5-metre-high lattice tower until the current lighthouse was commissioned.
The first lighthouse, built in 1884, was actually included in the 'General Plan for the Beaconing of the Coasts and Ports of Spain and the Adjacent Islands' of 1858. Situated 246 metres from the coast, it was intended, in conjunction with the lighthouse on the island of Tarifa, to mark the shoals of Los Cabezos, which were dangerous for coastal shipping at the time.
It was designed by the civil engineer Julio Merello y Alberti in 1890. On the ground floor there was a building for the lighthouse keepers, with a tower that housed the lighting room. The lenticular apparatus for the lantern, which had to be placed 5 metres above the ground, was only acquired a few years later. The original lighthouse was in operation until 27 April 1899.
ARMY CAMP
Continue along the road over Arroyo de los Puerces, and you pass an abandoned sentry post - this marks the entrance to an old army camp which was closed by the Ministry of Defence on 31 December 2008 Bajo Paloma
Bajo Paloma is a small hamlet located towards the end of the headland. Surprisingly there was a family run restaurant here called Miralo. This is the end of the road for vehicles however parking complicated or expensive. The path continues either down to the beach or through the forest to Bolonia. This section of beach can be also reached by walking along the coast either from Valdevaqueros or Bolonia. You can see large rock pools when the tide is out.
Higher up on the hill is a concrete gun emplacement for three large 381/45 Vickers cannons, the same as those made legendary by the film The Guns of Navarone in Greece.
Written records dating from 1826 mention an abandoned watchtower (presumably Moorish) of which nothing remains today.
RESTAURANT
At the end of the road after the former army camp and after the futuristic looking lighthouse is El Mirlo restaurant in the hamlet of Bajo Paloma. It was family run and in-spite of the complications to reach it was open at the weekends from March to October and daily from June to September until the covid pandemic. The restaurant was purchased by the Marbella Club group and reopened in 2023 as a more upmarket, yet relaxed restaurant with terrace and views.
Betis
The cliff face of the higher section of Sierra San Bartoloméon the Punta Paloma headland is a popular rock climbing zone called Betis, located near a hamlet of the same name. The road, Carretera de Betis, is an alternative route to CA-8202 Puerto de Bolonia (a bird-watching spot) and Bar El Tropezon on the road to Bolonia.
GETTING THERE
To reach Punta Paloma from Tarifa, head towards Bolonia along the N-340. At km 74 turn left onto the A-2325 signposted Punta Paloma at km 74, about 15 minutes/10km from Tarifa. Camping Paloma campsite is next to this road; turn left to another campsite, Camping El Jardin de las Dunas, a beach bar and the car park for Valdevaqueros beach.