Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The fixed price for a grand taxi from Tangier airport to Chefchaouen is Dh650, and from
Tanger Med Dh550. Unless you can find several people to split the fare with you, it is far
cheaper to go to Tangier first, then hop to Chefchaouen via Tetouan. Even if you buy two
places, you will save over Dh500 and add less than an hour.
Grands taxis north leave Chefchaouen from just below Plaza Mohammed V. Most just
run to Tetouan (Dh32, one hour), where you must change for Tangier or Ceuta - direct
taxis are rare. From Ave Allal ben Abdallah you can catch a grand taxi to Dar Ackoubaa
(Dh8, 20 minutes) from Ave Moulay Abdesalam, the junction for Oued Laou.
Grands taxis headed south gather below the central market. Catch one to Ouezzane
(Dh30, one hour), where you can pick up onward transport to Fez and Meknès. There is
very little transport heading east to the coast. The best option is to take a grand taxi to
Dardara junction (Dh8, 15 minutes) or Bab Taza (Dh15, 30 minutes) and hope for the best
from there.
Getting Around
Chefchaouen's 37 blue petits taxis congregate on Pl el-Majzen and near the market.
They're unmetered; most fares shouldn't top Dh10. The safe and convenient Hotel
Parador
car park
(Pl el-Majzen; per night Dh10)
can be used by nonguests.
Chaouen Car
( 0539 98 62 04; Ave Hassan II)
This agency rents cars and also organises 4WD
trips and quad bikes.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
INTO THE RIF
Heading southeast out of Chefchaouen, the N2 road plunges into the heart of the Rif, running about
150km along the backbone of the mountains. The roads are rough, but offer spectacular views. To the
southeast,
Jebel Tidiquin
(2448m), the highest peak in the Rif Mountains, dominates the skyline.
Issaguen
appears unexpectedly from the middle of the cedar forests. A scruffy frontier town, it is
one of the commercial centres of kif cultivation and smuggling (
Ketama
, 20km away, being the oth-
er).
Issaguen and Ketama have a notorious reputation. This is an area beyond the law. People will won-
der what you are doing here, and naturally assume you are buying hashish. There is nowhere to turn if
you get into trouble, and little to hold anyone back who wants some. Travellers are strongly advised to
pass through and not spend the night here.
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