Best day trips you can do from Rota to other parts of Cadiz in Spain
If you are a US Navy soldier or family member stationed at the US Navy Rota base and you want to explore Cadiz in Spain, there are many incredible places for you to visit nearby. In this blog I will be talking about short-drive day trips from Rota to Cadiz.
Cadiz has over a third of its surface protected, the highest in Andalusia, while its climate is similar to Canary Islands. In fact, Cadiz and Huelva in “la costa de la luz” are the provinces with the highest amount of sunlight hours of Spain. Despite this, Cadiz also has the rainiest place in Spain, Grazalema natural park, and different geology throughout the province. This climate, geology, and its location at the southernmost point of mainland Europe, creates unique landscapes in Cadiz.
Below I will be giving different ideas of what to visit in Cadiz from Rota. From gorgeous white towns within the list of the most beautiful towns of Spain, to incredible protected natural parks.
If you want to learn more about what to do in Cadiz province please click the following button. Please feel free to contact me at info@explorelatierra.com to book one of our culinary or hiking tours in Cadiz province. You can see what types of tours I offer later in this blog.
Trips from Rota to the famous white towns in Cadiz
These day trips are one hour away road-trips from the US Navy Rota base to within Cadiz province.
Day trip to Cadiz city from Rota
Click here to see a walking route in Cadiz to follow. I have designed a walking route in Cadiz to do in one day. However, in this route are all the main landmarks that you should not miss. It is quite a bit of walking to be able to see, but you have to remember that the city was founded by the Phoenicians and that it has a lot of history. In fact, some say that it is the oldest city in western Europe, although others think that Lisbon was first before Cadiz.
Day trip to the sherry triangle from Rota
If you love wine and want to do a very short trip nearby then you should not miss doing a sherry wine tour in a bodega cellar. Click here to see which are my favourite bodegas tours within the sherry triangle, the only three cities in the world where sherry can be aged. In this blog you will find my favourite bodegas in Jerez de la Frontera, Puerto de Santa Maria, and Sanlucar de Barrameda.
Trips to Jerez de la Frontera
Click here to see a one day walking route in Jerez de la Frontera to follow. In fact, in this route I have tried to cover all the main landmarks that you should not miss when visiting Jerez de la Frontera. If you are visiting you should enter and visit the Alcazar in Jerez de la Frontera.
If you are in Jerez de la Frontera you must eat in the traditional tabancos of Jerez. Please click here to see which tabancos are my favourites and which one should you visit depending on your preferences.
Day trip to Vejer de la Frontera
Click here to see a one day walking route in Vejer de la Frontera to follow. In this route you will find all the main landmarks that you should not miss, if you want a local guide to accompany you please feel free to contact me.
If you are interested in going for a walk near Vejer de la Frontera, please click here. In this link you will find several hikes around Vejer de la Frontera and the largest pine forest in Cadiz, in La Breña natural park.
If you want to know more about where to eat in Vejer de la Frontera, please read my blog where I talk about different restaurants depending on what you want to eat.
Longer Day trips from Rota to Cadiz
I will now be giving you suggestions for day trips that are less than two hours driving from the US Navy Rota base to within Cadiz in Spain.
Setenil de las Bodegas
Setenil is listed as one of the most beautiful villages in all of Spain! It is such a unique White village because it is actually built within the caves of a canyon. Scientists have found evidence of a large community of prehistoric people in the caves, making Setenil one of the oldest inhabited areas of Spain.
Restaurant: Bar restaurante Domínguez is a local restaurant with traditional dishes from Setenil. With some Moorish influenced dishes, “migas de Setenil”, meats, rice and more.
Zahara de la Sierra
With its picturesque views and the 13th century castle at the top of the hill, Zahara de la Sierra is another must-visit white town. The views are among the best in Cadiz. If you arrive on a sunny day, the water of the local lake is completely turquoise. In all, the perfect village to get away from it all. You can do an olive oil tour just outside of the village.
Restaurant: Bar restaurante La Era is a local restaurant with traditional dishes from the mountains region. They are the same owners as in the bar Josefi, and their food is fabulous for local food with great value.
Grazalema
With steep mountains as a dramatic backdrop and amazing landscapes you have plenty of hiking routes around this white village. Coming from “Arcos de la Frontera”, you will have great views along the route. Curiously, the Natural Park of Grazalema receives the most rain in Spain. So if you come to visit remember to bring an umbrella just in case!
Restaurant: Restaurant Cadiz el Chico is a local restaurant with traditional dishes from the mountains. It focuses on rice, wild game meat, stews, wild mushrooms and more.
Olvera
While this white town is not within the list of the most beautiful villages in Spain, it has its own charms and you can find it on the way from Setenil de las Bodegas and Zahara de la Sierra. From the castle, which has a small cost to enter, the views are outstanding. The incredible church near the castle of Olvera, and the panoramic views are a must visit if you are nearby.
