Eating out

Gastronomy in the area is based mainly in excellent seafood products as well as vegetables with an important production of apricots, strawberries, figues, melons, watermelons and oranges.

Some places to eat out well could be:

A delicious arroz a la marinera ( rice with shrimps and squids) is served at Chiringuitos I, II and III at Punta del Moral fishing village, just 3 kms from main Isla Canela Resort. You can also find good tapas bars in Ayamonte city centre and a rustic place called Meson Juan Macias to taste ham and iberian pork products. Casa Luciano is also a fine place to taste local dishes.

In the surroundings, if budget lets El Paraiso in Aljaraque, Consolación en Cartaya, Casa Rufino in Isla Cristina, Parador in Ayamonte outskirts and Las Candelas in Huelva are the references if looking for fine quality seafood. (Fried fish, clams, squids, many kinds of grilled fish)

Crossing the border, in Algarve region, there is also a wide range of restaurants varying from international and ethnic cuisine to local dishes, many of them tourist-oriented. Maybe, a guarantee is Dom Sebastiao in Lagos with great atmosphere. (Tuna, cataplanas, lobster)

For pastries, the best places are a confeitaria in Vila Real main square, and others in Moguer and Aracena (Casa Rufino).

Sightseeing

There are many possibilities for sightseeing in the surroundings. There are also lots of leisure activities to be done at a short ride from Isla Canela. Some of them would be:

Isla Canela beach

Isla Canela Marina and Isla Canela Golf Course. A visit to Ayamonte or Isla Cristina markets are always an experience. A bit further from La Antilla resort you can find Paraje Natural de la Barra del Rompido, a virgin long sandy bar where you can get in summertime in small boats. A cultural and historic inmersion if you visit Area Colombina, not far from Huelva (La Rabida Monastery, Palos Church, La Fontanilla Spring, Moguer Monastery, Carabelas docks, Botanical Garden, etc) where Colombus planned the trips and finally departed to discover America.

Another interesting and longer day trip is to Sierra de Aracena (Aracena Range), birthplace of iberian ham with its tiny white villages surrounded by lush chestnuts forests and orchards and an awe-inspiring cave. (Gruta de las Maravillas).

In winery Condado area in Huelva province, you can visit prehistoric Dolmen de Soto close to Trigueros, one of the best examples in Spain of that sort of construction. Another sight are Niebla walls and fortress, and historic Villalba del alcor and La Palma del Condado, both with really interesting parish churches.

Riotinto mines, El Rocio shrine, Doñana National Park and Sevilla are other must-see places if staying for a week or so.

A fast highway connect today Ayamonte and The Algarve so staying in Isla Canela bring you the possibility to make and easy day trip to any of Algarve beaches and coves. We are specially fond of those located between Portimao and Sagres (ochre rocky craggs stand in the middle of the sea) , The Vicentina Coast for its landscape (although the sea temperature is not as mild as in Isla Canela) and long sandy stretch of coast and islands between Vila Real and Faro. Some places could be (from West to East): Marinhal and Salema, Ponta da Piedade, Praia dos Tres Irmaos and Alvor, Carvoeiro, Algar Seco, Islands of Armona and Culatra, Ilha de Tavira, and Praia de Manta Rota.

Tavira is a really interesting place

SHOPPING

There is a supermarket in Isla Canela during high season (June-September) but there are excellent opportunities to buy almost everything in Ayamonte, just 5 kms away. There, you can find big supermarkets as Eroski, Dia or smaller as Lola. Local markets in Ayamonte and Isla Cristina are also an excellent place to buy fresh fish, groceries and meat.

The maze of Ayamonte pedestrian streets that connect the main squares hold many varied shops for every taste. Vila Real de Sto Antonio also has a pedestrian street full of small shops, many of them specialized in lingerie and towels.

LEISURE .....

There is a Casino in Monte Gordo, 10 kms from Isla Canela (In Portugal)
There are also several waterparks in Algarve, the closest one is located just off the highway in MonteGordo/Altura exit.
18 holes golf course in Isla Canela. Also in Islantilla, El Rompido , El Portil and Aljaraque and of course in Algarve region.
Sailing in Marina Isla Canela and Ayamonte yacht harbour.
Windsurf and Kitesurf in Isla Canela.