I have been lucky enough to call Tarifa in Spain as home for over 10 years. This little town is situated at the Southernmost point in Europe and the exact place where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. A walled Moorish town with picturesque whitewashed alleyways full of cafe’s, bars and shops next to a 12 mile long beach it's only a 30 minute ferry ride from another Tangiers in Morocco. So all in all not a bad set up at all!.

But what is it like for Paddleboarding?, well, first things first, Tarifa is Windy, very Windy!. It is an incredibly popular destination year round for Kitesurfers and Windsurfers. But, it’s not always blowing and when it drops, Tarifa is paradise for Stand Up Paddleboarding. With 12 miles of beach alongside its main beach on the Atlantic there is plenty to explore and enjoy the stunning mountainous backdrop. There are some incredible surf breaks to be found on the beach too, particularly good is Balneario, near the town itself, Arte Vida (halfway up) and the Reef break at its most northerly point, Punta Paloma.

Halfway up the beach, a gently flowing river, the Rio Jara flows into the sea. It’s so slow that you can happily paddle all the way up into the Spanish countryside for a few miles before floating back down. It is an ideal flatwater beginners trip to get the basics down before hitting the sea and the surf. 

At the Northern end of the beach, Punta Paloma, stands giant sand dunes, which makes for a spectacular and surreal backdrop to your SUP adventure.

Back at the town end of the beach stands the Isla de los Palomas, which is connected to the town via a narrow Isthmus of land. This marks Europe’s most Southerly point and where the Med meets the Atlantic. Paddling from one body of water to the next around the island has to be on every paddler’s bucket list I think!.

Add in further stunning beaches on both the Med and the Atlantic, lots of places to rent boards (including our favourite, Tantrum Kitesurf), surf shops, friendly people and incredible food and you have (when the wind dies) one of Europe’s best Stand Up Paddleboarding destinations.