The castle of Castellar de la Frontera
Castellar is officially considered one of the most beautiful towns of Spain in Cadiz. Mostly, this is because its castle is outstanding. This white town is one of the entrances to the largest cork oak forest in Spain, Los Alcornocales natural park. Castellar de la Frontera has one of the best preserved castles in Europe. It has only one entrance, and the white houses are all still inside of the incredible high walls so it feels like walking in a truly historical place. All streets inside have been well taken care of and are traditionally narrow. Castellar de la Frontera is around 1:40h away from the American base in Rota, Spain.
Restaurant: Restaurante Virgil, is a local restaurant with traditional dishes from the mountains. It focuses on rice, meats, stews, wild mushrooms and more.
Day trip to Tarifa from Rota
Tarifa is a coastal white town. It is famous for its sport tourism, such as kite surfing, surfing, cycling, hiking and more. If you go in May-June, I recommend to check when they do their bluefin tuna festival and spend a day trying its bluefin tuna tapas competition. Tarifa is one of the four towns that still use the millennial-old bluefin tuna fishing method, almadraba. Tarifa is less than 1:35h away from Rota, Spain.
Restaurant: Restaurante la pescadería is a good place to try bluefin tuna, the local fish dishes.
Day trip to Baelo Claudia
Bolonia is also within Tarifa municipality and it has the incredible Roman remains of Baelo Claudia. The Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia are among the best in Spain to see how a Roman city looked like. These ruins are in one of the most beautiful beaches in Spain, within El Estrecho natural park. Bolonia is around 1:30h away from US Nddavy Rota base.
Restaurant: Otero restaurant is a really nice restaurant I recommend with great views, sometimes live music and the Roman ruins are just in front.
Golf trip from Rota to Sotogrande
Due to the incredible weather, landscapes, views, and the 300 days of sunlight per year, Cadiz is an incredible destination for golfers. Therefore, If you are interested in learning more about which golf courses I recommend, please click here. Sotogrande golf courses are around 1:40mins away from Rota base station.
Hiking holidays in Cadiz from Rota
The cork oak forest in Los Alcornocales natural park is the largest cork oak forest in Spain and one of the largest in the world. This park shares borders between Malaga and Cadiz.
Some of the best hikes in Spain you will find them in the natural park in Cadiz with unique habitats in the peninsula, like Laurisilva subtropical forest and Spanish fir forests. Many of these hikes are day trips that are not too far from Rota. If you are interested in learning more about these hikes please click here.
El Estrecho natural park is another gorgeous natural park with one of the largest routes of bird migration as well as migration of bluefin tuna, orcas and some species of whales. Almost half the park goes along the coast, and the other half of the protected natural park is along the sea shore.
If you are interested in hiking in El Estrecho or in Los Alcornocales natural park, please contact me to design a private tour for you and your group from Rota, Gibraltar or anywhere in Cadiz.
Private day trips from Rota base to Cadiz province, Spain
My name is Carlos and I have a tour agency based in Vejer de la Frontera, Explore la Tierra. I focus on doing private culinary tours, cultural and hiking tours within Cadiz province. Please, read below what type of activities I do. I am certain you may want to join some of them!
Food and culinary Tours
Cadiz province is home of one of the most known international wines, the famous sherry wine. I do private sherry and Andalusian wine tastings to your rental house or wherever you are. Join our culinary and cultural tours where we go and visit the famous white towns of Cadiz. You will learn about the traditional bluefin tuna fishing method, almadraba, or visit a local olive press, almazara. I look forward to showing you the incredibly diverse gastronomy and traditions that the province has to offer.
If you are interested in a sherry winery tour Please watch the next video to see what do we do in the sherry winery tour:
Hiking tours in the natural parks of Cadiz
In these private guided hiking day trips from Rota in Cadiz province I offer incredible hikes in La Breña, El Estrecho and Los Alcornocales natural parks. You will learn about local traditions and about the culinary, medicinal and gastronomical use of the Mediterranean plants. I worked in the environmental and conservation fields in Canada, UK and Spain for over 5 years and know many of the species in the area.
Cadiz province is one of the most biodiverse provinces in mainland Spain. Habitats range from dense forest reminiscent of cloud forest to Mediterranean forest, dune systems, and more. Moreover, enjoy the majestic views of Cadiz and the Strait of Gibraltar. Cadiz has the highest % of protected habitat in Andalusia, while its climate and sunlight hours are similar to Canary Islands. I look forward to showing you this incredibly diverse province in the most southern point of mainland Spain.
Contact us
If you are looking into nice day trips from Rota to Cadiz province, please contact us. If you want to join me in any of these tours, please do not hesitate to visit my website and contact me at info@explorelatierra.com.
To learn more about sherry, culture and Andalusia travel guides, please click the big blue button to read other blog posts. If you have any ideas and suggestions, please do not hesitate to write us an email at info@explorelatierra.com. Please read our privacy policy before you get in touch with us. We will take your new recommendations into consideration.
