This is our guide to running on the Costa de la Luz, the section of the Andalusian coast that stretches from Tarifa north to Huelva. There’s a fantastic variety of scenic running here, and we’ve put together 10+ routes featuring waterfront promenades, historic coastal towns, two major national parks, and some unique routes around marshes and former salt mines. For more in the area, see our guides to Seville (capital of Andalucía), Gibraltar, and the Costa del Sol.
Working our way from south to north, we start in Tarifa, with a lovely waterfront run and some gorgeous trail running in the Parque Natural del Estrecho. In the famous Cádiz area, three routes: an iconic loop around the peninsula; trails around the salt mines of the Bay of Cádiz Nature Preserve, and some cliffside paths in the Cabo de Roche. Just north of there is a lovely waterfront run in Chipiona. In Doñana National Park, there are some good running trails, and some good running in the town of El Rocío and the coastal town of Matalascañas. In Huelva, there’s a lovely path along the Odiel River, and several paths and trails around the marhslands of the Marismas del Odiel reserve.
Note: The climate in this area is famously great, with 300+ sunny days. However, it’s very hot in summer, and the terrain tends to be fairly open and exposed. Plan accordingly!
