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OFFER ID 1497075
Iberian Explorer
Add a dash of emoción to your journey across the Iberian Peninsula, following an enticing trail of tapas, architectural triumphs and centuries-old art on this 13-day adventure through Spain and Portugal. You'll ramble through Barcelona, people-watch in Madrid, and stroll along the golden beaches of Costa del Sol. Other famous highlights along the way include the ancient cave dwellings at Guadix, Lisbon's iconic Belém Tower and the world's greatest Gothic cathedral in sizzling Seville.
Dining Summary
12 nights from $1,665 per person
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Costsaver: Iberian Explorer
Day 1 - Arrive Barcelona
Bienvenido a España! The golden shores of Barcelona kickstart your exhilarating visit to Spain and Portugal. Check in to your hotel, then take some time to recharge siesta-style before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers this evening for a glimpse of what lies ahead. There's boundless energy to Barcelona and you'll want to soak it all up on your first evening in the capital of Catalonia.
Accommodations: Campanile Sud - Cornella
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 - Barcelona sightseeing and free time
Gear up for an exciting morning of sightseeing in Barcelona, joining your Local Specialist who knows all the best spots in town. Capture the sights and sounds of Las Ramblas, Passeig de Grcia and façade of the ornate La Sagrada Família as you tour the city. Spend the rest of your day exploring on your own. Head to the Gothic Quarter or seek out the fanciful façades of Spanish Art Nouveau architect Antoni Gaudí, whose plentiful works of art and architecture lend a fairy-tale feel to Barcelona's skyline. Consider joining a Choice Experience to Montserrat with its hidden monastery, home to the revered La Moreneta, and later opt into a scenic drive of Montjuïc, host to the 1992 summer Olympics, before indulging in a delightful Catalonian feast with drinks.
Accommodations: Campanile Sud - Cornella
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 - Barcelona – Peñíscola – Valencia
Today we'll skirt along the Costa Dorada, a gleaming strip of the Mediterranean coastline, traveling past expansive orange groves to Peñíscola. You'll see its imposing 13th-century Templar Castle, famed as the dramatic backdrop for the Hollywood classic El Cid. Then continue to Valencia, catching a glimpse of the iconic highlights of this bustling modern metropolis on your orientation tour with your Travel Director. View the Art Nouveau, Train Station Estación del Norte, the Towers of Serrano and Quart. Next, leave the present behind and admire the futuristic ‘City of Arts and Sciences', a cultural complex built into the Turia riverbed.
Accommodations: NH Las Ciencias
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 - Valencia – Guadix – Granada
Today we journey to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and pass by a hidden underground world of cave houses. You'll have the chance to capture this curiosity on camera, then continue your scenic travels to Granada, the last stronghold of the Moors in Spain.
Accommodations: Macia Condor
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - Granada – Costa del Sol
Embrace the laid-back spirit of your Spanish hosts and enjoy a slow start to the day on your Mediterranean tour. Spend your free morning exploring Granada and its Moorish influences on your own. There's even time for a quick tea break at a traditional tetería or you may choose to join an Optional Experience to the Albaicín Quarter, one of the oldest centers of Islamic culture in the city. Later, we head to the golden beaches of the Costa del Sol. Set your watch to siesta time or don your sandals and sunglasses for a leisurely stroll to soak up the fresh sea air.
Accommodations: Moon Dreams Calabahia
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 - Costa del Sol – Gibraltar – Seville
Explore a slice of Britain when you cross the border into Gibraltar, the much-contested gateway to the Mediterranean Sea. Maybe join a Choice Experience to get up close to the Barbary apes and visit the cave of St. Michael at the Rock of Gibraltar, the Roman and Greeks' former pillar of the “known world”. Next, we return to Spain, traveling north through the Andalusian countryside to sizzling Seville.
