The shifting dunes of the south western coast of Andalucia, really are a sight to behold, perhaps the most dramatic being those located at Punta Paloma, the headland just to the north of Tarifa, separating the expansive beaches of Tarifa from those of Bolonia. The dramatically high sand dunes rise up by more than 100m from the beach just to the north of Playa Valdevaqueros, as a result of the fine, golden sand being blown from the beach up the headland, burying all the vegetation and even the trees.
Behind the sand dunes, is a small road (the A-2325), which runs off the main road. We love this road, as it quite an exhilarating drive. Much like driving through the mountains, when snow is falling, this Andalucian road, is frequently covered in sand, which can become very deep, very quickly. Caution – and very slow driving – is really required, as you could find yourself sinking into the sand. The road would appear to be frequently cleared, as there are a few “snowplough” style vehicles often parked up, but I wouldn’t fancy experiencing being stuck in a sand-drift. We tend to follow other cars – or are at least glad if another vehicle is behind us – as we feel a bit safer in numbers!
If you are feeling very, very energetic, it is possible to climb the dunes, both from the road side and the beach side, and standing on the top, you will be rewarded with the most fantastic views of the beaches all the way down to Tarifa town, and then across the straits to Morocco.
We have visited Punta Paloma a few times and every time, the landscape is different because of the shifting sands. In the summer, the winds are hot and intense and there is no respite from the heat, as there is little vegetation cover. However, in the winter, the winds are biting and strong and the sand whips up into your face like shards of glass. But, we can’t resist this wild, wild part of the coast, because it is so dramatic.
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