Located approximately 19 miles (30 km) north of Malaga in the direction of Antequera, El Torcal Natural Reserve is home to some of the most beautiful and impressive karstic limestone landscapes in Europe. One hundred million years ago, the whole area was below sea level. Then, the Earth crust's violent movements forced the land upward into hills and mountains. The limestone still kept its layered horizontal formation. Beacuse of this, over the course of time, the rain and the wind have been able to chisel away at these layers to form incredible shapes.  You will board your motor coach for a 1.5-hour drive to El Torcal Natural Reserve. Then, you will visit the center of El Torcal and learn about its history by watching a 15-minute documentary. At this point, the trekking journey starts. It will take you over interesting valleys, linking up ascents and descents through a fascinating sector labyrinth. Once the route has finished, you will have time to taste Spanish tapas (tortilla and parma ham) and enjoy the viewpoint of Las Ventanillas that you will find next to the parking lot. From this viewpoint, you can see the Costa del Sol on a clear day.
 
Please note:  Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring sunscreen.

               
 

 

Depart by private vehicle for the drive to the ancient town of Granada, where your eyes will be drawn immediately to the Alhambra, a stunning Moorish citadel positioned on a hill above the city. Set against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains, the 8^th century fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only preserved imperial city from Spain’s Islamic period. Wandering through the sprawling complex, you will encounter the beauty and grace of Moorish architecture and design, including intricately carved ceilings, beautifully tiled floors, Moorish arches, unique columns not found anywhere else in the world, and walls covered in rich ceramics and plasterwork. The manicured gardens and hedgerows, elegant fountains and flowered archways are complemented by breathtaking views of Granada and the Spanish countryside. After visiting the Alhambra, continue to the royal summer palace of Generalife and enjoy a traditional Spanish lunch served with celebrated Spanish wine at the renowned Ruta del Veleta restaurant.
 
Please note:  This private Alhambra tour is ordered per vehicle (not per person). If tickets to the Nasrid Palaces are unavailable, guests will be notified prior to final booking and confirmation of this tour. In this case, guests will spend more time in the gardens and surrounding buildings. Wear comfortable casual clothing and good walking shoes. This tour is not appropriate for guests with limited mobility. This private tour is also available for larger groups but guests need to contact Windstar Reservations for pricing and to book. Tickets frequently sell out, so we recommend requesting this experience as soon as possible.
This shore excursion is non-refundable. If you booked Trip Protection through Windstar Cruises this shore excursion is covered under the trip protection plan.  As a result, your trip protection premium will increase. 

 
            

 

Depart by private vehicle for the drive to the ancient town of Granada, where your eyes will be drawn immediately to the Alhambra, a stunning Moorish citadel positioned on a hill above the city. Set against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains, the 8^th century fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only preserved imperial city from Spain’s Islamic period. Wandering through the sprawling complex, you will encounter the beauty and grace of Moorish architecture and design, including intricately carved ceilings, beautifully tiled floors, Moorish arches, unique columns not found anywhere else in the world, and walls covered in rich ceramics and plasterwork. The manicured gardens and hedgerows, elegant fountains and flowered archways are complemented by breathtaking views of Granada and the Spanish countryside. After visiting the Alhambra, continue to the royal summer palace of Generalife and enjoy a traditional Spanish lunch served with celebrated Spanish wine at the renowned Ruta del Veleta restaurant.
 
Please note:  This private Alhambra tour is ordered per vehicle (not per person). If tickets to the Nasrid Palaces are unavailable, guests will be notified prior to final booking and confirmation of this tour. In this case, guests will spend more time in the gardens and surrounding buildings. Wear comfortable casual clothing and good walking shoes. This tour is not appropriate for guests with limited mobility. This private tour is also available for larger groups but guests need to contact Windstar Reservations for pricing and to book. Tickets frequently sell out, so we recommend requesting this experience as soon as possible.
This shore excursion is non-refundable. If you booked Trip Protection through Windstar Cruises this shore excursion is covered under the trip protection plan.  As a result, your trip protection premium will increase. 