Accommodations: Vértice, MA Congresos
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 - Seville sightseeing and free time
A Local Guide is on hand today to reveal Seville's special allure and, standing amidst the pavilions and fountains of Maria Luisa Park, you'll hear all about the elaborate Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 which put this sleepy Spanish city on the global map. See the world's largest Gothic Cathedral and its Giralda Bell Tower, then consider joining a Choice Experience to the Alcázar, built by a Christian king who loved Mudéjar architecture. This lavish palace complex has witnessed key moments in Spanish history and welcomed great Spanish kings and queens over the centuries. Tonight, you might consider a Choice Experience to see the whirling skirts and fiery passion of a flamenco show. This foot-tapping extravaganza is not to be missed.
Accommodations: Vértice, MA Congresos
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 - Seville – Lisbon
The highlights of your Spain and Portugal value tour just keep on rolling and for now it's adiós Sevilla and a warm olá to Portugal, as we journey through the golden and green plains of the Alentejo to Lisbon. Pastel and azulejo-clad façades line the Portuguese capital's narrow streets which ramble across and over its seven hills from St. George Castle to the Tagus River. You'll be drawn to the city's vibrant nightlife in the Bairro Alto and beyond, so head out with new friends for a night on the town or join your Travel Director for a poignant Choice Experience including a traditional meal accompanied by the authentic sounds of Fado.
Accommodations: Ramada by Wyndham
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 - Lisbon sightseeing and free time
Visit the banks of the Tagus River this morning, joining a Local Specialist for a guided sightseeing tour that will take you past the iconic Hieronymite Monastery and Belém Tower, built in the 16th century to defend the city. Later, you'll want to hop on one of the signature trams to explore the city's hilly bairros or find a corner café to sample some of the local pastries – pasteis de nata anyone? You could choose to leave the city limits behind this afternoon and visit the beach playgrounds of Estoril and Cascais, as well as Sintra, on a Choice Experience of the iconic Golden Triangle – the choice is yours.
Accommodations: Ramada by Wyndham
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 - Lisbon – Fátima – Salamanca
Rub shoulders with visiting travelers who have made the journey to the Catholic pilgrimage center of Fátima. It was here in 1917 that the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to three shepherd children. Today this humble village has been transformed into a place celebrating a religious miracle. There's time to explore the Basilica and Sanctuary before venturing east and crossing the Spanish border bound for Salamanca where your Travel Director will take you to one of Spain’s most beautiful plazas - Plaza Mayor with its golden baroque facades. Spend the evening your way amidst the historic monuments and honey-hued façades for which this ancient university town is famous.
Accommodations: Bardo Recoletos Coco
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11 - Salamanca – Madrid sightseeing
We leave Salamanca behind, with Madrid firmly in our sights. Our scenic drive takes us through the Sierra de Guadarrama Mountains before arriving in the Spanish capital. With a Local Specialist at your side, you'll embark on a sightseeing tour to view the Cibeles Fountain, Gran Vía and Paseo de la Castellana. Admire views of the Royal Palace and El Retiro Park, originally created as a retreat for the Royal Family. The evening is yours to discover why the Madrileños adore their nightlife, so resist the urge to set an early curfew and perhaps join an optional dinner and discovery in downtown Madrid.
Accommodations: Praga
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12 - Madrid free day
There's every excuse to rise with the Madrileños and enjoy a leisurely start to your morning. You'll have a full free day to explore the city your way and discover the legacy of 'Madrid's Best Mayor', who helps the city become one of the most gracious capitals across Europe. King Charles III's desire to 'beautify' Madrid can be seen around every turn. Alternatively, you could take an opportunity to join a Choice Experience to the medieval city of Toledo, the country's famous sword-making center.
Accommodations: Praga
Meals: Breakfast
Day 13 - Depart Madrid
Keep that Spanish gusto in your step as you prepare to close the curtain on your epic Mediterranean journey through Spain and Portugal. It's time to say a final hasta la vista to your fellow travelers and your Travel Director.
