Day Trip to Chefchaouen from Spain

You will be picked up from your hotel in Costa del sol or closest and taken in an air-conditioned van to Tarifa port , Early morning start your day excursion to Morocco, departure from Tarifa port (south of Spain), you will across the strait of Gibraltar in a very modern high speed catamaran, most of my clients for Tangier day trip from Spain prefer the 9 am or the 11 am ferry departure. Just an hour after you will land on the African continent in an entirely different world. The Moroccan clock is one hour behind so you arrive at 9 am local time in Tangier. I will be waiting for you at Tangier’s harbor holding a poncard with your name, upon arrival the adventure begins. I will take you for a fascinating private tour of the old town (medina), the kasbah and the souks of Tangier, we may have chance to have Moroccan lunch with local family in Tangier.

09:00 am: Drive past the spectacular Rif Mountain and feast your eyes on the rolling landscapes

11:30 am: Begin your city tour of Chefchaouen

11:45 am: Stop at the Al Makhzen market , a combination of an ancient Moroccan market and a more modern one

12:15noon: Visit the famous Ras El Ma springthat gushes out of the mountain inside the stone walls of the town at the north-east exit of the Medina. This cool oasis offers a stunning view over the valley.

13:00pm: Enjoy a delicious Moroccan lunch at the Casa Hassan. Your menu consists of half a bottle of mineral water or lemonade per person, Moroccan salad, Couscous with chicken and dried grapes, Tagine with calf meat and vegetables and a fruit salad.

2:00pm: Visit the Uta El Hamam square, easily the heart of this Moroccan city. The main attractions are the Kasbah and the central mosque along with the many cafes where you can sit out, enjoy the sun and just watch people pass. It is one of the best places to relax after all that sightseeing.

2:15pm: Explore the city’s small and attractive medina and shop at the souks. The charming medina is characterized b the typical blue Andalusian architecture including arches, small squares and fountains. Chefchaouen is known for its exquisite local Rifi blankets, carpets and rugs, pottery, leather goods and woodwork.

3:30 pm: Departure from Chefchaouen.

6:00pm: Your tour ends with a drop-off at Tangier's port or your hotel or the closest drop-off point in TangierChefchaouen also known as Chaouen, is a city in northwest Morocco. It is the chief town of the province of the same name, and is noted for its buildings in shades of blue. Chefchaouen is situated just inland from Tangier and Tétouan.

The city was founded in 1471as a small fortress by Moulay Ali ibn Rashid al-Alami. Al-Alami founded the city to fight the Portuguese invasions of northern Morocco. Along with the Ghomara tribes of the region, many Moriscos and Jews settled here after the Spanish Reconquista in medieval times. In 1920, the Spanish seized Chefchaouen to form part of Spanish Morocco. Spanish troops imprisoned Abd el-Krim in the kasbah from 1916 to 1917, after he talked with the German consul Dr. Walter Zechlin (1879–1962). After defeating him with the help of the French, Abd el-Krim was deported to Réunion in 1926. Spain returned the city after the independence of Morocco in 1956.

Chefchaouen is a popular shopping destination as well, as it offers many native handicrafts that are not available elsewhere in Morocco, such as wool garments and woven blankets. The goat cheese native to the area is also popular with tourists.

Chefchaouen's blue walls are a popular subject of interest. There are several theories as to why the walls were painted blue. One popular theory is that the blue keeps mosquitos away, another is that Jews introduced the blue when they took refuge from Hitler in the 1930s. The blue is said to symbolize the sky and heaven, and serve as a reminder to lead a spiritual life.

The growing tourist industry is geared especially towards Spanish tourists, who are numerous during great Catholic feasts like Semana Santa and Christmas.