Some beaches are famous for the colour of their sand or the clarity of their waters, others for their vegetation or waves, but very few are known for the creatures that share their shores. In Andalusia, there is a beach celebrated not only for its beauty but also for the cows that come to cool off there.
We are talking about Pajares Beach, one of the lesser-known beaches in Cádiz, yet also one of the most unique.
The Andalusian beach with cows on the shore
Pajares Beach is situated between Zahara de los Atunes and Barbate, at the foot of the Sierra del Retín. Stretching 3,500 metres long and 93 metres wide, it is also known as Cañillos Beach or El Botero Beach. Each day, up to a hundred Retinta cows – a breed native to Andalusia and Extremadura – visit the shore.
Find holiday rentals in Cádiz and visit this unique beach
Just a few minutes from the town of Barbate, it forms part of a 10-kilometre stretch of coastline alternating between sandy beaches and grasslands. The landscape is enhanced by dunes and meadows and lies within the military zone of the Sierra del Retín training camp.
A unique place on the Cádiz coast
The cattle graze and rest here, sharing the landscape with the Atlantic Ocean. The scene is both picturesque and unforgettable: cows wandering along the sand or resting by the water, captivating hikers and onlookers who stop to admire and photograph them.
Seeing cows grazing freely by the ocean is a rare sight, particularly in such a stunning part of Barbate. Many visitors rise early to witness the cattle arriving at dawn.
As the beach lies within a military zone, it is closed for part of the year, but it is open to the public during the summer months.