Meals: Breakfast
Flamenco Gastronomic Experience
Overview: Step beyond the ordinary on your Madrid journey and experience the world's most famous and only Flamenco tablao in a Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant. Featuring award-winning artists recognized in Spain and at the top flamenco festivals, immerse yourself in an exclusive and extraordinary Flamenco gastronomic Journey.
Duration: 1 Hour
Overview: Feel at home in Madrid, hosted by a local Madrilene who will introduce you to authentic Spanish culture. With a background in haute cuisine, your Chef invites you for an intimate meal at her splendid elegant flat in the Salamanca district, one of Madrid's most elegant and glamorous neighborhoods. Relax and unwind as you savor a mouthwatering meal prepared with dedication, and love, feeling as if you were in the comfort of your own home.
Duration: 2 Hours
Campo Charro Brave Bull Breeding
Overview: Venture on a fascinating experience for fighting bulls and tradition enthusiasts. Enjoy and contemplate the impressive beauty of fighting bulls in their natural habitat. Take the tour among holm oaks and fenced areas, visit the different pastures, and watch the bulls in the fields, the cows with their calves, the studs, the weaner, and the yearling calves. Witness live bull testing and enjoy a countryside meal with top-quality Iberian products.
Duration: 2 Hours
Overview: Venture on a Masterclass on Iberian ham: origin, classification, and preparation. Visit the farm and drying rooms. Enjoy a comprehensive sensory experience around the Iberian pig in a unique, unmatched atmosphere.
Duration: 3H30
An Exploration of Lisbon (8 hours)
Highlights:
Lying north of the River Tagus estuary and stretching over seven hills, Portugal's capital city has much to offer. Receive a warm welcome at the port by your private guide and driver and from here commence your engaging tour of Lisbon.
Explore the Belem district with its magnificent Jerónimos Monastery, an extraordinary example of Portugal's 'Manueline' style of architecture. Once populated by monks, the UNESCO-listed monastery was commissioned by King Manuel I to celebrate Vasco da Gama's discovery of a sea route to India in 1498. Time permitting, visit Torre de Belém (Belém Tower), one of Lisbon's most iconic buildings and symbolic of Portugal's great Age of Expansion.
Next, it's time for a refreshment stop, where you may wish to sample the famous and scrumptious Pastéis de Belém (Portuguese custard tarts). From here you return to your cruise ship.
Queluz, Sintra and Estoril (8 hours)
Highlights:
Venture outside of Lisbon to explore Queluz, Sintra and Estoril during your private shore excursion. Take the short driver to the sumptuous 18th-century Queluz Palace, where you can admire the magnificent formal gardens and azulejo-lined canals.
Afterwards visit Sintra, the summer retreat of Portuguese monarchs and Moorish emirs before them. Today, this town, nestling on the north side of the Sintra Mountain, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Stroll through the town where charming streets are filled with fine handicraft shops. You then descend to Guincho beach for a fabulous view of Cape Rock, the westernmost point of the European continent and continuing to the resort town of Estoril on the scenic coastal road with fantastic views, en route back to your cruise ship.
Highlights of Lisbon (4 hours)
Highlights:
See Belem Tower, one of Lisbon's iconic buildings and symbolic of the nation's Age of Expansion. Admire the impressive collection of painted and gilded Baroque coaches at the National Coach Museum.
Tour Duration: 4 hours
Tour can operate: Morning/Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
Historic Influences of Seville (8 hours)
Highlights:
Explore the vibrant heart of Andalucía during your full day shore excursion today. You receive a warm greeting by your driver at the port in Cádiz prior to your private transfer to Seville (a 2-hour journey approximately). Upon arrival, you will be met by your expert guide who will take you on an absorbing walking tour.
