CHEFCHAOUEN, MOROCCO
The “Blue Pearl of Morocco”, or “Blue City”, is one of the most “Instagramable” places in the world! Surrounded by the Rif Mountains in the northwestern part of the country, Chefchaouen (chef-SHAH-win) firmly holds a place on many bucket lists and in my heart. Call me basic, but the mesmerizing, magnificent blue hues of this town captured my soul in ways I did not know possible! On many occasions during my visit, I found myself walking down a blue passageway and thinking, “Wow, life is perfect!” For fear of overhyping, I’ll stop talking, but please do yourself a favor and include Chefchaouen on your next itinerary!
Attractions:
Walk & Wander: Get lost in the magical blue streets and alleyways; stop into a small shop to drink mint tea, freshly squeezed orange juice, or coffee; take a seat on some steps and people watch! Strolling around for hours on end was truly one of the most amazing experiences of my life! The majesty of this blue town is surreal and very difficult to put into words! There are many “hot spots” for photos in town and you’ll definitely see where they are based on where the crowds are. Beautiful photos take themselves in Chefchaouen!
Hike to the Spanish Mosque: Only a 45-minute hike from town, this spot is a definite “must do”. Not only is the walk beautiful but it’s also not very energy-intensive. You’ll get a lot of marvelous photos of Chefchaouen on the hike up and when you get to the top, your views will be stunning!
Cascades d’Akchour Trek: The start of the trail is an hour outside of town. To get there, go to the taxi hub of Chefchaouen (people will be able to point you in that direction). You can get to the falls for 25 MAD per person ($3 USD) but you will have to wait until the taxi becomes full of passengers; they don’t take taxis that are half full (unless you’re willing to pay for the empty seats). The hike up takes between 2-3 hours and leads to a pair of waterfalls in the Rif Mountains. You can swim but the water is pretty cold! Expect to need another 1.5-2 hours to get back to where you started. Overall, the trail is not strenuous, but rather peaceful, scenic, and green! There are plenty of spots along the trail to buy drinks and food in case you get hungry or thirsty, but as always I recommend packing ample snacks and water!
Other things to check out include: Ras el-Maa, Place Outa el Hammam, and Bab el Ain.
Accommodation:
Hotel - La Petite Chefchaouen: If you are searching for a charming boutique hotel, look no further! La Petite Chefchaouen has only 5 bedrooms making for a cozy, authentic, and welcoming experience. It’s a great spot to call your temporary home away from home!
Riad - Casa Hassan: This riad, which used to be a Moroccan family residence, is absolutely lovely. It sits on a hill overlooking the heart of the Medina and is full of ornate, traditional architecture. Beautiful and conveniently located - what else could you ask for?
Hostel - Pension Souika: This hostel is located in the middle of town and has an extremely friendly staff that helped me plan my entire trip around Morocco! The rooms are simple, inexpensive, and comfortable. I would stay here again!
Transportation:
Chefchaouen’s main bus station is Gare Routière; all buses below leave from here.
Tangier is 3 hours by bus from Chefchaouen and costs 50 MAD ($6 USD).
Fes is 4.5 hours by bus from Chefchaouen and costs 80 MAD ($9 USD).
Rabat is 4.5 hours by bus from Casablanca and costs 120 MAD ($14 USD).
Casablanca is 6 hours by bus from Chefchaouen and costs 155 MAD ($18 USD).
There are no direct routes to destinations such as Marrakech, Essaouira, and Ouarzazate. To reach these places, you will need to transfer in Casablanca.
The closest airport to Chefchaouen is Tangier Ibn Battuta International Airport (TNG), 120km (75 miles) away. The taxi ride is 2.5 hours and costs between 500-800 MAD ($55-$90 USD). To save money, take a taxi from TNG Airport to the city’s CTM bus station (250 MAD; $28 USD). From here, take the bus from Tangier to Chefchaouen mentioned above (50 MAD; $6 USD).
