Los Barrios holidays

Los Barrios holidays land you close to beaches with picture-worthy views of Gibraltar’s Rock and Morocco’s mountains.

Pretty and peaceful

Los Barrios is a small town in southern Spain, about 40 minutes’ drive west of Gibraltar. You’ll know you’ve arrived in the right place when you see roads lined with flowerbeds and roundabouts decorated with sculptures by local artists. The central plaza’s the town’s focal point – it’s a shady square where locals gather to play dominoes. Near there, you’ll find a maze of streets peppered with restaurants and bars, lots of them serving tapas and fresh seafood. And if you stop for a bite to eat, you can usually opt to sit outside between the whitewashed buildings. This place is also the starting pint of the Ruta del Toro – AKA Bull Route – so you can expect to see lots of bull farms in the surrounding area.

Beaches with a view

If you fancy a beach day, make the 15-minute drive to Playa de El Rinconcillo. This four-kilometre belt of sand stretches from the Port of Algeciras to the mouth of the Palmones River. If you look out across the sea, you can see the Rock of Gibraltar and, on a clear day, even the outline of Morocco’s mountains in the distance. Just to the north end of the beach is the smaller Playa de Palmones. This stretch is right by the river where little boats moor up, and there are bars and restaurants nearby, so you can top off your sunbathing stint with a bite to eat and a scenic waterside walk.

Happy hiking

There are quite a few hiking trails here to give you a taste of Spain’s countryside. One of the most popular is the five-kilometre Valdeinfierno trail. It’s set on a hill and runs alongside a gorge, with leafy rhododendrons, tall oak trees and bushy green ferns lining the route. The first 600 metres or so is quite easy, so if you don’t fancy much of a workout, or if you have reduced mobility, you can still see what it’s all about.