Fort Lauderdale, the 'Venice of the Americas'

Por Cristina Abel. Photos: Agencies | 06 de December de 2023

It is the seventh largest city in the state of Florida, located between Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. Known as the 'American Venice' for its extensive and intricate canal system, which makes it unique, Fort Lauderdale has become one of the most striking tourist centers in the United States.

From its port, Port Everglades, the main cruise terminal where the Baleària Caribbean routes to the Bahamas are also located, its more than 10 million annual visitors can enjoy a wide range of cultural, natural, sports, gastronomic, leisure and adventure activities in this hidden paradise of Florida.

1: Canal boat tour

Fort Lauderdale is famous for its intricate network of interconnected canals that run through and around the city. One of the most enchanting activities you can enjoy is a boat tour, which gives you a unique perspective of the luxurious architecture and surrounding nature. As the boat travels through the canals, visitors will find themselves surrounded by stunning homes and mansions, belonging to celebrities and influential figures in many cases, with beautiful gardens lining the waterways. It's not just about the architecture. During the walk, you will also be able to appreciate the natural beauty surrounding the canals.

2: Beach and water sports

Another must-do is to visit its beautiful beaches, which invite relaxation, but also offer a wide range of water sports, such as snorkeling, diving, paddleboarding or jet skiing. The jewel in the crown is the famous Fort Lauderdale Beach, a golden strip of sand that stretches for several kilometers. Its crystal-clear waters are a paradise for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts. Visitors will find nearby reefs where they can explore the fascinating underwater world, including tropical fish and colorful corals.

Fort Lauderdale's beach stretches for miles and miles

3: Las Olas Boulevard: a walk of elegance

Las Olas Boulevard is much more than a street: it is a destination in itself. With its unique mix of high-end stores, art galleries, restaurants and charming bars, this area is the cultural and gastronomic heart of the city. A stroll down this emblematic street immerses visitors in a vibrant and sophisticated atmosphere, combining elegance, creativity and culinary delights. It is also a shopper's paradise. From exclusive fashion boutiques to decoration stores and unique jewelry stores, tourists will find a variety of options to satisfy their tastes and desires. If you are an art lover, the galleries will provide you with an exceptional opportunity to admire works by renowned and local artists.

4: Bonnet House Museum and Gardens

A former artists' residence, Bonnet House has become a museum thanks to its stunning architecture, fascinating collections and wonderful gardens. The Bonnet House is a historic gem dating back to the 1920s. This estate of artist Frederic Clay Bartlett and his wife Helen was designed as a creative space amidst the lush Florida wilderness. The couple transformed the residence into an artistic and cultural oasis that reflects their passion for art and community living.

This former mansion, which combines colonial, Mediterranean and Caribbean elements, offers a unique experience by bringing together the history of the region, art and the beauty of its gardens. It treasures an eclectic collection of art and objects that tell the story of the region and the Bartlett's life. From paintings and sculptures to decorative objects, every corner of the museum reveals a part of the family's history and artistic legacy. In addition to the permanent collections, the Bonnet House also features temporary exhibitions that explore cultural and artistic themes.

Bonnet House

5: Everglades Safari by airboat

Since Fort Lauderdale is very close to the Everglades, another must-do activity is an airboat tour through the swamps to observe unique wildlife. One of the most exciting attractions are the American alligators. Nature and animal lovers will be able to observe these prehistoric reptiles in their natural environment. This natural paradise is also a haven for a wide variety of exotic and native birds, from herons and ospreys to the majestic bald eagle.

The Everglades, which can be visited by hydrofoil, is the habitat of crocodiles

6: Explore Riverwalk, the heart of the city

With its combination of parks, charming stores and cozy restaurants, the Riverwalk offers a unique experience, the Riverwalk provides a unique experience that encapsulates local life, scenic beauty and community in one place. Along the Riverwalk, visitors encounter an eclectic mix of stores, boutiques and restaurants, reflecting the diversity of the local scene. It also hosts events and activities throughout the year. From concerts and festivals to farmers' markets and outdoor movie screenings.

Riverwalk concentrates the main offer of stores and restaurants

7: Museum of Art: a feast for the senses

This destination is a must for those looking to immerse themselves in a variety of masterpieces. One of the hallmarks of this art center is its commitment to local artists. In addition to presenting works by renowned international creators, the museum also provides a platform for emerging and established talent in the region. The museum is also dedicated to education and community involvement. It offers a variety of educational programs and creative workshops that allow visitors to explore art from an interactive, hands-on perspective.

8: Ecstasy of beauty at the Butterfly World botanical garden

As the world's largest butterfly habitat, Butterfly World enables the curious visitor a different sensory and visual experience, allowing them to connect with nature. This place is home to hundreds of species. Visitors have the opportunity to observe butterflies with stunning color patterns, transparent wings and unique shapes.

Every corner of the garden is a reminder of the amazing scope of biodiversity in the world of lepidoptera.

9: Museum of Discovery and Science

From exciting exhibits to live demonstrations and hands-on activities, this museum offers an immersive experience that makes it possible to appreciate science and innovation in a participatory way. Every corner of this space invites you to touch, explore and learn in a hands-on way. It also has a planetarium, whose projections allow an immersion in a celestial journey, exploring distant galaxies and discovering the mysteries of the cosmos.

