Advice on Spain - Africa ferries.

[jenna]

Advice on Spain to North Africa ferries.

Hi, we are looking into extending our planned list of bike trips to watch the European rally raids to include the 2007 and 2008 Lisbon Dakar rally.

Although I have no problems with mainland Europe logistics north Africa is a different issue as this is new to me. All our trips run from the UK via Portsmouth to Santander with Acciona so it seams logical we stick with Acciona to cross into Africa too.

Has anybody had any personal experience with Acciona on the following routes:
MALAGA >MELILLA
ALMERIA >NADOR
ALGECIRAS >CEUTA

or with Farrimaroc
ALMERIA >NADOR

I have also been told to avoid Ceuta due to political and beurocratic issues!.. anybody agree/disagree with this?

thanks
Jenna

[BDG]

I've never had a problem with Cueta, prefer it to Tangiers. I've no experience of Nador or Mellila.

Do allow an hour or two though for paper shuffling at the border depending upon how busy it is.

[Chris Scott]

Never heard of Acciona but I have done al the above routes over the years; they're either quick and cheap or longer and more expensive so just take your pick, they all get there. Ceuta is I suppose the busiest and I think the immigrant aggro had died down there. Tangiers can be intimidating but not last I heard. Melilia or Nador was mellow but may be on the wrong side for you.

Ch

[DougieB]

Almeria to Nador a year ago by bike. Excellent! On arrival an official handed me the customs form, and told me what to fill in. There was no-one about really, it was a breeze. The ferry got in at something like 6am, so it was ideal and deserted. It was dark though (December time), and well, you know the dangers (un-lit pedestrians and animals...).

I've done the Tangier crossing a few times, so I know the issues and hassles there.

Doug

[Bill Holland]

Algeciras / Ceuta just turn up and buy a ticket, Boats seem to arrive and depart all day and only a couple of hours apart. Watch out for the 'friendy helpers' as you approach the Spain/Moroccain customs as you exit Ceuta, just ignore them. Found the customs and police most hepful at the border on both sides, checked through to Morocco very quickly, and the same upon return (2004)

[jenna]

lol... 'friendy helpers' i think this was part of the issue that i was advised not to go through Algeciras / Ceuta as a first time trip (remember this is first for me and the poeple on the trip probably)

The rally starts on African soil from Nador so it seamed logical to do the same, this year the route looks like....
Stage 3: Nador to Er Rachida (Morocco) 672 km
Stage 4: Er Rachidia to Quarazate (Morocco) 639 km
Stage 5: Quarzazate to Tan tan (Morocco) 819 km

at this point it could make sense to head to Dakar and pick up the last two days from there giving the group a chance to rest and play if they want..
Stage 6: Tan Tan to Zouerat ( Mauritania) 792 km
Stage7:Zouerat to Atar (Mauritania) 521 km
Stage 8: Atar to Nouakchott (mauritania) 568 km
..rally rest day..
Stage 9: Nouakchott to Kiffa (Mali) 874 km
Stage 10: Kiffa to Kayes (Mali) 333 km
Stage 11: Kayes to Bamako (Mali) 705 km
Stage 12: Bamako to Labe (Guinea) 872 km
Stage 13: Labe to Tambacounda (Senegal) 567 km
Stage 14: Tambacounda to Dakar (Senegal) 634 km
Stage 15 Dakar

Its also a posibility i guess that you could follow the route as far as Nouakchott and then run down to Dakar via the coast road? thus chopping out those monster kms in later stages, and making it an easy ride back home up the tarmac.

Hi Chris ( my hero) think the Acciona Transmediterranea Ferries were called Mediterrian something not so long ago?

[Bill Holland]

the hassles you will get from the 'friendly helpers' at the border will be no worse than all the other 'friendly helpers' you will find in most large Moroccain towns, and can seem a little intimidating at first, but always be friendly when you decline their offers, there a quiet a few posts on this site which deal with the over enthusiastic locals all round the world. Try a search on this site.
You must be prepared for these encounters if you intend to travel in Morocco, and they can be quite entertaining for all concerned but you must keep your cool if you all want to enjoy your trip.
Bill

[jenna]

thanks Bill will spend the day going over HUBB archive.

[Tim Cullis]

Jenna

The rally block books the entire ferry for the competitors and support vehicles, so it's unlikely you will be able to take the same boat. This means you either need to travel in advance/behind the rally, or take a different route. We followed the rally in January this year and crossed Tarifa to Tanger on the first boat of New Year's Day, then cut across country to intercept the rally near Er Rachidia.

