COVID-19 - Morocco Master Thread

[TheWarden]

Friend flew Paris - Casa - Dakhla 2 days ago to retrieve his vehicle, all seems to be going ok so far

"flew florence paris casablanca, no problem at all. The only thing is they need to see your covid report in europe before they let you on board. Once in Casablanca easy as usual. Passport control with a little registration of your hotel booking in a small office. Takes two minutes. People told me, it is better to have a confirmed booking for your whole stay in Marocco, even if you continue by car. Am sitting at the gate for Dakhla, boarding in 5 minutes. Nobody even asked me why I am going there. Casa airport is deserted... flights not even half full"

He also confirmed Mauri borders are still closed, there had been some rumours circulating that they were open again.

[RussG]

My experience returning to Morocco.
Getting the covid testing and flights aligned to comply with the 48hr window was a little stressy but if worked out fine.
Tests returned within 30hrs.
Fly with RAM.
No hassle at Heathrow or Casablanca. They checked the tests and hotel reservation. But didn't really scrutinise them.
Flight maybe 40% capacity.
Taxi picked me up as arranged and took me to around 15min North of Marrakech. A few police check points but we were waved through.
No flights available from Casablanca to Marrakech.
Now chilling by the pool for a couple days and the (hopefully) ferry from Tangier to Genoa.
I'll let you know how that goes.

[RussG]

No issues traveling from Marrakech to Tangier Med. I was waved through any police check points.
For the first 3hrs it felt like I was driving on square tyres though:-)
Tangier Med was rammed, even though I was 7hrs early.
So usual chaos, but no big deal.
No questions asked about my expired temporary import. It ran out in August.
The GNV ferry is okay. The snack bar and restaurant are open.
Just arriving in Genoa now.

[RussG]

Back home (southern Italy).
Once I'd got off the boat in Genoa I was literally on the road in 5 minutes. Zero hassle.
Before you get on the boat Italian guys and dogs seemed to search every vehicle. So I guess that's why it was so easy in Genoa.
A 6500 mile round trip:-) as I returned to the UK first

[TheWarden]

I guess most know already, but the SoE was extended until the 10/11/20 yesterday.

PCR test now is required to be within 72hours rather than then previous 48hours

No more news on borders but rumours that the latest option for tourists with a hotel booking is posssible via ferry. At present I've not heard of anyone succesfully entering morocco as a tourist via ferry

[TheWarden]

France refuse to allow ferry to dock in Sete due to Coronavirus case (odd as everyone on board had to present a negative test)

https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/202...VN9vQPCuxne9tg

Useful info from Visit Morocco/Moroccan National Tourist Office on entry requirements (no mention of being able to use ferries with a hotel booking)

https://www.visitmorocco.com/en/info...6xzAm211QMAQ90

Lastly, Ryanair seem to have been added to the list of approved airlines

[levelo]

Eventually all passengers were allowed to disembark.
It was rumored that some crew members were tested positive, hence the delay.

[vrecha]

At present I've not heard of anyone succesfully entering morocco as a tourist via ferry ...

Looking for a first to try it and possibly grab a trophy!

[TheWarden]

More problems with the Sete authorities and ferries over the weekend

https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/tran...vl1VDB5k5E_bDE

[TheWarden]

Moroccan Government have approved a draft Decree extending the State of Emergency until the 10th of December.

El Othmani, Morocco's Head of Government has also not ruled out a return to full lockdown, much as we have seen across Europe if conditions in Morocco require it. This followed a number of fake Government documents circulating on line claiming to prove that a new lock down was coming in a matter of days.

GNV Ferries to Sete have been suspended until December and the service to Genoa appears reduced (although I'm not certain on this).

Several press reports circulation of tourists trapped again with the stoppage on the ferries. Not surprising if you've been keeping up on the local situation and the latest UK FCO advice was updated a while back stating not to rely on the ferry services.

Spain and Morocco continue to have a bit of a political squabble, current over fuel for HGVs. But possible something that further delays the resumption of regular ferry services between the 2 countries.

[vrecha]

Several press reports circulation of tourists trapped again with the stoppage on the ferries.

Does this implicate that tourists are allowed to enter Morocco via (say, Genoa-Tang) ferry?

[TheWarden]

They can enter with a negative PCR test within 72hours of arrival and a hotel reservation.

A few people I know of have done this, but the ferry situation seems to be a risk if you wnat to get out again. Theres no way south to Mauritania at the moment and the border is blockaded by the Polisario for the last week or so.

Spain a still running special ferries back to Algeciras available via the Embassy at the moment but again this could stop at anytime.

[vrecha]

Writing here as it will maybe be useful for other travellers ...


Entered Morocco yesterday.
Ferry GNV: Genoa --> Tanger Med
Nominaly 48h, we arrived in 42h.
Before embarking in Genoa, medical stuff inspected PCR tests in some detail, some vehicles turned back.
There were less than one sixth of the usual number of passengers.

Morocco customs quick and efficient, they looked only for hotel reservation (we had printed page from booking.com - ok, accepted), no one looked at the PCR test.


Once inside, the situation is quite relaxed, don't know about the big cities as we avoid them.


Heading south (while keeping as east as possible).

[hav]

Any relationship or questions between the total nights on your hotel reservation and the total time they granted for your vehicle to be in Morocco?

[TheWarden]

No they are 2 separate issues.

Normally a vehicle is allowed 180 days in a calendar year. This year they allowed vehicles to overstay to the end of 2020 but no news on what will happen in 2021 yet