FAST CROSSING TO MOROCCO, THE ALGECIRAS/CUESTA HYDROFOIL
Aug 15 '01 (Updated May 09 '05)
The Bottom Line Quick tip, if you take this run, grab a couple of the air sickness bags as soon as you get aboard. They tend to get used up quickly.
This not so much a travel article but rather a couple of tips for those contemplating a trip to Morocco and heading there from Spain.
I took the fast hydrofoil over from Algeciras Spain, to Cuesta, the Spanish Military enclave on the North African coast mainly because it is fast. The total crossing took only about 45 minutes as opposed to the three hours by slow boat from Algeciras to Tangier. A word of caution to those who may suffer from motion sickness, this is not a smooth ride. The sea appeared calm but the ride was anything but and I noticed that many of the conveniently placed air sickness bags were being used. Fortunately as I said it is a short run.
As part of a group I had no problems getting to and crossing the border. A guide and driver met us with a mini bus at the terminal and took us to Tetouan to join our tour. Independent travelers disembarking at Cuesta, must either take a bus or Grande Taxi to the border crossing, at Finideq several miles inland. Then after dealing with the beaurocracy of exiting Spanish territory and entering Morocco, you must obtain further transport on to Tetouan, the nearest large town with rail and bus connections.
Here is a tip for those travelling independently and wish to avoid some of these problems. We gave a lift to three independent travelers as far as Tetouan. They got a ride and services of our Spanish guide in assisting them with the border crossing formalities. I am sure they tipped him the equivalent of what it would have cost by Grande Taxi, but it was for them easier and faster. I am sure that if one was to approach either the guides/drivers at the terminal or even members of a group on the ferry that it would be no problem if there was room available. The worse thing is that can happen is someone will say no and, one is left with the bus/taxi option.
I also noticed several Spanish travel agencies on the Costa Del Sol offering day trips to Cuesta and Tetouan as well as to Tangier, so there should be several opportunities each week for this if one books passage on a morning ferry. It might even be worthwhile to book one of these trips just to get to Tetouan and then leave the tour (telling the guide of course) and continue on into Morocco.
I encountered no problems on exiting the country and on the ferry crossing this time the slow boat from Tangier. Possibly again being part of a package and having the services of a guide speeded things up. Customs and Immigration at both ends were mere formalities. I did notice that a couple of independent backpackers managed to stay in the lines immediately behind our group and attempted to look as though they were part of our group ( no objections from me on this). This probably eased them through the system and is again a possible tip worth passing on.
I really can't comment on the ferry itself, other than to say it was average. Nothing special here and the food was as one would expect, overpriced and atrocious. As the ferry was actually French run, Francs were the currency, although Spanish Peseta and Moroccan Dirhams were also accepted, although the later grudgingly.
The duty free was a disappointment consisting of a poor selection of overpriced tobacco and alcohol products, perfume, and electronics goods. Anyone on this ferry in need of these items would be better served with a quick side trip from Algeciras to Gibraltar across the bay. "Gib" is a duty free port and the selection and prices are better.
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