Visit the 15th-century Cathedral, one of the most breath-taking in all of Christendom. Your guide also shows you Seville's most famous monument, the Moorish tower of La Giralda. Other highlights of your tour include the Alcazar, a magnificent 14th-century Mudejar palace and the labyrinth of streets and squares of the Barrio de Santa Cruz which are delicately perfumed with orange blossom. This area is the old Jewish Quarter and every street and courtyard offers a new story that your guide will bring to life for you. After your tour, your driver transfers you back to your ship in Cádiz.
An Immersion into the World of Olive Oil
Overview: Enjoy a private guided visit to an Olive oil producer led by a family member. Learn the olive oil production process from the olive fields to the final product. Pamper your taste buds with a comparative tasting of extra virgin olive oils. Witness a passionate family tradition and the careful process of olive oil extraction, the “Liquid Gold” of Andalusia. Delight with a gourmet tasting and lunch served in one of the oil mill's private rooms.
Duration: 1H30
Quintessential Brave Bull Breeding Journey
Overview: Embark on an exclusive journey and explore one of Spain's most prestigious bull-breeding ranches. Discover the vital role bull farming plays in Spain's ecological and cultural heritage. Experience the life and care of the noblest and majestic toro bravos. Unveil the ranch's facilities, from the pasture where the animals graze, breed, and rear their offspring to the bullring, where young bulls are assessed for fighting potential.
Duration: 1H30
Overview: Discover Seville from another point of view. Indulge in a private Guadalquivir river cruise while glimpsing Seville's most beautiful panoramas, including the historical center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Observe Triana's picturesque 19th-century famous houses and enchanting bridges. Delight your senses with a premium selection of local tapas.
Duration: 1H30
Granada with Flavors of Sturgeon (Optional Dive In)
Overview: Immerse yourself in a private guided visit to the world's first certified Organic caviar farm, nestled in a serene village in the mountains. Experience the thrill of diving into a sturgeon pool with the utmost safety and guidance led by our expert technicians. Prepare to be enchanted by an exclusive tasting session, where you can relish the distinct flavors of the organic caviar, promising a gastronomic journey like no other.
Duration: 3 Hours
Spain: Valencia Highlights Tour - 5 hours
Nestled along the sunny Costa Azahar the orange blossom coast lies the beautiful, city of Valencia, where ancient history meets modern innovation and everything in between.
Your private bilingual guide will pick you up and show you the secrets of the famous City of Arts and Sciences, taking you past the original, medieval city gates, among other historical and emblematic sites, before you enter the bustling, pedestrian historic city center where you’ll find ancient Roman ruins at the L’Almoina underground archeological museum. You’ll also visit La Lonja Silk Exchange, our prized UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s greatest examples of gothic architecture.
You´ll also see and hear the stories of the Basilica in the Plaza de la Virgen, as well as the Cathedral and many of our city plazas such as the main Plaza Ayuntamiento, where locals and tourists gather together for business and leisure. Your guide will help you expertly maneuver the busy Mercado Central, where locals buy and sell fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, wines and more.
After all that exploring, you’re sure to work up an appetite. it's time to stop to taste the famous Horchata drink with the sweet traditional fartons.
What's Included?
Highlights of Valencia (4 hours)
Highlights:
Admire the remarkable riverside designs of renowned contemporary architect Calatrava en route to the 15th century Silk Exchange of the Llotja. Stop for a glass of horchata en route to the beautiful Gothic cathedral, where the supposed Holy Grail is treasured.
Tour Duration: 4 hours
Tour can operate: Morning/Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
Art and Architecture in Barcelona (8 hours)
Highlights:
An architectural delight awaits you today in Barcelona, one of the most exciting cities in Europe. Receive a warm greeting at the port by your private guide and driver and commence your full-day tour with a visit to Gaudi's masterpiece, the impressive, but unfinished Sagrada Familia. Although work started on this project in 1882, this iconic church is not expected to be complete until 2028!
Next, visit Parc Guell, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi's most colourful creations. Continue along Passeig de Gracia, to view Gaudi's Casa Batlló and Casa Mila from the outside, with its brilliant wave-like façade.
