We really enjoy exploring a new city on our own, by taking off walking and seeing where we end up. We will look up some sites we want to be sure to see, but there is something relaxing and exciting about taking in the city on a walk. However, when you are in a city for longer than just a couple days, sometimes we end up walking the same path, seeing the same sights, and while this can be fun, we have started to expand into some other ways to enjoy our trips.
We have developed a little change of heart over the last few years on the topics of doing tours or excursions on vacation. Ryan in particular does NOT like looking like a tourist. No paper maps, no large backpacks, no iPhone obviously being used for Google Maps, no outlandish clothing, no major jewelry. We do all we can to just to blend in, which is not only nice to avoid the stares but is also a pretty safe way to live on vacation.
On our last few trips to Spain, Colombia, and Vietnam, we have started to dabble in tours. And we have had some fabulous experiences.
SPAIN: ferry trip Morocco, and guided tour of Tangier
Just before the Covid pandemic in Feb 2019, we started out Spain trip in Seville, rented a car and drove south to Tarifa where we booked a day trip to Morocco via ferry. We crossed the Straight of Gibraltar, and went through customs on the boat. Our day trip was a guided tour with a tour guide who spoke English, Spanish, French, and Arabic. We took a bus to a few different locations, with the guide translating in several different languages. We got some quick photos on a camel, shopped the souks (market), and had a local meal prepared for us. We love the idea that we got to experience another country on this trip (Spain, Portugal, and now a quick trip to Morocco). The ferry was easy and comfortable, and we felt safe meeting up with our guide in Tangier. We experienced great food, shopping, and took some beautiful photos. In retrospect, which wish we ventured a little beyond Tangier, but maybe next time.
COLOMBIA: boat tour through [five] Rosario Islands
This tour got off to rocky start when we received messages from the tour company through Whats App regarding pick up time, and they were late to get us. We eventually were picked up, and arrived at a busy marina not too far from our hotel. We weren't exactly sure who we were looking to meet at the marina, so it was a little nerve-wracking thinking the driver was about to boot us out of the car to fend for ourselves. A guide called our names and we got on a speed boat with a number of others looking to enjoy a sunny boat ride. Thus tour ended up being incredible. Who doesn't love a boat ride with loud music on a warm sunny day. We had a total of 5 stops, one of which included lunch, many of which included drinks, music, and relaxing. The tour ended the way it started, with some confusion when we were dropped off on a beach with a number of other tours, to walk in the dark to several coach buses ready to take us back to town. Overall this excursion was so much fun, we got great photos, and we highly recommend it.
VIETNAM - Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Mau Caves, Tam Coc
We did 2 tours this trip (look at us!)
The first was to Ha Long Bay which was a large 2-story boat cruise that included lunch, drinks, and stopped at some sights. We stopped at an area to do some boating, walked through a large cave, and did some hiking to viewpoint.
The second Vietnam tour was a bus tour to a few different locations to bike, hike, and boat. This tour was surprisingly great, with lots of sights for photos, some physical activity, some lunch, and we were boated down a river to some locals selling snacks and drinks for the boat ride back. Don't ask Ryan about that time I tipped over on a bike in Vietnam... "I was kind of scared yet holding back a giggle" - Ryan
Other Tour Opportunities
We met a girl on our Rosario Islands tour in Colombia who is of Peruvian descent and lives in San Francisco bay area. She treated herself to a vacation in Cartagena when she was between jobs as a social worker. She was traveling solo, and she gave us some insight about how she spends her times on her international solo trips: she books daily excursions for the whole week! Not only is she safely getting tours of the city, but she also meets other travelers, some of which she gets together with outside of tours. So don't sleep on walking tours, street food tours, local historical tours, wine/beer tours. While they seem cheesy if you are not looking to be obviously paraded around with a group of tourists, there are truly enjoyable experiences and are a safe way to explore the city with some knowledgeable guidance.
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