Tarifa is a small town on the southernmost part of Spain and of the European continent. It is part of the province of Cádiz, which in turn is part of the Andalucia region. The name "Tarifa" is derived from the Berber fighter Tarif ibn Malik. The town is located at the Costa de la Luz ("coast of the light") and the Straits of Gibraltar, opposite the coast of Morocco, from which the lights of Tarifa are visible at night.
There are regular ferries between Tarifa and the nearby Moroccan city, Tangier. There is frequent illegal immigration from the coast near Tarifa. There is also a bus connection between Tarifa and Algeciras, which is about 20km northeast of it.
Strong winds and good waves make Tarifa an attractive spot for water and wind sports like windsurf, surf. You can also go for a whale-watching tour, pilot whales are present year-round; killer whales can be observed in July and August, when they hunt yellowfin tuna. Several local entrepeneurs organize boat trips to see them.
Tarifa is credited with being the origin of the word tariff since it was the first port in history to charge merchants for the use of their docks. You can also enjoy the Castle, ‘Castillo de Guzman’, located close to the port and the beach with views of Morocco and either side of the Atlantic and Meditarrean, or listen to some jazz music and drink a Cerveza.
