Lepe, La Antilla, Islantilla and El Rompido in 2026-2027: the sandspit, the Piedras river marshes, the lighthouses, the beaches and getting there

Updated: 10 November 2026

Between Lepe and Cartaya, the Piedras river reaches the sea behind a sandspit more than 12 km long, the Flecha de El Rompido, protected together with its marshes as a natural site (paraje natural). On one side are the beaches of La Antilla, Santa Pura and Nueva Umbría (Lepe) and Islantilla; on the other, the fishing village of El Rompido (Cartaya), with its two lighthouses. This guide brings together what we could check on 10 November 2026 in Andalusian Government (Junta de Andalucía) trail and site sheets, the Huelva Coast Transport Consortium timetables and press reports, which we flag as such. Punta Umbría, Mazagón and Matalascañas are covered in our Huelva coast guide (/huelva-coast-beaches-punta-umbria-islantilla-mazagon-matalascanas-getting-there-2026); we do not repeat them here. Anything we could not confirm is marked, and we always give the year of each fact.

Marismas del Río Piedras y Flecha de El Rompido natural site

According to the site's official sheet (Junta de Andalucía):

Municipalities and size: Cartaya and Lepe, about 2,409.08 ha.
Protection: Paraje Natural under Law 2/1989 of 18 July; Special Protection Area for birds (SPA) since 2002 and Special Area of Conservation (SAC ES6150006).
Habitats: 14 of Community interest, 3 of them priority: coastal lagoons, grey dunes with herbaceous vegetation and dunes with junipers.
The sandspit: according to the Junta's Nueva Umbría trail sheet, it is more than 12 km long and grows eastwards about 30 m a year, fed by sediment from the Piedras river, westerly winds and tides. The press (El Español, 12-6-2026) says 13 km: the exact figure is not confirmed.

Trails: Nueva Umbría and Río Piedras

Junta de Andalucía trail sheets (no publication date):

Sendero Nueva Umbría (Lepe): 1.7 km one way, about 35 minutes, easy, on a poorly kept asphalt track with no shade. It starts on a track to the left of the A-5050 towards La Antilla, about 150 m past the El Terrón turn-off; there is a car park about 150 m away and a few spaces at the start. No permit is needed.
From the end, a wooden boardwalk leads to the Atlantic beaches of the sandspit, and the path links to the Sendero Litoral de Nueva Umbría, which ends at La Antilla.
Sendero Río Piedras (Cartaya): circular, 4.9 km, 1 h 10 min, easy, little shade and a maximum climb of 13 m. It starts from the Camino del Lancón, about 2 km past the roundabout at the entrance to El Rompido; there is no official car park. It passes the Borreras lagoon, the Marsh viewpoint and a walkway over the Tendal creek.
Bring water and sun protection: both routes have little or no shade.

Boats to the Flecha de El Rompido

What the press says and what is not confirmed:

According to El Español (12-6-2026, press), in high season boats run frequently between Cartaya and the sandspit, stopping at El Rompido, Nuevo Portil and San Miguel beach; the crossing takes just a few minutes.
The same report mentions hiring small motorboats that need no licence; as there is no jetty on the sandspit, they are tied up on the shore.
Operator, timetables, fares and months of service in 2026-2027: not confirmed. We found no Cartaya City Council information; ask at El Rompido harbour or at your accommodation.

The El Rompido lighthouses

According to the Río Piedras trail sheet (Junta de Andalucía):

El Rompido has two lighthouses. The old, smaller one dates from 1861 and was partly built with stones from the castle of San Miguel de Arca de Buey, destroyed in the 16th century.
It had a keeper's house and was retired in 1976, when the new lighthouse a few metres away came into service; the new one is automated.
Whether either can be visited inside: not confirmed.

Beaches: La Antilla, Santa Pura, Nueva Umbría and Islantilla

What we could check and what we could not:

Santa Pura (Lepe): between the eastern end of La Antilla and the start of Nueva Umbría; about 2,500 m long and 50 m wide, golden sand, easy access on foot, with sunshade, sunbed and watercraft hire and cleaning (Turespaña sheet, undated).
La Antilla (Lepe): the Sendero Litoral de Nueva Umbría ends here (Junta). 2026 facilities and access: not confirmed.
Nueva Umbría (Lepe): the Atlantic beaches of the sandspit, reached via the trail's boardwalk (Junta).
Islantilla: covered in our Huelva coast guide; we do not repeat it here.
Blue Flag 2026: we could not consult ADEAC's official list. What the press published for these beaches is in our 2026 Blue Flag guide (/blue-flag-beaches-2026-costa-de-la-luz-cadiz-huelva). As an official reference, in 2025 Huelva had 19 flags: 12 beaches, 6 marinas and 1 tourist boat (Junta de Andalucía).

Getting there: Damas buses from Huelva

Huelva Coast Transport Consortium timetables, valid from 1-9-2026 to 30-6-2027:

Line M-307 Huelva-La Bota-El Portil-El Rompido-Cartaya (Damas S.A.): from Huelva bus station, Monday to Friday (working days) at 08:00, 10:30, 13:00, 15:15 and 20:00; Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays at 11:00 and 18:00. The same number of trips run back from Cartaya.
Line M-902 Ayamonte-Huelva-Seville (Damas S.A.): stops at Cartaya and the Lepe bus stop, among others; it leaves Huelva at 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 and 17:00 Monday to Friday (working days) (the page shows no weekend departures from Huelva).
Buses to La Antilla and Islantilla: not confirmed in the pages we checked. Check routes and timetables on the Consortium or Damas website before travelling.

Getting there: from Faro airport

In practice:

Faro airport (Portugal) is a common option for the western Huelva coast, but we could not check distances, journey times or bus connections to Lepe or El Rompido in 2026 in official sources: not confirmed.
Ask your accommodation which connection it recommends (bus, hire car or transfer) and how long it takes.

If you run a property in Lepe, La Antilla, Islantilla or El Rompido

What travellers typically ask AI assistants:

How to cross to the Flecha de El Rompido, where the boats leave from and in which months.
How many minutes away the nearest beach is and whether there is parking.
Which bus to take from Huelva or how to get there from Faro airport.
Keeping this clear and up to date on your website and listings (and checking facts such as the Blue Flag or boat timetables every year) avoids wrong answers.

How iQuota helps

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Frequently asked questions

How do you get to the Flecha de El Rompido?

By boat from the El Rompido or Cartaya shore (according to press in June 2026, a frequent service in high season; operator, timetables and fares not confirmed) or on foot from Lepe along the Nueva Umbría trail and its boardwalk (Junta de Andalucía).

How long is the Flecha de El Rompido?

More than 12 km according to the Junta de Andalucía, which adds that it grows eastwards about 30 m a year; the press says 13 km.

Is there a bus from Huelva to El Rompido?

Yes. Damas line M-307 leaves Huelva Monday to Friday (working days) at 08:00, 10:30, 13:00, 15:15 and 20:00, and at weekends and on public holidays at 11:00 and 18:00 (timetable from 1-9-2026 to 30-6-2027).

Which Lepe beaches have a Blue Flag in 2026?

Not confirmed in ADEAC's official list. What the press published is in our 2026 Blue Flag guide; check the ADEAC website or at the beach.

Can you visit the El Rompido lighthouse?

Not confirmed. There are two lighthouses: the old one, from 1861, out of service since 1976, and the new, automated one (Junta de Andalucía).

Sources

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