The Costa de la Luz (Coast of light) is the western part of the Andalucia coastline that faces out to the Atlantic. The sand is finer and a more golden colour than the neighbouring Costa del Sol. The typical beaches here are more expansive and probably backed by sand dunes and pine trees. This part of the coast has not seen the high rise hotel development of other areas in Spain.

The temperatures are slightly milder, and the often strong Atlantic winds and waves are favoured by wind surfers and surfboarders alike. The stretches of cliffs and coves are generally found to the east near Barbate and around the Campo de Gibraltar.

The Costa de la Luz Coast is often divided into two sections:-

• Costa de la Luz (Huelva Province) which stretches from the Portuguese border to the Donana Park, and the River Guadalquivir.
• Costa de la Luz (Cadiz Province) stretches from the River Guadalquivir to Tarifa at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea.

To travel from one section to another requires a lengthy drive via the city of Seville.

The Huelva province contains beautiful golden sands, and small seaside towns devoted to national tourism. Visit the marina and eroded sandstone cliffs at Mazagon and the golden beaches of Matalascanas which is also an entry point for tours of Donana Park.

From north to south this is an interesting section of the coastline. Sanlucar de Barrameda with its golden sands overlooking the River Guadalquivir and Donana National Park. Further south, around the small villages of Chipiona and Rota (often remembered by Americans for the Military Base) we find fine beaches. The town El Puerto de Santa Maria is famous for its restaurants serving succulent king prawns washed down with chilled Manzanilla wine.

The historic walled city of Cadiz is built in a Peninsular, jutting into the bay of Cadiz. South of the golf at Sancti Petri we find a ragged coastline dominated by coves and cliffs, often backed by pine forests.