Morocco Information

Although Morocco sits on the furthest northwestern coast of the African continent, it is actually much closer to the southern tip of Spain than it is to most of its African neighbors. The Moroccan city of Ceuta is only half an hour by ferry from the Spanish city of Algeciras across the Strait of Gibraltar, and there are also ferries to and from Gibraltar, France, and Italy. All the ferries are kept busy with tourists eager to experience all that Morocco has to offer, from its ancient cities of Fez, Marrakech, and Tangier to its Atlas Mountains.

You can also reach Morocco on a ferry to Tangier, the port at the junction of the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Tangier has changed hands repeatedly since the time of the Phoenicians. The ancient Romans and Arabs controlled it until the Portuguese seized it in the 1400s, eventually transferring the city to Britain in the 16th century. The British held Tangier until 1685, when it again fell to an Arab sultan.

By 1923 Morocco was being administered by an international committee, with tax laws which made it a haven for international celebrities. Until the 1950s Tangier was a magnet for the world's creative spirits. Traces of that charm remains today in its crumbling Kasbahs and bougainvillea-drenched markets and cafes. Tangier remains an international gathering place, its streets are crowded with Moroccan businessmen, European and American tourists, and Berber women dressed in brightly-colored mehndi blankets.

Passing though the ages-old gateways of the medina, you will make your way along its winding alleys past the shops of the souk, where you can bargain for carpets, jewelry, caftans, or anything you need to make a meal.

Experience more of the Berber culture by spending time in any of the country's five Atlas mountain ranges rising from foothills studded with fruit orchards and ancient oak trees to barren heights of more than 4000 km (13,0000 feet). In these lonely heights are the Berber villages and farms, and Berber hospitality is among the most welcoming in the world. In addition to backpackers, the High Atlas attracts mountain bikers, skiers, and horsebackers.

The beaches of Morocco's North Atlantic coast, especially those to the southwest of Rabat, are as inviting as its mountains. The Moroccan royal family's private beach is bordered by the public Val d'Or, or Vale of Gold. Widely regarded as the best beach in the Rabat area, the beach forms a deep lagoon at one end, ideal for experienced swimmers, and a shallow cover at the other for children with an island accessible during low tide.

Rabat is about 97 km (57 miles) northeast of Casablanca, the most modern of Morocco's cities and unmistakable for the whitewashed buildings from which it gets its name. Casablanca's Hassan II Mosque, the third largest in the world, is visible from everywhere in the city.

Fez, the Arab capital of Morocco, has changed little culturally since medieval times. Fez el Bali, or the "old Fez," was founded in 808 A.D with its Andalusian and Kairaouine quarters built to house Islamic refugees from Spain and Tunisia. The "new Fez," or Fez el Djedid, was established in 1276. Entering through the gates of Fez al Bali is like stepping out of a time machine, as hurrying donkey drivers rush through the narrow streets and the air is alive with the sounds of metal workers hammering and the scents of garlic, cinnamon, roasting lamb, and cedar.

Known as the Jewel of the South, Marrakech was a stopping place on the caravan route between Morocco and the ancient kingdoms of North Africa. The old part of the city contains the Djemma el Fna where you can relax like a trader of old with a bowl of dates and some fresh juice of mint tea, waiting until sundown for the square to come to life with the entrance of snake charmers, story tellers, and jugglers.

The Ourika Valley, 60 km (37 miles) from Marrakech, is a popular day-trip destination for hikers. The valley, a river gorge at the base of the Atlas Mountains, has been home to the Berbers for centuries, and the rope bridges which they used to traverse the river are available for anyone with a sense of adventure! Winston Churchill often came to this valley to paint.

Wildlife lovers should make appoint of visiting the cedar forest south of Azrou, which is home to Morocco's famous Barbary apes. These timid creatures can be viewed as they feed at the edges of the forest. Morocco also has over a hundred species of wild mammals and two hundred species of birds in its national parks and protected areas.