Escorted Holidays 2020

The Costa de la Luz, Sherry Country
& the White Villages of Andalucia
8 days from £769 May & September
Sanlucar de Barrameda, your holiday base, is an interesting old port with
a long history, set at the northern tip of the so-called ‘sherry triangle’,
and home to the distinctive manzanilla wine. Apart from its beach and
fishing port, it has a picturesque old quarter of pleasant pedestrian
streets, thronging with reasonably-priced bars and restaurants. Across the
Guadalquivir (the ‘Big River’) is the Donana National Park, a major wildlife
haven. From Sanlucar, Columbus embarked on his third voyage to the New
World, Pizzaro sailed for Peru, and 2019 sees the 500th anniversary of the
start of Magellan’s unintended attempt to sail around the world. The area
is the home of the majestic Andalucian thoroughbred horse, and a visit to
the state-run stud farm near Jerez is included. There is also a trip into the
unique landscapes of the ‘white villages’ of Andalucia, spectacularly set on
the mountain hillsides. And all of this within the pleasant climate and the
stunning ‘light’ which gives the ‘Costa de la Luz’ its name.
• 7 nights in Sanlucar de Barrameda, with daily buffet breakfast, three
dinners, and a tapas lunch • Sanlucar orientation walk and bodega visit
• Excursion to Grazalema and the White Villages of Andalucia • Visit to
an Andalusian Stud farm and Jerez
PROGRAMME
DAY ONE: Flight to Seville or to Jerez and
then to your centrally-situated hotel in
Sanlucar de Barrameda (transfer time
80 minutes from Seville, 25 minutes
from Jerez) for seven nights. Dinner is
included on three nights. This means you
have time to sample the delights of the
myriad tapas bars and restaurants for
which Sanlucar is famous. Your hotel is
ideally located, within 200-300m of the
old pedestrian streets in the centre, 450m
from the bus station (regular services to
Jerez, Cadiz, Seville, Chipiona), and 1km
from the castle and from the attractions
of the maritime quarter. The maritime
area of town, at the mouth of the river
at Bajo de Guia (‘Pilots’ alighting place’),
features a wide gastronomic range of
fish and seafood restaurants. Bajo de
Guia is also the site of the ‘Ice Factory’
tourist office, with displays of the Donana
National Park, and the starting point of
a half-day boat trip into the Park. The
Donana is one of the chief wetland nature
areas of Europe, particularly important
for ecologists and ornithologists (both
for resident and migratory birdlife,
and indeed for wildlife and ecology in
general). Also nearby the hotel is the long,
flat beach renowned for its August horseracing
events.
DAYS TWO TO SEVEN: In Sanlucar with
three included excursions. The first is
an orientation walk of the town, with a
manzanilla bodega visit and tapas lunch.
Another excursion takes you to Jerez
and the Cartuja National Stud Farm.
Half an hour’s drive from Sanlucar lies
the ‘Yeguada de la Cartuja’ just to the
south of Jerez, the state-run Stud Farm
for Jerezano horses. Its origins date back
to the 15th century when Carthusian
monks established a monastery there
and later began to establish a bloodline
for these magnificent white horses. As
well as a tour of the stud farm, you’ll see
a show featuring the famous horses. In
Jerez, you will have an orientation tour of
the city that gave sherry to the world. As
well as a fine Gothic cathedral there is an
alcazar and atmospheric gypsy quarter.
The Alcazar was once the residence of
the Caliph of Seville and incorporates a
mosque, later converted into a church.
There are several big-name sherry houses
including Gonzalez Byass, Domecq,
Harvey, and Sandeman. 47 miles today.
The third excursion explores the White
Villages of Andalucia, featuring Arcos de
la Frontera and Grazalema. Driving inland,
you arrive at Arcos de la Frontera, perched
improbably on a crag overlooking
the Guadalete River. After a stop, you
continue to Grazalema, which gives
its name to the whole Sierra and is the
centre of the Natural Park – a UNESCOlisted
biosphere. Although now best
known for the walkers and sightseers
who come to the park, as early as the
17th century, Grazalema became famous
for its woollen blankets and clothing.
You return by a different route, passing
through Algodonales – frequented by
many hang-gliders – and Villamartin
before rejoining the main road at Arcos.
156 miles today.
Two optional excursions will also be
available: to the Flamenco city of Seville,
and to the maritime city of Cadiz and
pretty Puerto de Santa Maria, with the trip
between them by boat.
DAY EIGHT: Departure for the airport.
Depending on your flight schedule,
there may be time for some last-minute
shopping and sightseeing en route.
YOUR HOTEL
HOTEL GUADALQUIVIR HHHH,
Sanlucar de Barrameda (seven
nights)
This centrally-situated hotel has been
refurbished to offer comfortable rooms
with small fridge, tv, aircon, bath/shower
and wc. and free wifi. There is a railwaythemed
bar/coffee shop serving snacks,
dining area, and a rooftop bar/terrace with
splendid views. There is a lounge area and
3 lifts. The pedestrianized town centre
with innumerable reasonably-priced
restaurants and bars is just a few yards
away.
(www.hotelguadalquivir.com/en/)
Please refer to the enclosed ‘Dates and Flight Information’ for details of departure dates, prices and flights.
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