The La Cortadura Dune System is a natural system of primary and secondary dunes located on La Cortadura Beach in Cádiz; it is the only protected section of the municipality’s dune system. Physically, it extends 3,900 meters in length with a dry beach width of approximately 60 meters, forming a sandbar that separates the Bay of Cádiz from the Atlantic Ocean. The system includes a primary dune with vegetation characteristic of active sand dunes and a more active secondary dune with greater biological diversity, along with a wide intertidal zone and a rocky platform that is exposed at low tide. From the observation point, visitors can see the distinctive landscape of the beach with its dunes, the interdune lagoon of La Gallega (restored to support amphibians such as the Gallipato, spurs-toed toad, and green frog), and the Torregorda military base at the end of the stretch. The area is notable for its ecological value as a Coastal Complex of Environmental Interest, included in the Cádiz Provincial Council’s Plan for the Protection of the Physical Environment in 2007, and for being the only natural beach in the municipality, encompassing the sections of El Chato, Santibáñez, and Matagorda. The dune ridge is protected in some areas by fences and wooden stakes to prevent its degradation. The beach is one of the least crowded in Cádiz and Andalusia, accessible to people with limited mobility, and equipped with lifeguard and rescue services. The best time to visit is at low tide, when the rocky shelf is completely exposed, or in spring and fall to avoid the intense heat of the Atlantic.
