Morocco, Canary Islands & Spain Cruise: Casablanca, Tenerife & Seville

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world. Its magnificent harbor made it a logical trading port as far back as the Phoenicians, as well as a departure point for 15th century voyages sponsored by Prince Henry the Navigator, patron of Portuguese explorers. The city is rich in architecture, from Romanesque and Gothic to Post Modern, and criss-crossed by monument-studded grand boulevards. Today it is seeking a place on the world stage by hosting, in addition to its own active cultural calendar, film festivals, art, fashion, and design shows, book fairs, marathons, and rock concerts.

The breathtaking scenery of Portugal’s southernmost region has long made the Algarve region a magnet for those seeking winter sun. And Portimão is a perfect example: golden sandy beaches beneath dramatic cliffs, the aroma of fresh sardines on the grill and some of the best golf courses in Europe – what could be better? This, maybe: the fabulous Autodromo Algarve Racing School, better known as the Poritmao Circuit puts you behind the wheel of a professional F1 racecar on a F1 track, pretty hard to beat.

The heart of Cadiz is its old town, cloistered within a bastion ringed by the sea. Here tiny cobblestone streets lead into beckoning café-filled squares, where you can sip while appreciating the Moorish architecture. Or visit Seville, where the locals are devoted to bullfighting, flamenco, and fiesta. Food too, it appears, as Seville is credited with the invention of tapas. Join in with the locals as they graze from bar to bar, making an entire meal out of the experience. The city also has a rich history evident in its old quarters and landmarks – an immense lavishly ornamented cathedral, and the Alcazar palace, exquisitely decorated in Moorish style.

The towering Rock of Gibraltar is a sight to behold. Overlooking the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea from a height of 1,400 ft, it is a natural fortress, in a strategic position to control all naval traffic between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Only three miles long and a mile wide, this peninsula attached to the Spanish mainland juts out into the Strait of Gibraltar, which separates continental Europe from North Africa, a distance of only 14 miles. One feature most unusual for Europe is the troupes of semi-wild and curiously tailless Barbary macaques that have taken up residence on The Rock’s upper reaches.

Modern-day Casablanca retains some of the atmosphere and history of times gone by yet is a thoroughly modern city. Frenetic yet welcoming, Casablanca remains a lively destination. Especially in Djemaa el-Fna, the huge square in the medina is teeming with open-air food stalls, jugglers, storytellers and snake charmers. The architecture of its French-colonial past can be seen in the graceful white buildings, with their soft lines and attention to detail.

Tucked near the foot of the Atlas Mountains and surrounded by the rich plains of the Souss Valley, Agadir is a sunny cosmopolitan city where modern architecture meets the shell of a colonial port nearly leveled by a 1960 earthquake.

Today Agadir is one of the most premier sardine fishing ports in the world and a thriving commercial center for citrus export. Newly built in the mid-twentieth century, modern buildings intermingle with white washed buildings along wide French inspired boulevards fringed by lush parkland and mimosa trees. But, the main star of Agadir’s landscape is its lovely stretches of secluded beach that attract tourists from around the world to the shores of this North African resort destination.

Lanzarote’s most famous feature is its otherworldly landscape, born of hundreds of fire-breathing peaks. The last eruption was in 1824, and though the region is now classed as dormant, you can still feel the heat under the surface at Timanfaya National Park. Considering that the island is a desert with only 5-6 inches (125-150 mm) of rain a year, the ingenious farmers of Lanzarote have worked agricultural miracles, especially in the wine region of Geria, where vines are planted and flourish in a layer of black volcanic sand, which holds on tight to every last drop of moisture. It is an amazing sight to see, and produces a nectar that is a delight to sip.

A notoriously festive destination, Tenerife is the biggest, most well-known of Spain’s Canary Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. The volcanic island is characterized by rugged, steep coastline and miles of beaches, popular for kite surfing and swimming. Teide-Pico Viejo, Spain’s tallest peak, towers over the island, and its national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Located in the Atlantic Ocean about 800 miles off the coast of Europe, Gran Canaria is like a little slice of Spanish paradise.

