Puerto de Santa Maria holidays

Sherry sipping and classical architecture are what holidays to Puerto de Santa Maria are all about.

Sherry and shores

Puerto de Santa Maria might sit in the shadow of its popular neighbours, like Cadiz and Seville, but it’s got loads to say for itself. For a start, it forms part of the ‘sherry triangle’ – an area of Spain that’s famous for producing the plonk – and you’ll find loads of wine bars, called bodegas, around the town’s aptly named Sherry Marina. Elsewhere, you’ve got big beaches that are perfect for a morning-after recoup, as well as centuries-old sights where you can get your culture fix.

Visit San Marcos Castle

History buff? Don’t miss a visit to Puerto de Santa Maria’s most iconic building. San Marcos Castle, in the heart of the city, is a gorgeous Gothic fortress, which dates all the way back to the 10th century. And the best bit – in keeping with the city’s more recent history, the castle’s got a bodega on site, so you can pair your day of sightseeing with a cheeky sherry, or two. Salud!

Natural tranquility

If you drive around 40 minutes out of the town centre, you’ll reach the Bahía de Cadiz Natural Park. This place has 26,000 acres of land filled with pine forests, salt marshes, twinkling freshwater lakes and hidden-away lagoons. As you can imagine, there’s plenty of wildlife to spot. If you’re a keen birdwatcher, you’ll have more than 200 different species to look out for, including flamingos and storks. The waters are alive with fish and little creatures like marsh frogs, too. It’s easy to explore this sprawling park on foot, as there are plenty of paths and bridges guiding you around. If you’d rather see the sights from the water, you can hop on a kayak tour* instead.

Beach days galore

There’s lots of choice when it comes to beaches in Puerto de Santa Maria. With eight sandy swathes to choose from, you can opt for chilled-out afternoons reading books on secluded shores, or getting your adrenaline pumping with watersports. One of the best options for a relaxing beach day is Playa de Levante – this place is in the Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park, and it’s around four kilometres long, so you’ve got more than enough sunbathing space. A more popular spot that’s closer to the town centre is Playa de Valdelagrana. This sandy sweep’s coupled with a promenade where you can visit waterside bars and souvenir shops.