Bolonia Beach and Dune

The Bolonia cove, in the municipality of Tarifa, ends in the west in a white sand dune that advances over the pine forest. It has been a natural monument since 2001 and is part of the Estrecho Natural Park. The Junta gives it a height of about 30 metres and a width of 200, and explains it by the levante, the wind of the Strait, which pushes the sand inland; the stone pines of Monte Camarinal were planted precisely to hold it back. At its foot is a long, open beach, and on the other side of the cove, the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia.

The dune trail

The Junta has a signposted trail, no permit needed and of low difficulty: 1.1 km each way along a wooden boardwalk and beach sand. It starts from a car park for about 10 or 15 cars, with one adapted space, beside the Alpariate stream. From El Lentiscal, the main settlement of the cove, continue towards the sea, leaving the turn-off to the archaeological site on your right, and cross the stream bridge, which forms a small coastal lagoon with birds such as sandpipers, redshanks and little terns.

The boardwalk runs for about four hundred metres, passes the old fishing hamlet of Bolonia and continues over the sand in front of the Roman ruins. At the end it reaches a sort of viewpoint over the pine forest from which you can see how the dune enters the woodland. You turn back there: the pine forest is a restricted zone of the Ministry of Defence. Along the way grow esparto grass, sea daffodil, sea holly, coastal junipers, broom and mastic.

Bear in mind

The dune is a protected space: go up and down by the designated route, without trampling the vegetation. The official sheet warns that there is little shade; bring water and sun protection. In a strong levante the sand whips about: choose another day. In summer the Bolonia car park fills up before midday.

Getting there

From Vejer, take the N-340 towards Tarifa; at kilometre 71 the CA-8202 leaves, which descends to Bolonia. It is about 45 minutes by car. The climb up the dune is the part children like best; from the top you see the whole cove.

How to fit it in

The natural thing is to combine it with Baelo Claudia on the same day: the Roman city in the morning, as in summer it closes at 15:00, and the beach and dune in the afternoon. If you go back to Vejer at dusk, in the village you have El Muro and El Refectorio for dinner.