Secrets of the Iberian Peninsula

PONANT invites you to discover stunning scenery and exceptional cities on this 11-day cruise between Portugal and Spain, with a stop in Morocco. Fall under the spell of this unforgettable journey aboard Le Champlain, as you discover the major cities of the Iberian Peninsula.

Setting sail from Lisbon, the seven-hilled Portuguese capital, you will head south to the beautiful Algarve region and call in Portimão, your gateway to Portugal’s Algarve and to the villages of Silves and Monchique. Silves a typical Algarve village of cobblestoned streets lined with white houses of Moorish/Arab design. It is also home to Castillo de Silves, the best-preserved castle in the region, offering panoramic views of the town and the surrounding countryside. Like Silves, Monchique is a village of cobbled lanes lined with shops selling local handicrafts. It is best known for Caldas de Monchique, hot springs famous since antiquity for their healing waters.

Your next destination will be Cadiz. Built on a rock and surrounded by sea on all sides, it is one of the oldest cities in Spain. You will then sail along the Strait of Gibraltar and immerse yourself in the multicultural charm of Tangier.

Le Champlain will now cruise towards Malaga, the lively cultural capital of the Costa del Sol. The buildings in the heart of the old town, and especially the 10th-century Moorish castle, reveal the city’s history.

After stopping in Valencia, a city with a remarkable architectural heritage, you will set a course for Palma de Mallorca, the jewel of the Balearic Islands, which are renowned for their contrasting islands bathing in the clear waters of the Mediterranean.

Finally, you will reach Barcelona, your disembarkation port.