In fact, even though it’s just 29 miles across, with its variety of landscapes, climates, and attractions, Gran Canaria is sometimes referred to as a “Miniature Continent”, and a third of the island under protection as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The south features sunny resort communities, the bird sanctuary of Palmisos Park, and Maspalomas (renowned for its beaches, sand dunes, and lighthouse), while the east has the fishing village of Puerto de Mogan, otherwise known as “Little Venice” due to its many canals.

One of the lesser known of Spain’s Canary Islands, La Gomera is located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa, and is relatively untouched by tourism. Those who do visit are drawn to La Gomera’s indescribable beauty, steady pace and lush landscape. The highest peak, Garajonay, sits at the island’s center, and is surrounded by ravines, valleys and the dense, misty “El Cedro” cloud forest. It is also home of Garajonay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Venture by boat to admire Los Organos and its basalt rock formations in the shape of organ pipes. Step back in time at the preserved medieval Tower of The Peraza in San Sebastian or the neo-Gothic Church of San Marcos in Agulo, so simply enjoy wine and tapas against a volcanic backdrop. Be enthralled by the sounds of Silbo Gomero, the indigenous, whistled language used to communicate over long distances.

The aptly nicknamed “pretty island”, La Palma is one of Spain’s Canary Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. Walk along the rim of the crater at Volcán San Antonio then set out to one of the viewpoints at the Caldera de Taburiente, an enormous crater-like depression at the center of Caldera del Taburiente National Park. At the highest point of La Palma sits El Roque de los Muchachos, an important observatory as the clear and cloudless skies above the island make it one of the best places in the world to see the stars.

Madeira has its share of captivating squares, picturesque villages, idyllic landscapes, and stunning views; it also offers some unexpected pleasures.

There are numerous parks and gardens – wild and natural, manicured, Oriental in sensibility, and one attached to the villa of an erstwhile prince.

Tangier, a Moroccan port on the Strait of Gibraltar, has been a strategic gateway between Africa and Europe since Phoenician times. Its whitewashed hillside medina is home to the Dar el Makhzen, a palace of the sultans that’s now a museum of Moroccan artifacts. The American Legation Museum, also in the medina, documents early diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Morocco in an 1821 Moorish-style former consulate.

The charming old quarter in Cadiz makes it easy to see why the small town is frequented by Spaniards on holiday. Its intriguing ancient streets, delightful plazas and flower-filled balconies make exploring a must. Along the way, restore your energy at any of the mouth-watering tapas bars offering some of the country’s finest seafood and typical Andalucian cuisine.

The charming old quarter in Cadiz makes it easy to see why the small town is frequented by Spaniards on holiday. Its intriguing ancient streets, delightful plazas and flower-filled balconies make exploring a must. Along the way, restore your energy at any of the mouth-watering tapas bars offering some of the country’s finest seafood and typical Andalucian cuisine.

The charming old quarter in Cadiz makes it easy to see why the small town is frequented by Spaniards on holiday. Its intriguing ancient streets, delightful plazas and flower-filled balconies make exploring a must. Along the way, restore your energy at any of the mouth-watering tapas bars offering some of the country’s finest seafood and typical Andalucian cuisine.

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world. Its magnificent harbor made it a logical trading port as far back as the Phoenicians, as well as a departure point for 15th century voyages sponsored by Prince Henry the Navigator, patron of Portuguese explorers. The city is rich in architecture, from Romanesque and Gothic to Post Modern, and criss-crossed by monument-studded grand boulevards. Today it is seeking a place on the world stage by hosting, in addition to its own active cultural calendar, film festivals, art, fashion, and design shows, book fairs, marathons, and rock concerts.

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world. Its magnificent harbor made it a logical trading port as far back as the Phoenicians, as well as a departure point for 15th century voyages sponsored by Prince Henry the Navigator, patron of Portuguese explorers. The city is rich in architecture, from Romanesque and Gothic to Post Modern, and criss-crossed by monument-studded grand boulevards. Today it is seeking a place on the world stage by hosting, in addition to its own active cultural calendar, film festivals, art, fashion, and design shows, book fairs, marathons, and rock concerts.