Want to know what you can do in the sunny town of Rota, in southern Spain in less than 24 HRS ? To be honest, a lot! As you read you will discover that Rota has tons of things to do. Whether you are looking to relax or have a bit of adventure, there is something for everyone.
Passing through? Have some extra time before catching a flight? Here are a few of my tips while hanging out in Rota, Spain
*If you are passing through the Rota Naval Base, feeling a loss at what to do for a few hours or days, this blog is perfect for you.*
Whatever your situation, especially if you are a first-timer waiting around can be frustrating and stressful.
You are in luck. Rota is a holiday spot. Many discoveries await those willing to explore or vacation here.
“Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure”
Bob Bitchin
This quaint little fishing town is in the province of Cádiz. The Rota Naval Base, located nearby, contributes a major chunk to its growth and economy. Tourism also contributes substantially to the town’s finances. Northern Spaniards and Europeans choose Rota as a summer holiday destination year after year.
The average temperature during the coldest month (January) is around 12 °C (54 °F) and in the summer during the hottest month (August) it is around 26 °C (79 °F), Boosting about 300 days of sunshine.
Rota has a bit of everything depending on what you like to do. 😀
1. Enjoy A Chill Day
Rota is a beach town, with 16 km of magnificent, clean beaches. Such as La Costilla, El Rompidillo, and Punta Candor. Scattered all along the beaches are several (chiringuitos) beach bars.
Go on down and grab a cocktail, or coffee and soak in the sun. People-watching is always a fun pastime activity and Rota’s boardwalks do not disappoint. 😀
Not all of the bars are open all year round but two that never disappoint are Sunset and Azucar de Cuba. There are also some great bars/pubs that cater to English speakers. Such as Brixton, Coco’s, Arcos, and O’grady’s.
If you enjoy a good ocean swim, the average sea temperature is around 16 °C (61 °F) during the winter and around 23 °C (73 °F) during the summer.
If you are around in the evening Rota is known for its magnificent sunset, and should not be missed.
2. Keep It Local
LOCAL GASTRONOMY
Delve a little into the culture and try some of the local cuisines. A well-known dish, Urta a la Roteña or Rota-style Red Sea Bream is delicious
Rota is also famously known for its arranque which is made with chopped bread, tomatoes, green peppers, garlic, salt, and olive oil.
Truly unique to Rota and worth a try is the local sherry wine, known as tintilla, made with dark, ripe grapes. produced solely in the vineyards within the Rota area. This sherry can be found in several different places but the best (in my opinion) are:
Tasca Talavan also serves some tasty Bluefin tuna dishes
Bodega El Gato is the last standing bodega (winery) in the town of Rota. You can either visit their bodega for a wine tour or stop by their bar for a tapa and a glass of tintilla sherry, which they also produce.
Not interested in the local cuisine? You are in luck because Rota has a variety of other styles of food from across the world. Speaking of which, Rota has become famous for its Neapolitan-style pizza which has gained it the title:
‘The town with the most pizzerias per capita in the world.’ There are 34 pizzerias for a population under 30,000. And believe it or not, they even have a national renown pizza festival held in the spring.
LEARN A LITTLE ABOUT THE HISTORY
The old town of Rota is a perfect place to wander down narrow streets and see the typical archways and white houses Andalusia is known for, with beautiful town squares and decorative flower pot corners.
If you are interested in a little history then Rota won’t disappoint, they even have their very own castle.
Castillo la Luna is a charming castle built in the 13th century and has a beautiful interior courtyard dating from the 15th century. If you are lucky you might be able to visit the top of the castle which has stunning views of the town, sea, and the Capital city, Cádiz across the bay. (Ask at the front desk in the castle for daily rooftop visits.)
Across from the castle, you can find Nuestra Señora de la O Church which was built in the 16th century. What is a Spanish town without an old catholic church? If you continue walking you will make it down to the port where you can see both the old and new lighthouse. The walk back to the main plaza along the boardwalk is well worth it.
DISCOVER THE LOCAL SPOTS
If by chance you are not alone and happen to be traveling with that special someone or a family member, along the boardwalk, there is a locally known kissing wall. The words “Besame en Esta Esquina”, or “kiss me on this corner”, can be found above this famous spot where you can steal a kiss from your partner or loved one (or embarrass your kids by demanding kisses in public).
3. Fun Activities
GO FOR A WALK
Go for a nature walk. Rota offers a lovely walk through its pine trees along the Rota coast. The trail starts from the Virgen del Mar housing development and runs all the way to Punta Candor Beach.
The route continues along wooden footbridges which cross the Rota Pine Forest. It is about 4.1km and takes about 1hr and 30min, roundtrip. There are several offshoots that lead to gazebos with panoramic views of the Bay of Cádiz.
You can find a map here (the description is in Spanish, sorry;/)
Rota is also home to the famous Corales Romanas. This ancient Roman tidal fish farm is located here. It is about a 35 min walk from the main square along the beach heading west.
This old fishing coral is considered a cultural and natural landmark and declared an Andalusian Natural monument. It is best seen during low tide.
