Morocco is usually a safe destination for travelers. Most of the visits to Morocco are trouble-free. Yet, there are some risks important to be aware about while in Morocco. Right now, due COVID-19 it’s not recommended to travel if it’s not essential. In case you’re planning a trip to Morocco in 2021, be sure you are up to date with the most recent travel restrictions and you respect them.
We highly recommend you to book a Private Tour to Morocco to increase your security and reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection.
See below the last updates of the COVID-19 travel restrictions in Morocco and other general and useful information about the Morocco safety and security. Enjoy reading!
COVID-19 travel restrictions in Morocco
Last update: April 8, 2021
Morocco is a country with high risk of COVID-19 infection. The non-essential travels to Morocco are not recommended. On March 26, 2021, Morocco has around 493 353 confirmed cases of COVID-19. See below the World Map for a better picture of the current pandemic situation. You can change the data view in the upper right corner. If you see a country doesn’t show any data, just click on it and it will display more detailed information.
Travel to and from Morocco
The following categories are allowed to travel to Morocco right now:
- Moroccan citizens and foreigners with residence permit in Morocco and their first degree relatives.
- Foreigners of visa-exempt countries proving that have reservation with hotel or/and travel agencies from Morocco;
- Foreigners traveling for business propose invited by Moroccan companies.
Traveling to and from Morocco is restricted to specific categories of passengers or countries. We recommend you to check the travel restrictions applied for your country and by your country. Here you have some useful links:
For US travelers – https://ma.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/
For UK travelers – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco
If you’re planning to travel to Morocco in the near future, is very important to know the following information:
- Travelers older than 11 years entering Morocco by air need to present a negative PCR test. The test must be undertaken less than 72 hours before entering Morocco.
- Morocco is currently in a “State of Emergency” until April 10, 2021.
- The people must respect the national curfew between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM until April 13, 2021. All restaurants, supermarkets and other stores must close no later than 8:00 PM.
- Wearing a mask in the public spaces is mandatory.
- The Government of Morocco has suspended all flights to/from Algeria, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Cameroon, Croatia, Czech Republic, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Egypt, France, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Ireland, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mozambique, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. Other countries may be included or excluded from this list depending on how the COVID-19 situation will evolve. Travelers transiting one of these countries will not be allowed to enter Morocco.
How safe and secure is it in Morocco?
As mentioned before, Morocco is seen as a safe country for travelers. According to the World Economic Forum, in 2019 Morocco has been ranked 28th as the safest and more secure country in the world in terms of tourism, being a great position. Still, there are some risks you have to be aware about if travel to Morocco and take the maximum precautions to avoid any unpleasant situations.
Although Morocco is considered internationally of a high risk of terrorism, the attacks are actually very rare, fewer than other European countries such as France, Belgium or Italy. The last most powerful attack in Morocco was in 2011. Normally, the hotels and other popular sites for tourists are highly secured.
In Morocco there is also a high risk of theft. It’s highly recommended to take care of your personal stuff, especially of your money, when you are in public. Avoid showing large sums of money in public and don’t use ATMs when it’s dark outside and you’re alone. Hold your belongings close when you are in bars, restaurants, trains or other public places.
Regarding crimes of violence, there are very few cases in Morocco. The big cities of Morocco are usually quiet. However, there were situations where new tourists coming to Morocco and heading to their hotel on foot were intimidated. So, it’s highly recommended to avoid walking on unlit streets and unknown neighborhoods during the night. Ideally, you should have a personal transfer from the airport to your hotel.
With Wandare, if you book a private tour to Morocco you have the transfer to the hotel included. Also, if you have a private tour with Wandare, the driver will be with you from the beginning till the end of your trip in Morocco. In addition, Wandare doesn’t group the tours, all the tours are exclusively private for you and your group. This is a great advantage especially in avoiding COVID-19 infection. So, in this case your safety and security is much higher than traveling by your own or in a group tour.
If you are planning to drive in Morocco, you will find it difficult because of poor road infrastructure. The roads in Morocco are unsafe especially in the Atlas Mountains area. Additionally, the driving style in the cities is very chaotic. So, be very careful while driving and respect the traffic rules, especially the speed limits.
Important customs and laws in Morocco
Morocco is a Muslim country and they have a rich culture related to their religion. As a visitor of Morocco, you are responsible of respecting the local laws and customs. One of the most important period of the year in Moroccan culture is the Ramadan when people are fasting and don’t eat anything from dawn until dusk. If you travel during this time, be sure you respect their customs. This year, Ramadan starts on April 13, 2021 and ends on May 12, 2021.
If you travel in couple, try to avoid showing affection in public. In addition, the women should be dressed decently and make sure they are not provocative both for respecting the local culture and for their own security.
According to the law, the sexual relationships outside the marriage are prohibited and can be punished. Homosexuality is considered a criminal offence, so, make sure you avoid showing any type of affection in public.
It’s very important to be conscious and sensitive to local laws and customs. If you would like to know more about them or you have a specific question, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Our security is essential, being one of the biggest priority when choosing where to travel. Thus, is it safe to travel to Morocco right now? YES, Morocco is a safe destination for those who want to visit it. However, there are some risks, yet rare in Morocco, like thefts, unsafe roads and crime of violence that every visitors should be conscious about and take care.
From our experience, the best way to travel to Morocco is with a private tour. The private tours ensure your maximum safety and support during your trip by providing private transport and personal driver. If you would like to book a private tour to Morocco, check HERE.
