Costa Ballena Beach measures exactly 2,382 metres and is named after the nearby resort, a landmark on this part of the Cadiz coast. It lies between the towns of Rota and Chipiona and features wide open spaces, landscaped gardens, hotels, residential developments, golf courses and other sports facilities. It’s one of the wildest and most scenic beaches in the area, thanks to a protected dune system that makes it necessary to use the wooden walkways.
Naturally, a beach like this is fully equipped to ensure comfort and convenience for visitors. There’s even a sailing school and a wide range of water sports on offer. Two streams flow into the sea here, Arroyo Hondo, next to the sailing school, and Arroyo de Aguadulce.
- A long and vast beach
- Services at Costa Ballena Beach
- Beach bars and places to eat in Costa Ballena
- Activities and water sports
A long and vast beach
Because it stretches so far, the landscape changes depending on which part of the beach you visit. Some areas are lined with houses with one or two floors, while others have taller apartment blocks. Still, wherever you settle on the beach, there’s a feeling of peace and space, since you can’t see the residential areas from the sand.
Services at Costa Ballena Beach
It makes sense that such an iconic beach would be packed with services. Along the shoreline, you’ll find portable showers, footbaths, drinking fountains, toilets, litter bins, recycling points for glass and organic waste, lifeguard towers, wooden walkways across the sand, emergency phones, first-aid kits and a PA system. There are also rest zones, leisure areas and sports facilities so everyone can make the most of the beach. You’ll find a sailing school, a kiosk, a beach bar and accessible rest areas, while everything is linked to the promenade by wooden walkways. There are also amphibious chairs, Amphy Buggies, for beach access, and a Novaf vehicle for transporting people with reduced mobility.
Beach bars and places to eat in Costa Ballena
Given that Costa Ballena is a major tourist destination full of hotels and apartments, beach bars and restaurants of every kind have popped up in the area. One of the most popular is Kanguro Chiringuito & Beach Club, with a menu focused on local produce from Cadiz and a personal touch. It also has a terrace and a beach club where you can enjoy a cocktail or watch a gorgeous sunset. Another good choice is Calita Costa Ballena, which serves traditional Andalusian food with an emphasis on fish and seafood from the bay. It’s right by the beach and the value for money is quite good. It’s one of the oldest in the area and is known for its family-friendly atmosphere. Sol y Luna is also worth a visit, especially if you’re into rice dishes or Mediterranean cuisine.
Activities and water sports
There are plenty of beautiful places to explore from Costa Ballena, along with a wide range of options for leisure and outdoor activities. Rota and Chipiona are both very close and definitely worth a visit. You could also head to Sanlúcar, especially in August, to see the famous horse races on the beach, or to Jerez de la Frontera to tour one of its renowned wineries. If you’ve got more time, a day trip to Cadiz is a great idea, you can climb the cathedral tower or check out the Tavira Tower with its camera obscura.
When it comes to water sports, the area around Costa Ballena has it all. Besides soaking up the sun and swimming, you can go sailing, diving, windsurfing, kitesurfing or even take a boat or horse ride along the coast. It’s also relatively easy to go horse riding, sailing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, diving and golfing in the area surrounding this enclave in Cadiz. And if you head a few kilometres inland, you can also enjoy some paragliding. Some active tourism companies based in Rota even run adventure sports in the nearby mountain area. If hiking’s more your thing, you can head to the Pinar de la Algaida for a forest walk or join a guided 4×4 tour of Doñana National Park or the surrounding marshes.
