New Ferry Route from Morocco to the Canary Islands
Morocco is working towards establishing a new passenger and freight ferry service to Spain’s Canary Islands. The Moroccan government is actively seeking proposals from companies to operate this vital connection.
The Route and Its Significance
The Canary Island of Fuerteventura is located less than 100 kilometers off Morocco’s Atlantic coast. The proposed ferry route will operate from the remote Moroccan port town of Tarfaya, situated nearly 800 kilometers south of Marrakesh. The government anticipates that ‘this direct link will foster the economic and social development of the Southern Provinces of the Kingdom and facilitate the flow of goods and passengers.’ Consequently, the ferry journey is expected to take under two hours, as Tarfaya’s port has recently been upgraded to accommodate larger vessels.
Current Travel Options
Currently, there are sporadic flights from Royal Air Maroc and the Spanish airline Binter between various Moroccan cities and the Canary Islands. However, these flights are infrequent, mostly operating during the peak summer season from July to September. Thus, most travelers wishing to transit between Morocco and the Canary Islands often have to connect through mainland Spain. Notably, a ferry service previously operated the route between Tarfaya and Fuerteventura in 2008, but it ceased operation after just five months due to strong winds that caused it to run aground.
Future Expectations
At present, the Moroccan government is only requesting expressions of interest from potential operators, meaning there is no definitive timeline for when this ferry route will become operational for travelers.
Travel Updates
As of September, Morocco has reopened its borders to travelers with hotel reservations, while the Canary Islands are accessible for EU residents, as well as citizens from countries with low COVID-19 case numbers, such as South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia. Moreover, some of the more isolated Canary Islands, including El Hierro and Isla Graciosa, have reported no coronavirus cases at all.
