La Breña Nature Park

One of the most spectacular cliff faces in the province

Barbate's cliffs and pine forest, declared a nature reserve in 1989, boasts one of the most spectacular cliff faces in the province, the cliffs of Caños de Meca. This natural park is a maze of umbrella pines with rosemary, blackthorn and palms. The pine trees in the park were originally planted as a reforestation project to protect the sand dunes and prevent their shifting inland at the end of the last century. Not surprisingly, it is considered to be one of the most diverse and best-preserved parts of the Andalusian coast. It is also the second largest coastal reserve in Andalucía, and is a favourite nesting place for seagulls.

The nearby port of Barbate is renowned for its fishing and canning industry. An ancient watchtower stands on the cliffs overlooking the sea. It is precisely here where the local fishermen use a traditional technique called Almadraba to catch tuna fish.