 
           
 

Málaga is located in the center of the Costa del Sol. Many ancient civilizations have left their marks, which you will discover in Málaga's rich archaeological remains and fascinating monuments.  From the outside. you will admire the beautiful architecture of the Alcazaba Palace, a historic castle built in the 11^th century to be the residence of the Arabian Caliphs or Kings. See from the outside  Gibralfaro Castle, built in the 14^thcentury, constructed by Yusuf I of Granada in the city of Malaga, on an old Phoenician enclosure that also contained a light that gives name to the Gibralfaro Hill (Jbel-Faro, or Mounts of the Light). You will also admire the ruins of the former Roman Theater of Malaga, on the base of the hill of the Fortress, Alcazaba, followed by a short guided walking tour from Plaza de la Merced for those guests who want to walk.
 
Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes.

            
 

 

Málaga is located in the center of the Costa del Sol. Many ancient civilizations have left their marks. which you will discover in Málaga's rich exterior archaeological remains and fascinating monuments.  You will admire the beautiful architecture of the Alcazaba Palace, a historic castle built in the 11^th  century to be the residence of the Arabian Caliphs or Kings. From the outside view  Gibralfaro Castle, built in the 14^th century, constructed by Yusuf I of Granada on an old Phoenician enclosure that also contained a light that gives name to the Gibralfaro hill (Jbel-Faro, or mounts of the light). During the bus ride you will also admire the ruins of the former Roman Theater of Malaga on the foot of the hill of the Fortress, Alcazaba, with a short walking tour accompanied by a guide for those who want to walk.  After panoramic views proceed to the Cathedral and then enjoy tapas and beverages in a private area of a local restaurant in the center of Malaga. 
 
Please note: Lunch will take place in a reserved room of the restaurant. Wear comfortable walking shoes. This tour is subject to possible venue changes due to potential restrictions in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

           



 

 

Embark on a scenic 1-hour and 45-minute drive  to Cordoba to one of the most famous and impressive sites in Spain, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ten centuries ago, Cordoba was one of the greatest cities in the world, with a population approaching one million. The Capital of Muslim Spain and the center of the Caliph’s power, Cordoba was Europe’s largest city as well as a cultural and intellectual sear. Cordoba’s hour of greatest glory was when it became the capital of the Moorish kingdom of ‘El-Andalus’.  You will visit the Great Mosque, or ‘Mezquita’, which – after several centuries of additions and enlargements became one of the largest in all of Islam. Take a magical walk through the forest of columns, passing beneath its arches and breathing in the history of Arab Cordoba, so brusquely and surprisingly interrupted by the Christian Cathedral set in the center of its vast interior.  Continue to the Jewish Quarter and stroll through the quaint, ancient, winding, cobblestone and flower-filled streets. Just a few yards away from the small square Tiberiades – where the monument to the philosopher Maimonides stands – lies one of three surviving pre-inquisition synagogues in Spain. A Mudejar construction dating from 1315, the interior includes a gallery for women looking on to the sanctuary through small balconies, and  plasterwork of Hebrew inscriptions. You will have 90 minutes of free time to take the oportunity to taste the local tapas in one of the bars in the area or sightsee before another scenic ride returning to the yacht.
 
Please note:  There is some strenuous activity, walking over uneven terrain, steps and cobbled streets. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. No hats/baseball caps allowed. And modest clothing is suggested, no bare shoulders or short shorts. This popular tour fills up quickly and time slots must be booked in advance so it is highly recommended that you reserve your spot as soon as possible as once the time slot fills there is no guarantee additional spots will become available.

             
 

 

This tour combines an orientation drive, where your guide will point out the most important buildings and monuments of Malaga.  After a panoramic view of the city at Gibralfaro Castle, you will go to your Gastronomic experience that will immerse you in the Spanish gastronomic culture. You will meet in a popular Malaga house with a lovely garden and Andalusian patio located in a popular neighborhood in Malaga. You will be welcomed with a cocktail and will be equipped with a hat and an apron. Directed by the chef you will make the menu dishes. While you cook, you can enjoy a snack and a beer. After the workshop, in an informal meal, you will taste all the dishes you have prepared. The meal includes local wine (1 bottle of wine each 4/persons) and Malaga vermouth with dessert.
 
