The Rio Guadiana, at 778 kilometres long, is one of the most significant rivers in Spain and, indeed, Portugal as it serves for a significant distance as a natural boundary between the two countriess. The banks of the river are teeming with wildlife and history, including some settlements dating back as far as the Bronze Age; but one town that stands out for many reasons is Ayamonte. This westernmost coastal resort of the Costa de la Luz 'Coast of Light' is affectionately known as the ‘doors of Spain’ as it looks directly across to Portugal. Apart from the views of the river, the impressive suspension bridge and across to Portugal, including the Portuguese city of Castro Marim with its castle and fort which date back to 13th or 14th centuries, due to its westerly orientation, one is treated to the most phenomenal sunsets over the broad vista.
 Gracing the banks of the Rio Guadiana you will find that Ayamonte - Ciudad de Salud 'Healthy City' due to its unpollutted, lucent atmosphere - is 4km from Isla Canela’s stunning dune-backed beaches that shelve off into a deep blue sea and just 3km from three championship golf courses, namely the premier Isla Canela and two at Costa Esuri. In fact if golf is your passion, you’ll never be left wanting. On the Spanish side there are such gems as El Rompido and Islantilla within 30 minutes and of course hop into Portuguese territory you’ll find the stunning fairways of Vila Sol, Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago to name but a few. To complete the package, Ayamonte is surrounded by the Marismas del Guadiana, (the marshes of the Guadiana estuary), which are rich in birdlife including herons, storks, cormorant and flamingos.
 Ayamonte itself is an attractive tree-lined fishing port and resort with shady plazas and plenty of shops, pavement cafés, vibrant bars and restaurants serving delicious seafood. Ferries course across the river to Vila Real de San Antonio in Portugal from the Muelle de Portugal in the centre of Ayamonte. However, the new suspension bridge opened in 1991 just to the north of Ayamonte has diverted a lot of the cross-border through-traffic, leaving a welcoming, hassle-free shopping area which is mostly pedestrianised, although there are several car parks located at various parts of the town centre. The majority of this picturesque town, with its distinct lack of 'tower blocks', is washed in white and more often than not crowned by bright Spanish sunshine. In fact, when Winter comes, remember as you enjoy the contrasting crisp air and minimal rain-fall, Spring and Summer are not far behind.
Via the suspension bridge, driving time to the International Airport at Faro is a mere 40 minutes and residents can avail themselves of some excellent fares offered by carriers such as EasyJet and Ryanair. (See the Flights Section.) The second closest airport is Seville, a manageable hour and a quarter’s drive. Both are toll-free motorway routes.
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