After lunch, lose yourself in the narrow streets of the true heart of the city - the medieval Gothic Quarter. Here you will visit the magnificent 13th-century Cathedral, and the Picasso Museum, where some of the painter's earliest works are housed. At the end of your tour you are transferred back to the port.
Highlights:
Receive a warm greeting at the port from your private guide and driver and commence your half-day tour with a visit to Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi’s masterpiece; the impressive, but unfinished Sagrada Familia. Although work started on this project in 1882, this iconic church is not expected to be completed until 2028!
Continue on to Parc Guell, a beautiful municipal garden with a superb panoramic view over the city; the focal point is a colourful sea-serpent-shaped central terrace. Visit the gatehouse where Gaudi lived during his later years which is now a museum dedicated to him. Transfer back to the port at the end of your tour.
Overview: Uncover the most authentic side of Barcelona riding the world's best folding bike, a Brompton. Be led by an expert bike guide and venture into a unique and exclusive experience. Connect with your local guide by sharing and listening to trivia stories about Barcelona. Embark on a ride to explore the least touristy Eixample and Gracia districts. Glimpse the Plaça d'Espanya, the Hospital de la Santa Creu, Sant Pau, and modernist estates.
Duration: 3 Hours
Overview: Experience the thrill of sailing the Barcelona Coastline. Glimpse the Barcelona skyline from a different perspective and spot some landmarks, including Frank Gehry Golf Fish Sculpture and the Twin Towers", Torres Venecianas. Immerse yourself in the serene deep blue while seeping your glass of wine. Weather permitting, anchor and venture in a short swim.
Duration: 4 Hours
Overview: Uncover the dedication of a biodynamic winegrowers family committed to excellence in long-aged wines. Venture on a stroll around the winery's iconic vineyards to discover the distinctive features of a unique spot in the Penedès region. Sheltered by the woods, taste a base wine paired with a light snack. Elevate your experience by savoring three long-aged sparkling wines, a limited-edition white wine, and an extra-virgin olive oil.
Duration: 4 Hours
From Market to Home with a Top Chef
Overview: Led by a top Chef who graduated from the prestigious Cordon Bleu School in Paris, embark on an exclusive gourmet journey at her private penthouse. Head to a 19th-century local market and thoroughly select the finest ingredients for your recipe. Dare to partake in the cooking process while you uncover some secrets of high-end cuisine. Savor the combination of flavors paired with a premium selection of Spanish Wines.
Duration: 4 Hours
Hike a World of Nature (7,5 miles)
Overview: Step away from the bustling Barcelona and embrace Catalonia's unique landscape with La Garrotxa and Fageda d'en jordà. Venture into an exciting 7,5 miles hike through the Natural Park of the Volcanic Zone of La Garrotxa. Engage in a circular route through La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park. Ascend to the inside of Santa Margarita volcano and discover a chapel lying on its crater. Dive into Fageda d'en Jordà, a unique beech forest that grows on the lava flow of Croscat Volcano. Finalize your trail with a stop at the Croscat Volcano grederes.
Duration: 4 Hours
Montserrat Discovery Hike (5 miles)
Overview: Ancient Wonders and hidden gems await you on the famous needles of Montserrat Mountain. Venture into an exciting and intimate hike connecting you to Montserrat's outlandish and most authentic elements. Uncover the region of Agulles and the north face of Montserrat, passing between the needles, having to take some steps climbing ropes, and ending up visiting emblematic places such as Cadireta or Foradada.
Duration: 4 Hours
Overview: Marvel at Montserrat Mountain's impressive scenic views. With a bird' s-eye view, witness these massive conglomerates, which form unexpectedly imposing sculptures due to their geological evolution. They all have names related to their shapes, and we find caves, chasms, and torrents in their shelter.
Flying over the Montserrat mountain, the spiritual Center of Catalonia is undoubtedly one of the most surprising and impressive experiences.
Duration: 1 Hour
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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