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Off Gibraltar you can check out the many sunken ships, while the wilds around Cabo de Gata offer the most profuse underwater life. The Costa de la Luz also has some good spots, including watersport heaven, Tarifa.

Thanks to the constant winds, Tarifa is one of the world magnets for windsurfing, while good possibilities also can be found along the Costa Tropical. For board surfing, the Costa de la Luz provides sufficiently high waves. Mediterranean waves are only good for body-surfing.

Andalucía is renowned for breeding some of the finest horses in the world, so one would expect to find a range of riding options. There are trails and schools in every province.

Andalucía is blessed with sierras in which to hike, from verdant, to desert-like, to rocky (see Nature Reserves). If mountaineering appeals, head for the Sierra Nevada. Maps and lists of refuges are available from the Federación Española de Deportes de Montaña (FEDME).

The region is home to some of the world’s most interesting caves, many of them commercially developed. For information and organized jaunts, contact Safari Shop.

The resort near Granada, Solynieve, is the only possibility in Andalucía. Although a little too sleek compared to its Alpine cousins, it offers a variety of runs and, best of all, skiing fairly late in the season.

With so many marinas along the coast, sailing is big here. For deep-sea fishing, you need to obtain a five-year licence; for freshwater fishing, you’ll need a two-week licence. Contact the Spanish Fishing Federation for details.

So copious are the golf courses that the Costa del Sol has often been dubbed the “Costa del Golf”. Courses include everything from world masterpieces, designed by top golfers, to putting greens (see Costa del Sol Golf Courses).

Football (soccer) is a national obsession, stirring up the deepest of passions. In season, you’ll encounter it in every bar, blaring out from the TV.

In the Spanish view, this is not really a sport, but an art form, and to many Andalucíans, it embodies the soul of the region. The fight season runs from April to October and tickets are available from bullrings.