The last part of the Costa de la Luz begins at Punta Umbría. Surrounded by pine woods, the locality came into being in the 14th century when it was ordered that a tower, called Punta de Umbría, be erected to give advance warning of possible invasions. No more than a small fishing village until recently, it has now become a major summer resort. During the summer one can go to and from Huelva by “canoas”, as the locals call the boats. Nearby are Marismas de Odiel natural park and Los Enebrales nature zone, a veritable paradise for wildlife species.

Next along is the beach of La Antilla and white Lepe, a prosperous truck-farming town with important cooperatives and an intense devotion to the Virgen de la Bella, whose image is said to have floated in from the sea. And finally, at Ayamonte one comes to the end – or the beginning – of the Costa de la Luz. Ayamonte has always been a quiet fishing town, white houses sloping down to the harbour, where at any time one will find fishermen mending their gaily-coloured nets. “Ayamonte” is a corruption of the name originally given it by the Greeks: Anapotaman, meaning “on the river”. Set on a height is the Parador, which affords an excellent view of the town and the mouth of the river Guadiana – the best time is near sunset.