Tourism to Morocco is increasing year by year as more people become aware of the country’s beauty, culture, cuisine and history. It’s also cheap, safe, hospitable and exotic, something very different for travellers.
Americans are no exception. More and more citizens of the USA are visiting Morocco each year for everything from budget holidays to luxury trips and experiencing the holiday of a lifetime. Americans no longer just follow “The Marrakech Express”, but come to enjoy the delights of the country; the wonders of the Red City Of Marrakech, the mighty dunes and camel trekking of the Sahara Desert, the twisting streets of the ancient Fes Medina, water sports at Essaouira and much, much more. Even winter sports such as skiing are popular here with our close friends from America.
After all. Morocco was the very first country to acknowledge American Independence from Britain.
From Europe, it’s a short flight or a hop over the straits of Gibraltar by ferry, but the big question for Americans is “How do I travel to Morocco from the USA?”.
In this article, we will help you assess the different methods of travelling to Morocco from the USA and provide you with some guidelines and requirements for travel. We are also more than happy to answer any questions that you may have.
Morocco was the very first country to acknowledge American Independence from Britain.
Before You Travel From The USA To Morocco:
Ensure that you have a passport that is valid for at least six months from your date of entry to Morocco. Your passport must also have at least one blank page. A USA passport entitles you to a stay in Morocco of up to ninety days, if you wish to stay longer you will need a business or student visa or apply for an extension.
Remember that the time zones in Morocco are rather different from those in the USA so beware of jetlag.
You should have comprehensive travel health insurance. Moroccan doctors and hospitals may charge you before treatment and the cost can be heavy.
It is no longer a requirement to be vaccinated against Covid-19 or to present a negative test result. However, other vaccinations are necessary or recommended.
You are allowed to take your pets to Morocco, as long as they are microchipped and have a valid pet passport, and health certificate and are not classified as a protected or dangerous breed. In the likely case that you are flying to Morocco, pets will have to enter via Casablanca Mohammed V airport. A rabies vaccination and test are also necessary for cats, dogs and ferrets. Other animals, especially tortoises and parrots, must not be CITES-listed species.
FLYING TO MOROCCO FROM THE USA.
This is pretty much the only option, really, unless you’re travelling to Europe first.
Several US airports offer regular flights to and from Morocco and the number is increasing.
The Moroccan Tourism Agency is currently very active in responding to the needs of US travellers.
Lots of cities offer flights:
- New York City (JFK) 9 a week.
- Washington D.C. (IAD) 5 a week.
- Miami – 3 a week.
Other flights depart from Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis and Philadelphia which all land at Casablanca International Airport (CMN).
There are some flights to Rabat, Tangier or Marrakech ( RAK).
Boston to Tangier takes fourteen and a half hours.
Boston to Marrakech takes about twelve hours.
Don’t panic!
The flight time from New York to Casablanca is only six and a half hours. The flights usually leave the particular American airport in the late afternoon or evening and arrive in Morocco in the early morning.
There are also plenty of indirect flights, which obviously take longer.
Delta Airlines offers a flight from Los Angeles, on the West Coast, to Paris (Charles de Gaulle) with Air France providing a connecting link to Casablanca. The time for these connecting flight arrivals to Morocco may be anywhere between fifteen and twenty-four hours.
Prices start from about $1,400, or marginally less, and go up to $5.000 or more, depending on the carrier, the season, baggage fees, layover times and duration. The most expensive times are around Christmas and New Year and in the peak holiday tiles of summer; July and August, when, frankly, it may not be the best time to visit Morocco as it can get ridiculously hot. Taking a flight at weekends can be more expensive than if you fly during the week.
It is wise to be flexible and book well in advance.
The main airlines that you should check out are: American Airlines; Delta Airlines; Royal Air Maroc; Tap Air Portugal and United Airlines.
Charter flights can be cheaper than the regular scheduled flights, but then there are more penalties for cancelling.
It is a good idea to book a package that includes flights and accommodation.
If your baggage gets lost or misplaced in transit to Morocco and then recovered, Morocco will not deliver it to you, but you will have to go to the airport to collect it.
Getting to Morocco via Europe.
Other than flying direct, or if you have your own personal yacht, the only other way to get to Morocco from the USA is via a European country, as direct access from Algeria is currently prohibited and access from Mauretania is very difficult and complicated.
For access from Europe, which usually means Spain, see our “Travel to Spain from Morocco” page.
N.B. This information is up-to-date as of September 2023. Please always check for possible changes and updates.
