2 days in Morocco from Spain

We took the 09:00 ferry from Tarifa and arrived at 10:00 giving us the full day to explore Tangier. Our guide was waiting for us, and we hopped in the van to begin the first part of the tour.

As we drove out of the ferry port, our first views of Tangier were spectacular. The landscape is a striking mix of old and new as the Old City and the Casbah sit on a cliff overlooking the wide, palm tree-lined boulevard along the sea.

Our guide explained a bit about the history of Tangier and the differences between the Old and New cities. We first toured the latter, which included a beautiful drive along the road through Cape Spartel nature reserve.

We passed several impressive estates, including the summer palace of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI.

Other highlights of the New City included:

Cape Spartel: This is the northwestern-most point of mainland Africa and about 1000 feet above sea level. It towers above the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea.

Camel Rides at Achakar Beach: If you take a tour in Tangier, more than likely you will have the opportunity to ride a camel down to the beach. Our tour was no exception!

Caves of Hercules: These famous archeological caves are below the cape and date back to 6000 B.C. They have an opening on land and another to the sea. The latter opening is carved in the shape of the African continent.

We then visited the Old Town, or “Medina.” It was mostly a walking tour through the winding, narrow streets. Every turn revealed something colorful and interesting.

As lunchtime approached, we wanted to follow our noses to the source of the mouthwatering smells! (We had a delicious lunch at a traditional Moroccan restaurant recommended by our guide).

Highlights of the Medina included:

Casbah – Built in the 17th century, this fortified area of the Medina sits atop a cliff overlooking the sea. Within the walls is the former royal palace, which is now a museum, plus a mosque, residential area, and numerous cafes/restaurants.

Souk – This is the market area, bustling with hundreds of shops selling everything from artisan crafts to electronics to natural remedies.

You can find nice souvenirs and gifts at any price point. Among the three of us, we bought scarves, jewelry, and a rug!

We also stopped at a Berber pharmacy, where we listened to a short explanation of some of the local products used for medicinal purposes by the Berbers, the indigenous people of North Africa.

Our guides dropped us at our hotel in the late afternoon. Having started our day at 06:15 to drive to Tarifa, we were too tired to venture far for dinner, and we ate at our hotel.