Although here around the Manilva coastline, we have some of the best blue flag beaches on the Costa del sol, in my opinion, you can’t beat the beaches of the Costa de la luz. Its well worth the drive.. Just follow the N340 /A7 coast road down the Tarifa and up the other side. Some of the views of Africa are stunning. On a clear day you can even make out some of the houses in the coastal towns. If you’ve never been to Tarifa before, its worth a visit. Loads of surf shops and surfing enthusiasts. The place where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean sea is also very interesting. 
Personally, I find Tarifa beach itself a bit too busy with all the surfers so we head a little further round to Bolonia. It’s just over a hours drive from Manilva. The turn off is clearly signposted and you then drive down a smaller narrow road to the beach (its about another 15 minutes from the main road). There are several car parks right on the beach, as its August we did have to park in the very last one but there were several cars coming in after us. I would advise to arrive early, especially in high season – after 12 noon and you may struggle to park. Bolonia beach has a real unspoilt and “back to basics” feel to it. There is no paseo with lots of bars and restaurants, just a few small chiringuitos and a beach…. but, my, what a beach. Beautiful white sands, which have formed huge sand dunes – great for the kids to climb up and roll down!!. Although its the Atlantic Ocean, which you would assume would be cold, I have always found the sea there to be warmer than the Med. The sea is crystal clear, and apart from a little seaweed, absolutely perfect.
Pack a picnic, a deckchair, a beach umbrella ( a must as not much shade there at all) and head off for the day. Believe me, it is so worth the hours drive.
As well as a fabulous beach, there is also ruins of a large Roman settlement which are open to the public. Some are even right on the beach. We plan to go back next month to check these out properly, and grab another couple of hours on the beach…
