Almadraba and bluefin tuna route in Barbate, Zahara, Conil and Tarifa: season, dates and how to plan your visit (2026-2027)

Updated: 10 November 2026

Every spring Atlantic bluefin tuna swim through the Strait of Gibraltar towards the Mediterranean, and the almadrabas on the Cádiz coast catch them with fixed net traps, a technique of very ancient origin. Around that season, Barbate, Zahara de los Atunes, Conil and Tarifa hold tuna weeks and food routes. This guide sets out what we could check on 10 November 2026 with Spain's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), the EU Official Journal, the Andalusian Tourist Board and news reports citing the town councils, and says clearly what is not confirmed. The 2027 dates are not published: check them with each town council before booking.

The season at a glance

As of 10 November 2026:

Almadraba season: spring, roughly from late April to June. In 2025 the Cádiz almadrabas started fishing in late April (Vozpópuli, 5-5-2025).
According to the Andalusian Tourist Board (2024), there are four almadrabas in the province and two of them are set off the Tarifa coast; the press places them at Conil, Barbate, Zahara de los Atunes and Tarifa.
Quota: the Spanish Government set Spain's 2026 bluefin tuna quota at 7,938.81 tonnes, also valid for 2027 and 2028 (MAPA press note of 28-4-2026, amending Royal Decree 46/2019). The almadrabas have their own share of that quota; we have not seen the 2026 figure per almadraba published. In 2025 the Cádiz almadrabas were authorised to catch 1,292 tonnes.
Exact dates for setting and lifting the nets depend on each almadraba company, the weather and the quota: there is no fixed public calendar.

2026 dates (for reference)

What we could check:

Barbate: 18th Tuna Week (Semana del Atún), 22 April to 3 May 2026, organised by Barbate Town Council (La Voz del Sur, 15-4-2026). In 2025 the week included ronqueos (traditional public tuna butchering) at the fish market and a tapas route.
Zahara de los Atunes: Tuna Route (Ruta del Atún) 12 to 17 May 2026 according to a private travel website; not confirmed by an official source. In 2025 it ran from 13 to 18 May, with 49 competing tapas.
Conil de la Frontera: 2026 dates not confirmed. For reference, in 2025 the 28th Tuna Food Route ran from 9 May to 9 June, with 28 bars and restaurants.
Tarifa: 2026 dates not confirmed, nor whether it was held. In 2025 the press announced the 11th Tuna Route from 29 May to 1 June; another website says it was cancelled. Ask Tarifa Town Council.
Pattern in recent years: Barbate opens the season in late April, Zahara follows in mid-May, Conil runs from May into early June and Tarifa in late May or June.

What about 2027?

As of 10 November 2026:

None of the 2027 dates (Barbate, Zahara, Conil, Tarifa) are published: not confirmed.
If the pattern repeats, the season would run from late April to early June 2027, but this is only a guide.
Town councils usually announce dates in spring, a few weeks ahead; Barbate's Tuna Week was presented in mid-April in 2026.
If you book early, choose a property with flexible cancellation until the dates are published.

How the tuna routes and weeks work

The essentials:

Participating bars and restaurants serve bluefin tuna tapas or dishes at a set price; some editions include a contest and public vote.
The ronqueo is the public butchering of a whole tuna; it is often the opening event and draws crowds: arrive early.
Dates, participating venues and prices change every year: check the programme from the town council or the organising association.
Outside the routes, almadraba tuna is also served fresh in season; the rest of the year it is frozen, canned or salt-cured.

Seeing the almadraba

Options and precautions:

We have not found an official operator for almadraba visits: not confirmed. Commercial boat trips exist (for example from Barbate to the Conil almadraba); check who runs them, their insurance and the cancellation policy.
In past editions, Zahara's Tuna Route included a visit to the almadraba and Conil offered paddleboard trips out to the nets (Andalusian Tourist Board, 2024). We do not know whether these will be repeated.
The almadraba is a fishing area with fixed nets: do not approach it on your own by boat or board outside organised activities.
On land, tuna museums and interpretation centres in the area explain the technique; check opening times before you go.

Mojama de Barbate, PGI

A product with protected geographical indication:

«Mojama de Barbate» is registered as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2110 of 12 November 2015 (OJ L 306, 24-11-2015).
Mojama is salted, air-dried tuna loin; you can buy it all year round in Barbate and nearby.
For the PGI, look for the label with «Mojama de Barbate» and the EU PGI logo.

Where to stay on the Costa de la Luz

Planning your visit:

Barbate, Zahara de los Atunes, Conil, Vejer and Tarifa are less than an hour apart by car; you can stay in one and visit the rest.
Route weekends, especially in May, bring higher demand: book early and ask about minimum stays.
Check the registration number. In Andalusia hotels, apartments and holiday homes are listed in the Andalusian Tourism Register (Registro de Turismo de Andalucía). More at /spain-holiday-rental-registration-number-2026.
Look at the total price, with taxes and cleaning. Andalusia has no tourist tax. More at /andalusia-tourist-tax-2026.
Read the cancellation policy before paying and, if you can, book directly with the property: you know exactly what you pay and who you deal with.

If you run a property on the Costa de la Luz

What travellers typically ask AI assistants about these dates:

When the almadraba season is and the tuna route dates in each town, and how far you are from Barbate, Zahara, Conil or Tarifa.
Minimum stay, total price and cancellation policy in May and June.
Parking, registration number and whether you recommend restaurants on the route.
Keeping this clear and up to date on your website and listings avoids wrong answers.
Related guide: Cádiz Carnival 2027 at /cadiz-carnival-2027-dates-accommodation.

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Frequently asked questions

When is the almadraba season in Cádiz?

In spring, roughly from late April to June, when bluefin tuna pass through the Strait towards the Mediterranean. Exact dates depend on each almadraba, the weather and the quota.

When is Barbate's Tuna Week?

In 2026 it ran from 22 April to 3 May (18th edition, Barbate Town Council). The 2027 dates are not published.

When are the 2027 Zahara and Conil tuna routes?

They are not published. For reference, in 2025 Zahara's ran from 13 to 18 May and Conil's from 9 May to 9 June.

Can you visit an almadraba?

Commercial boat trips exist, but we have not found an official operator. In past years some tuna routes included organised visits. Always check who runs the activity.

What is the Mojama de Barbate PGI?

An EU Protected Geographical Indication for mojama (salted, dried tuna loin) made in Barbate, registered by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2110.

Sources

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