Algeciras is Spain’s gateway to North Africa and ferries leave for Tangier in Morocco, or to Ceuta, a Spanish colony on the Moroccan coast. The port district has a wonderful border-town quality, full of cheap hotels, currency traders and the usual hustlers selling dubious tickets on the streets.

The best way to make a crossing is simply to drive to the port, park in the garage, buy a ticket and go over as a pedestrian. Rates for exchanging euros for dirham are generally better on the Morocco side. Tour offices for 100km in every direction sell package tours via hydrofoil to Tangiers and Tetuan. The Tangier boat departs at 0930 from Algeciras and 630 from Tangiers, taking an hour to cross the straits each way. When winds are too strong for hydrofoils to operate, passengers are shifted to a large but slower ferry. The less-frequent Tetuan tour reaches Ceuta in 35 minutes, followed by a bus trip to Tetuan. Packages include guided sightseeing, shopping time and lunch.