Bask in the Magic of Northern Morocco

Since Smart Insiders is based out of Madrid, that is where the group met to begin the trip. We boarded a bus at the meeting point around 9 pm on a Wednesday evening. From here we started our 7+ hour bus ride from Madrid to Tarifa, which is on the southern coast of Spain. Luckily my 4 years of long bus rides to and from diving meets have taught me to sleep quite soundly on busses!

We drove all night to arrive at the port in Tarifa when it first opened. Here we went through customs to exit Spain and board the ferry that would take us across the Straights of Gibraltar to Morocco.

We took advantage of the time on the ferry to freshen up and change since we wouldn’t be stopping at the hotel until much later in the day.

Once the ferry docked in Tangier, Morocco, border agents boarded the boat and processed our arrival paperwork. The process was simple but took FOREVER as there were only two agents to process EVERYONE on the boat. Once our whole group was finally processed, we boarded our new bus which took us to our first stop…breakfast!

This was one of the nicest parts of taking an organized trip. We didn’t have to go through any stressful process of figuring out transportation upon arrival.

After clearing customs, our bus took us directly to the coastal city of Asilah located about 45 minutes south of Tangier.

Here, the local guide that accompanied our tour group leads us to a restaurant for a traditional Moroccan breakfast, complete with pieces of bread, fruit, and the country’s signature spearmint tea. After breakfast, we headed into the Medina, or center of the city,

Asilah is known for its well-preserved 15th-century city walls and the incredible murals that adorn them. We had an hour or so of free time to explore the city on our own. Of course, I chose to shop. In my experience, the store owners and artists were willing to negotiate on prices but they didn’t seem pushy. It made for a much more relaxed shopping atmosphere than in other areas of Morocco.

I really enjoyed the colors and the character of Asilah. This is a perfect quick trip for anyone wanting to experience a quieter side of Morocco.

We boarded the bus in Asilah and on our way back to Tangier we stopped at three different locations.

The first was Grottes d’Hercule or the Caves of Hercules.

This cave complex is part natural, and part man-made, but is well known for its Africa-shaped opening to the sea. Commonly known as the Map of Africa.

There are several legends that surround these caves.

The most famous is that Hercules slept in these caves before completing his 11th labor. During which, instead of climbing a mountain known as Atlas, he used his godlike strength to split it in two. Thus creating the Straights of Gibraltar.

Amongst being a place of legends, the “Map of Africa” was believed to be created by the Phoenicians to help with navigation purposes. The caves also provided stone for wheels and shelter for the Barber people.

I really enjoyed visiting a place with such historical and mythical significance. Additionally, the caves and outlooks in the Caves complex are stunning.

The second stop was a beach near Cape Spartel. The beach itself was impressive. I have never seen such an incredible beach. It was massive and went on for miles with crashing waves, the softest sand you have ever walked on, and virtually empty (partially because it was December).

This is where we got to take our Camel ride!!

I had never ridden a camel before and it was a bit weird to start, but so much fun!

(These Camels appeared to be well cared for and treated kindly!)

The LIghthouse on Cape Spartel marks the intersection of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It was incredible! I could see the waves from each body of water colliding at the tip of the cape.

We were also lucky enough to be here during the start of sunset. We were able to watch the sky change colors over both the Mediterranean sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

After sunset, the bus took us back to Tangier where we finally checked into our hotel, The Kenzi Solazur Hotel. This hotel was very nice and had an awesome breakfast for guests in the morning.

In the evening our bus took us into the center of Tangier where we had a traditional Moroccan meal. Our meal began with Harira, a traditional Moroccan tomato, and lentil soup. It has a very rich flavor that is created by adding many spices including ginger, cinnamon, and cumin. Our main course consisted of Cous Cous, roasted vegetables, and chicken. For dessert, we enjoyed Chebakia, a pastry which is a deep-fried dough that is coated in honey and sesame. It’s best with warm Moroccan Mint Tea.

After our meal, we went back to the hotel and went to bed where we all fell soundly asleep!

Once again we woke up at sunrise to the citywide call to prayer. This was our last day in Morocco so we had to pack up our room and get ready for the long day that awaited us. Once packed and ready we headed down to the hotel breakfast.

After breakfast, we loaded up the bus and headed into the city center or Medina of Tangier. Here we met with a local guide who showed us around the city. He gave us some insight into the history of Northern Morocco and its culture. I found it interesting that Morocco has seen so many changes in regimes and colonizing powers. As a result, this part of the country is heavily influenced not only by the cultures and languages of its African neighbors but also by those of their European neighbors. This being said, the people of Northern Morocco often speak a combination of multiple different languages, including Arabic, French, Spanish, and English.

The Tour Guide navigated us through the Maze-like streets of the Medina, and past several beautiful and intricately constructed Mosques. One of my favorite parts of Morocco is the architecture and specifically the individuality of all the doors.

The next stop on our Tour was the Grand Socco Market, where locals come to purchase, fresh fish, meat, olives, and other vegetables. This was honestly my least favorite part of the trip. Personally, I don’t do well with the smell of raw fish. In addition, seeing portions of the cleaning process made me slightly nauseous. In the market, you also walk past stalls and stalls of freshly butchered animals (which didn’t help my already queasy stomach). Luckily we were there on a rather cool day. I could not even begin to imagine the smell of it on a hot day. Consider yourself warned. It was interesting, however, to see a way of life and shopping that is so different from my own.

After leaving the Market, we were given some free time which we used to shop in the surrounding area and enjoy more delicious tea at a small café.

After our shopping time, Smart Insiders had arranged for a presentation at a local spa. We were able to buy certified authentic Moroccan Argan Oil as well as other Moroccan Health and beauty products. It was interesting to learn about how these products are made, and it was awesome to know that the products we were buying were actually authentic. Often times when buying products in the market, or from other local vendors, you are not guaranteed pure or high-quality products.

Once the presentation ended it was time to head back across the straights of Gibraltar, via ferry. When we landed back on Spanish soil, in Tarifa, we had to go through a simple Visa check. From Tarifa, we got back on our trusty bus and proceeded to ride for the next 7+ hours. We arrived back in Madrid late night/ early morning.

I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to explore a country that is so different from any place I had ever been to. It truly expanded my view of the world and it taught me so much about different ways of life. Morocco is a beautiful country with VERY friendly people, and I hope to explore more of it soon.