Ceuta is a pain in the ass; my recent experience is that Tanger is much smoother and passport control is carried out on board ship before docking, so it's only a matter of sorting the temporary import document and insurance.

Tim

[jenna]

Hi tim, thanks for the comments...

I know that the ferry is totally booked up with the rally trafic, but after a conversation with contacts at ASO i should be able to get a small group on one of the ferries with the surport trucks. If this fails(ASO will be obviously more concerened with rally traffic than us on the day) i need a backup route.

Can you do the land run between Ceuta/Tanger to Nador in the 6 hour difference of the two ferry times?(plus the night if needed) Ferrimaroc run on the same Malaga/Nador route nearly so i had thought of that as a backup?.. luckly this years event runs a week later so doing the crossing is not going to be over new years day which should help.

I would be interested to know how far down you followed the route as this is really very much an unknown at the minute.

many thanks for your input, I would be interested to pick your brains if thats ok so please contact me via Raidxtreame.

PS. I use to live in Sunny Eastbourne.. Latimer Road down by the RNLI station.. its a small world!

[NCR]

Hi,

I find all the companies the same (8 crossings in the last 5 years). Just take the next boat.

I prefer Tanger. The procedure is much more faster.

[Tim Cullis]

The point is that the rally this year went Malaga to Melillia, which is an overnight crossing with just one boat per day at that time of year.

Tim

[Nigelrojo]

Hi Jenna,
I went Algeciras-Ceuta 3 weeks ago with Transmediterranea, and returned Ceuta-Algeciras last week. I have no experience of the Tangier route. The ferry was a large fast catamaran both ways and cost 175 Euros return for a car and 3 pax. The Ceuta border was not really a problem, no queues but the "official tourist guides" / "friendly helpers" were there in abundance. Given the total lack of organisation or signs at Moroccan customs and immigration, I actually ended up giving one of these guides a couple of Euros to show me the quickest way to get through, and I didn't begrudge him that. On the return border crossing I had a better idea of what I was doing, and politely refused all offers of help.

It's true that wherever you go in Morocco, you will be approached by the locals. I found that a consistently friendly attitude was the best approach, and a few words of Arabic worked wonders, they really appreciate it if a foreigner attempts to speak the lingo.
Nigel

[javierCarrion]

go via Ceuta. At least in Ceuta there are 2 different bordersr , one for Moroccans , and another for tourist (or Moroccans driving European cars ) . This is really good for you , 'cos the border guards are in a different mood.

In Tanger , all the people (Moroccans or Europeans ) go throught the same lines , and if there 's some kind of trouble , then you can be stuck for half a day over there.

In ceuta , this is different . In the Moroccan border for Europeans , there are no incidents (most people go trought with a very light car-search) , and even if they have a few helpers the general mood for Border Officers is "Welcome to Morocco" , and they try to make the whole process as fast as possible .

Also , as the Ferry to Ceuta is Spanish, its a lot faster (seems like a hydrofoil , reached nearly 60kph in my GPS! ) , definitely cleaner than "Comanav" and more interestingly : YOU CAN ENTER ANY VEHICLE BY JUST PAYING THE STANDARD CAR RATE. This has been going for decades and still going on -but just for Spanish Ferries -.

So .. you basically buy your tickets before , say 30 km before algeciras , and insist on paying only a "Standard car <1.80 height" Rate. As those sellers go by comission , they will happily accept , otherwise they lose the sale" .

Then , when arrivinig the harbour , no-one gives a shit about how much money did you pay for your car , assuming you have a ticket (all tickets look the same ) , hence giving you the Boarding pass anyway .

The most cooperative ticket seller agencie is in "Arroyo de la Miel , (Its a petrol Station in Fuengirola , just on the way , at A7 ) .

Have fun
Javier

[jljones]

Not sure what all the fuss is about. Ceuta is pretty straightforward although I would suggest you avoid trying to get through in the evening during Ramadan as all the people in their little booths disappear to eat at 6pm ish. I would too if I hadn't eaten all day.

If it gets a bit chaotic just remember the old mantras - 'Hurry up and wait' or - 'Time is but a speck of sand in the desert'.

My feeling is that we should be grateful that the border crossing is as easy as it is. I've had more hassle getting in to the USA, even with an I visa on a UK passport. Getting in and out of Morocco via Ceuta was quicker and infinitely more pleasant. At least the immigration and customs officers used the words 'please' and 'thank you'.