If you have not seen them before I recommend checking them out. They are pretty cool. You might even be able to catch your own fish.
RENT A BIKE
If you have some extra energy and want to see more of the area, then renting a bike is your best bet.
The most well-known trail is called El Camino Natural de Rota, or Rota Greenway Nature Trail. It was once an old railway that linked two of the neighboring towns, El Puerto de Santa Maria with Sanlúcar de Barrameda. 30km in length it takes about 90min to bike it round trip. It will take you from Rota to Chipiona. If you want to venture a little further you can also take it all the way to Sanlúcar Barrameda. The path starts here.
In addition, there are many more biking trails, which you can find here.
Places to rent bikes:
Bicicletas Valdés (+34) 699 549 234
Aventura Eléctrica (+34) 611 140 901
Bicicletas Jurado (+34) 608 194 947
The Naval Station Rota MWR’s Outdoor Recreation Center also rents bikes.
Spots to rent (Please keep in mind that these rental spots may be seasonal)
WATER SPORTS
Rota is a great spot for water sports. Depending on the time of the year you can pretty much do any water-related sport including kayaking, standup paddle boarding, windsurfing, kitesurfing, kiteboarding, and sailing. Spots to rent (Please keep in mind that these rental spots may be seasonal):
Club Surf Educa: (+34) 619 74 38 00
Over Limit Centro Náutico: (+34) 658 831 183
The Naval Station Rota MWR’s Outdoor Recreation Center also rents kayaks and stand-up paddle boards all year round.
(Image: My friend and I paddleboard on the Rota beach)
GO GOLFING
The closest golf course (that is not in the Rota Naval Base) is the Costa Ballena Golf Club. It is about a 13 min drive from Rota. This golf course is not only one of the largest, but it is also one of the best places to practice golf in Europe.
It boasts a 27-hole championship course and has fabulous views of the ocean. It also has a lovely restaurant where you can enjoy a tasty meal with beautiful views overlooking the greens.
(+34) 956 84 70 70
4. Explore The Area
VISIT A CITY: For these excursions, you would need to either rent or borrow a car.
The Rota Naval Exchange rents cars at the air terminal.
VISIT SANLÚCAR DE BARRAMEDA
Sanlúcarde Barrameda sits on the mouth of the Guadalquivir river, Opposite the Doñana National Park. it separated the province of Cádiz from Huelva.
This historic city is famous for its Manzanilla sherry wine and delicious prawns as well as for its importance in some of the monumental events in Spanish history.
All of this makes it a wonderful day trip for those feeling a little more adventurous. It has several noteworthy landmarks, restaurants, and bodegas (sherry wineries), you can visit as well as a boardwalk that is lovely to stroll on.
Distance from Rota is 21.5km or 23min. HERE ON A MAP.
VISIT CHIPIONA
Chipiona is the closest town to Rota heading west and is home to the tallest lighthouse in Spain and the third tallest in Europe.
There is a Castle which you can visit. Inside there is a museum dedicated to the discovery of the New World. It is called the “Cádiz and the New World” Museum.
There is also a museum that showcases the town’s famous Moscatel wine. The museum introduces you to the ancient history and culture of Moscatel de Chipiona, one of the highest-quality sweet wines in the world.
Distance from Rota: 17.5 km or 21 min. HERE ON A MAP.
VISIT JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA
Jerez de La Frontera is internationally famous for its Sherry wine, Flamenco dance and music, Andalucian horses, and moto GP (Spanish Motorcycle Grand Prix). It is a lovely historic nobleman’s city.
The downtown area contains the old city where you can find the Alcazar an 11th-century Moorish fortress, tabancos or sherry bars, and Flamenco bars. The city is also home to the famous horse riding school, ‘The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Arts, which has a lovely horse-carriage museum where you can watch the horse riders and horses display their talents.
There are also many different bodegas (sherry wineries) that offer wine tours.
Distance from Rota is 31 km or 33min. HERE ON A MAP.
VISIT CÁDIZ
Cádiz is definitely worth the day trip. It is one of Andalucia’s best-kept secrets. This beautiful city sits on its very own peninsula and is connected to mainland Spain by an isthmus.
Considered to be the oldest inhabited city in occidental Europe it is a marvelous place to spend an afternoon. Not only do they have several museums with artifacts displayed from the various civilizations that have passed through the city, but there are also many monuments you can see while wandering around the old quarter.
Its narrow windy streets, beautiful green parks, plazas, and tasty restaurants and cafes make it a perfect European city to spend the day in.
Distance from Rota is 44km or 35min. HERE ON A MAP.
You can also take a ferry from Rota to Cádiz. The ferries can be a tad bit sporadic but they are definitely worth a try if they are working. It is about a 30 min ferry ride one way. You can check the schedule here.
My Personal Take
Obviously, I am biased because I would say join me and let me show you one of these lovely cities via a ‘Tapa and Culture‘ Experience or sign up for a tasting I host over at The Company Room, but it is really up to you and what you have time for. Rota is a lovely little coastal town. I would take advantage of the 300 days of sunshine, by ordering a caña (small beer) at one of the beach bars (such as Sunset) and bask in the sunshine.
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