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ISLA CANELA - A beach paradise Print E-mail
Written by Aurinko   
Isla Canela is a natural, sandy, island separated from the mainland by a network of canals and the River Guadiana, and is located in the municipality of Ayamonte, province of Huelva, just a 5 minute drive from the centre of this riverside port town. It is situated on the Spanish Costa de la Luz, adjacent to the border with the Portuguese Algarve. It is well connected by motorways and bus services to the airports of Faro on the Algarve and, slightly more distant, Seville and Jerez de la Frontera, and also with the capital of Huelva city, while the island itself is situated away from the major through roads of the area, which are nonetheless only a few minutes away for access.  The surrounding commercial and residential areas are non-industrial and the environs consist of agriculture, natural wildlife preserves, golfing, sailing and holiday complexes.
Isla Canela covers an area of 1,760 hectares, enjoying 7 kilometres of sun-kissed beaches by the sparkling waters of the Atlantic Ocean and constitutes a great tourist project with luxury hotels and apartments and marina complex. The weather in Isla Canela is pleasant and soft with its clear blue skies and golden dusks, always lightened by the warm Spanish sun.


Isla Canela’s development as a top-quality luxurious holiday attraction began back in the mid 1960’s when plans for the tourist promotion of the Costa de la Luz started the slow process of turning the area into a recreational tourist centre of national interest and importance.  However, it was not until the early nineties that this area really blossomed, being greatly benefited by the opening of the International Bridge over the River Guadiana, which increased the flow of national and international visitors and communications with the rest of the area. Today, tourist activity in Isla Canela has reached an increasing importance and has become the main source for the island’s economy, with a positive incidence in construction and local commerce. And it keeps on growing.


Nowadays, Isla Canela offers not only splendid beaches and accommodation facilities of the highest level, but also a wide range of attractions and activities to enjoy. Take, for example, the 18 hole golf course, a well established complex set in a scenic landscape; or the many restaurants and lovely beach bars that offer gastronomic and social delights, by both day and night. For a more in-touch-with-nature feel, there is a modern recreational marina and navigable waterways for sailing, fishing and practising all types of water sports; as well as protected wildlife areas including a bird sanctuary.  You can also get a taste of the joyful Andalucian lifestyle, just by crossing the bridge linking Isla Canela to Ayamonte and the other neighbouring towns (such as Isla Cristina, Villablanca and Lepe), and be charmed by both their people and their many cultural treasures.


How to get to Isla Canela:
The closest airport is Faro on southern Portuguese Algarve coast, just 45 minutes away by car or bus. You can also ferry across the River Guadiana from the Portuguese town of Vila Real de Santo Antonio for a relaxed, scenic change.


There are no customs or border controls between Spain and Portugal making travel swift and trouble-free. Several airlines fly to Faro from many airports in the UK (among other destinations)and the flight time is fairly short, whilst fares can be very economical if you fly by low cost air lines, such as Easyjet or Ryanair.


The second closest airport is Seville .The recent inauguration of the freeway A49 that now unites Ayamonte with Seville, makes Isla Canela only one hour and a quarter distant.


A third option is flying to Jerez de la Frontera further to the South-East of Seville, the journey being 2 hours and 20 minutes. This gives you the option to explore a bit more of the Costa de la Luz.
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