Cap Spartel and the Caves of Hercules in one afternoon

This is the easiest trip to organise from the medina: one road, two stops, and back before dark. The Cap Spartel lighthouse is 13.5 km away, 25 minutes on a scooter. The Caves of Hercules are 1.8 km further along the same road. You do not need a whole day for both.

What it costs in battery

Our scooters have a range of about 60 km and leave charged to 100 %. A return trip to Cap Spartel takes 45 % of the battery, a return trip to the caves 51 %. Because the lighthouse sits on the way to the caves, doing both does not cost 96 %: it is the caves' trip plus the two kilometres between the two stops. You come back with close to half a charge.

Do not plan on charging out there. A full charge takes 4 to 5 hours from a normal socket — that is an overnight job, not a lunch break.

The road

You leave by the Grand Socco, then the road climbs west and is out of the city faster than you expect. At 7 km the Perdicaris forest — locals say Rmilat — is the first real stop: shade, footpaths and a view over the strait. Fifteen minutes from the medina, 23 % of the battery there and back if you go no further.

After the forest the road keeps climbing gently to the cape. It is narrow in places and the tour coaches use it too. Let them past; you will catch them again at the car park.

At the lighthouse

Cap Spartel is the north-west corner of Africa: the Atlantic on one side, the mouth of the Mediterranean on the other. You park right in front of the lighthouse, and there is somewhere to sit and drink something. The wind is almost always stronger than in town — bring a windproof layer, even in July.

The caves

1.8 km on, the road drops back down to the Caves of Hercules. The opening onto the sea has the shape of a map of Africa, and that is where everyone stops to take the photograph. There is an entrance fee: bring cash in small notes. Twenty minutes inside is enough, steps included.

Achakar beach starts just north of the caves: 14.2 km from the medina, 27 minutes, 47 % there and back. Leave early enough and it fits into the same afternoon.

When to set off

We are open every day from 9am to 10pm. A scooter picked up at 2pm gives you the ride, both stops and the way home before dusk, which is when you want to be back: the cape road is not lit the whole way. The sunset from the cape is worth staying for — just plan a calm ride home afterwards.

What to take

• The helmet — it comes with every scooter, there is nothing extra to rent.
• Your ID, the same one you showed at handover.
• Cash in small notes for the caves and for a coffee.
• Water: between the forest and the cape there is not much.
• A windproof jacket, even in summer.