Spain's 'Hippie' Village Is An Under-The-Radar Secluded Stretch Of Coast Full Of Beaches

First, picture a map of Spain. Now zoom in on the southern state of Andalusia. Get closer: The Andalusian coast forms a kind of shallow bulge, which juts into the Strait of Gibraltar. Even closer: On the western side of this protrusion stands Cádiz, a popular but underrated Spanish city with strong Moorish influence. Now drive one hour southeast, along shrubbery-covered flatlands, until you reach the seaside town of Los Caños de Meca. This tiny sliver of land and beach has become a favorite getaway for surfers, backpackers, and clothing-optional naturalists in search of chill vibes. Put bluntly, Los Caños de Meca is a "hippie paradise."

This town offers a rare combination of obscurity, accessibility, and tolerance; you don't have to work too hard to get here, especially if you brought a car, but the town of roughly 200 permanent residents doesn't worry about overcrowding like the nearby Costa del Sol, located on the other side of the Andalusian coast. Los Caños de Meca doesn't have giant resorts or throbbing nightclubs. There's a modest stretch of bars and restaurants, plus a good number of places to stay. But the real attractions are the cliff-lined beaches and a relaxed atmosphere cultivated since the 1960s.

The town's name literally means "The Pipes of Mecca," a reference to legendary springs that the area was once known for, which reminded the Moorish colonists of the sacred Muslim city. Today, the town is revered for its many beaches: Playa del Pirata stretches just below town, a crescent of white-sand beach that attracts every kind of sun-seeker; hostels and restaurants are just a quick walk from the turquoise Mediterranean waters. You can also stroll about 2 miles up the sandy shore, until you reach the Trafalgar Lighthouse, a 111-foot tower that has illuminated the Strait of Gibraltar for sailors since 1860.

More ambitious is the Las Cortinas section of cliffs that descends precipitously into crashing waves. This area is famous for its dramatic rock formations — said to look like drapes, or "cortinas" — as well as small caves and mystical waterfalls. These harder-to-find spots are also well known among nudists.

Finally, if you drive just 12 minutes down the road, you'll arrive in the neighboring beach of Playa de El Palmar, which is famous throughout Spain for its surfing. Experts love to hit these breaks, but calmer days are also suitable for newbies, who can sign up for intro classes or even enroll at surf camps nearby. Small as El Palmar is, you could easily add it to a list of the coolest surf towns in the world.

Los Caños de Meca is basically designed for extreme relaxation, with weather that ranges from pleasant to hot and more items on local tapas menus than you could eat in a week. The town is open to any kind of visitor, not just "hippies"; but if you happen to sport dreadlocks, play a lot of Grateful Dead, and lecture for long periods about "los chakras," you should fit in just fine. Note that cannabis is illegal to buy or sell, though it is legal for personal consumption on private property, so there is some flexibility there. As always, be careful about cannabis use in a foreign country, and always abide by the laws.

Once you've chillaxed enough, this part of Andalusia is ripe for road trips, as the coast is stippled with easygoing beach towns. Cádiz is a magnificent city that stands on a veritable island and was first settled more than 3,000 years ago. The whitewashed buildings are a striking blend of Moorish and Christian-Spanish architecture, which has been lovingly preserved through the centuries. Cádiz boasts two international airports close by and is a regular port for cruise ships, making it an ideal place to begin or end your journey to Los Caños de Meca. You can take a regular bus from Cádiz to Los Caños and its neighbors, but definitely consider renting a car; Spain is widely considered the best country in Europe for unforgettable road trips.