Please note: Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
 
            
 

Discover a cultural legacy spanning more than 3,000 years as you explore the sights of Cartagena accompanied by an experienced guide. Visit the impressive Roman Theatre and its Museum, whose discovery and excavation provided valuable archaeological insight into the important role of Cartagena in Old Spain’s (Hispania Antigua) history. Your next stop is the Maritime Wall, from where you will see magnificent harbor views as you stroll toward Town Hall Square and the city’s main avenue. Your walking tour will show you the impressive late 19th century modernist architecture. Before returning to the yacht, you will take a 30-minute visit to the archaeological site of Muralla Punica and discover the surviving remnants of the old Punic Wall that once protected the city during the Cartagines’ occupation. A short 15-minute drive will return you to the yacht. 

You are invited to enjoy a superb sightseeing tour in the charming province of Murcia. Departing from Cartagena by motor coach you will journey for one hour through the foothills of the Sierra de Carrascoy. Your destination is the capital of the province – Murcia. Settled by the Moors in the 9th century and conquered by the Christians in the 13th century, this bustling city offers a wonderful array of architectural delights. Your first stop will be the Monastery of the Virgin of Fuensanta (the Patroness of Murcia). Enjoy a panoramic view of the Murcian orchards, producers of the most fruits and vegetables in all of the Mediterranean. Then travel on for an external visit at the Murcia Cathedral, a medley of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture. The old building of the Casino of Murcia is your next stop before heading back to your ship.

If there is a “things to do” in Palma de Mallorca is would be confirming that the facade of the 13^th  century Gothic Cathedral is reflected on the sea. In fact, the building dominates the Roman walls and was constructed on the top of the former Medina Mayurga Synagogue after James I recovered the Island for the Kingdom of Aragon. Take advantage and discover  the unique pieces kept in the Cathedral Museum and why the city of Jerusalem is so interested in one of them. After finding out the secrets, stroll with your guide around the old part of the city and discover some of the over 200 hidden courtyards of the noble houses of Palma. Majorcan people have been able to conserve part of each patrimony left by the different cultures who have inhabited the island.  Enjoy a drink and an aperitif at the gardens of the remains of the 11^th century Arab baths before walking back to the bus to return to the yacht.
 
Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring sunscreen.

           
 

 

This excursion takes place in Palma, capital and largest city of the island of Mallorca. This is your opportunity to discover Palma in a different way – with Segway – a funny, enjoyable and eco-friendly electric transportation dotted with an intelligent network of sensors that allows the machine to keep its balance and move along on 2 wheels. It works with a simple pair of lithium batteries that are rechargeable or simply, plug in at the current. So, a clever and alternative way that allows you to go further, avoiding petrol expenses, parking issues and collaborates with the preservation of the environment. There are various routes possible to be taken in this interesting city such as the Palma Old Quarter Route. This fascinating tour will have stops along  the  way such as Xesc Forteza Theatre, San Francisco Church, Monti-Sion Church, Major Square, Cort Square and the Town Hall, la Lonja with its bars and restaurants as well as many 13th century courtyards, one of the emblematic elements characteristic of the city.
 
Please note: Not recommended for people who have difficulty walking or climbing or who are wheelchair confined. Maximum weight to operate a Segway – 220 pounds. Bring your  identification, camera, cash for shopping and sun protection. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes (better if guest wears sneakers), sunglasses and sunscreen.

            
 

 

Setting out from the port by coach, you will find it easy to relax and enjoy this driving tour of Spain’s most fascinating city, Barcelona, a lovely Mediterranean stronghold of architectural interest. Your guide will point out all the highlights as the coach drives up Via Laietana to pass outside the Cathedral de la Santa Creu I Santa Eulalia. You will drive along one of Barcelona’s most famous streets, the Passeig de Gracia, lined with different Modernist buildings, many of which were designed by architect Antoni Gaudí. Watch for Casa Batlló, an iconic Barcelona landmark and Casa Mila. You will drive by one of Gaudí’s masterpieces – the Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) Church. This is a site not to be missed. Though construction was started in 1882 it is still unfinished. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the most-visited building in Barcelona, and immediately identifies the city around the world. From here you’ll head up to the El Mirador Alcalde garden with the most exceptional views of Barcelona and its impressive harbor.
 
Please note: This tour will end  at  the pier. An inside visit to the Sagrada Familia is not included.   The Cathedral is closed to tours.