10: Getaway to Grand Bahama: a gateway to paradise

Baleària Caribbean (the shipping group's subsidiary in that area) also offers the opportunity to discover this paradisiacal corner of the Caribbean, a destination accessible only a few hours from Miami. Bimini, known as the Island of Inspiration, and Freeport (Grand Bahama) are two jewels of the archipelago, dream places where water sports lovers can enjoy its crystal-clear waters, delight in its colorful depths full of coral reefs and tropical fish, and even swim and snorkel with dolphins, sharks and turtles.

Bimini (Bahamas)

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Formentera, the Mediterranean's last paradise

Floating above the calm waters of the Mediterranean, almost as if suspended in mid-air, lies Formentera. This Balearic island has been described as “the Mediterranean's last paradise” because its sea-only access creates an almost “Brechtian” distance from the noise of everyday life, helping to preserve it from mass tourism. Formentera begins the day with a captivating sunrise over the cliffs at La Mola lighthouse and ends it with spectacular sunsets from its other lighthouse, Cap de Barbaria. Throughout the day, the magical Mediterranean light illuminates its 69 kilometres of coastline. The island offers beaches for every taste. To the north, wild and secluded Cavall d'en Borràs leads towards Ses Illetes, regularly ranked among the world's finest beaches. It lies on a narrow strip of land —the Es Trucadors peninsula— occupying the western side, with Llevant beach on the opposite coast. On the west coast, between low cliffs, lies Cala Saona. To the north are Es Pujols, Sa Roqueta and Ses Platjetes. And to the south is Migjorn, a five-kilometre stretch of sandy beaches and coves interspersed with rocky areas. Its villages are the finest expression of the island's character and local traditions. La Savina is its maritime gateway, with both a fishing harbour and marina. Sant Francesc, the capital, boasts a genuine historic centre dominated by its 18th-century fortified church. Sant Ferran retains its bohemian atmosphere. Es Pujols concentrates most of the island's hotel and leisure offering. Es Caló de Sant Agustí preserves its photogenic fishing-port character, complete with old slipways. And El Pilar de la Mola hosts the island's best-known craft market. Nature, history and the local economy come together at Ses Salines, a salt-related natural park that has been a World Heritage Site since 1999. The park also includes two lagoons (Estany Pudent and Estany des Peix), an interpretation centre (Can Marroig) and a rocky area with unusual formations, Sa Pedrera, a former quarry. But when it comes to nature, the island's underwater treasure deserves special attention: Posidonia oceanica. This plant, around 100,000 years old, grows on shallow sandy seabeds. Another option is to lose yourself along its walking trails. Around one hundred kilometres of interconnected paths make Formentera the perfect place to walk or cycle while discovering its landscapes. Highlights include the Es Caló-El Pilar de la Mola route, which follows the Camí de Sa Pujada and includes a spectacular viewpoint; or the Es Cap-Torrent de s'Alga route, which reveals one of the island's lesser-known areas, with well-preserved slipways and juniper trees where “peix sec”, one of Formentera's most typical culinary products, is hung out to dry. Its historical heritage should not be overlooked either. Travel back in time through three key archaeological sites: Ca na Costa, a megalithic tomb dating back to the Bronze Age beside Estany Pudent; Cap de Barbaria I, II and III, three of around twenty archaeological sites; and Can Blai, the remains of a fortified Roman structure near Es Caló. Jumping several centuries forward, you will encounter five historic defensive towers. Circular in plan with a truncated-cone structure, they were built in the 18th century to watch for pirate raids. And to end the day, there is nothing better than heading to Cap de Barbaria in the south-west. In the middle of an almost lunar landscape, the imposing cliffs become natural viewing galleries at sunset, from which to watch the sun settle on the Mediterranean horizon before disappearing and leaving the sky glowing with a reddish trail.

Historias del mar

Anaís Morilla: “We want to make every passenger happy before they even travel”

Ibiza is one of our most popular destinations throughout the year. Its port handles hundreds of people and vehicles every day, along with thousands of lane metres of freight from mainland Spain supplying the island's shops and residents. Being aware of how essential our service is matters just as much as giving passengers the best possible customer care. To talk about this, we interviewed Anaís Morilla, a passenger services agent at Ibiza Botafoc. Q. Where does your passion for the sea come from? When I was little and spent my holidays with my grandmother in Ibiza, we would sit in the port where the fishing boats used to moor and eat ice cream with her friends and their grandchildren. What wonderful memories and moments! Q. How would you describe life as a passenger services agent at Ibiza Botafoc? It is a daily challenge to satisfy customers and make them want to come back. It also means knowing how to organise yourself and being prepared because there are always things outside our control. We want to make lots of people happy before they even travel, so they leave with what they expect from the company and always remember us with a smile… I love it when customers arrive asking for me. Q. How different are operations in the low and high seasons? Summer is a little more stressful because of the high number of passengers. Both at the ticket desk and in the car park, it is a huge challenge. At the ticket office we do many things at once: customer service, immediate departures, sales, phone enquiries, passenger questions and requests. During boarding, we also try to share plenty of warmth and good humour with passengers, because they are sometimes a little nervous and want to start their trip in the best possible way. Handling an operation with 300 cars bound for Dénia is a major job and takes a huge effort to make sure everything is always a success. Winter is calmer, with fewer tourists and lots of island residents, familiar faces and regular customers… We already know each other and there is trust... those customers are worth their weight in gold! Q. What is one major lesson you have learned at Baleària? To be patient, to understand passengers and to know that working in a well-established team is the best thing.

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