It was not a barrier to enjoying the people and places and should not put you off more remote explorations in Spain. The roads were quiet, well surfaced and driving was easy. Free tourist road maps were adequate although a good larger scale map would have helped on a couple of occasions. The scenery was every changing and dramatic. Life moves at a much slower pace, with shops and businesses closing during the hottest parts of the day. If you speak a little Spanish you'll find people are very willing to make conversation, listen and help with pronunciation and new words. Hiking trails were frequent, as were picnic areas. You will also find disused railways that have been converted into cycle paths, another excellent way of travelling to less well know areas.

Conclusions

In Andalucía you really can mix birdwatching with other types of holiday. The mix of different types of landscape means there is a wide range of activities from beach to mountains, hiking, cycling, visiting historic sites, painting and drawing or whatever takes your fancy. Planning and some 'give and take' will ensure a great holiday that includes birdwatching and activites for the whole group or family.

The whole area is popular for many types of outdoor activity including fishing and paragliding.

Andalucía - food, accommodation and people

Each evenings we enjoyed Spanish cuisine and hospitality with imaginative dishes served in congenial surroundings. The day's birdwatching was discussed over glasses of vino tinto, the next day considered and much speculation was made about what might be seen. If you like good food, cooked using fresh produce accompanied by good wine then you will not be disappointed. The Spanish love of fish and the closeness of the mediterranean coast meant that the fish was particularly good, with local specialities such as 'choco' (cuttlefish) and other fish with no English name. We may not have known their names but the tastes and differences were part of the attraction and culinary experiences.

Our accommodation was always of a high standard, with different levels of accommodation to suit all budgets. After the birdwatching trip I took a rental car and ventured further inland to the mountains to sample some more remote areas. This additional accommodation was booked via the internet with low-cost as the main criteria. The objective was to sample a range of accommodation and experience life in the villages. The two hotels were both excellent, with ensuite private bathrooms for 45 euros a night (single occupation) including breakfast. The local people were friendly and helped me practise my Spanish, correcting it where necessary. In the remote areas English was not generally spoken, although most people managed a few words of coversation.

 

Feathered World - Supplement November 2008 - Tarifa Bird Fair 2008 and Birdwatching in Andalucía :-: Page 7 of 8