Chefchaouen, or the Blue Pearl as many call it, was definitely a great place to visit. The medina, the Rif Mountains, and even the Turkish bathrooms were all amazing experiences. Now, there are some things that we will be better prepared for next time and one of them has to do with the Turkish bathroom. To make this a convenient trip for our readers, we have shared our three main tips on how to make the most of visiting Chefchaouen.
1. Bring walking shoes
The medina has a lot of long hills and your legs will start feeling it after a few hills. Wear appropriate footwear and please refrain from sandals. In my experience, my sandals kept slipping back every time I walked up a hill. It becomes uncomfortable rather quickly. And if you’re planning to hike up the Rif Mountains, definitely bring walking shoes. The great part of hiking the mountains is, if you hike long enough you get to see the Blue Pearl from afar; it’s a great lookout point.
2. Carry sanitary wipes
In the medina, there are not a lot of restrooms. And when you finally find a restroom, it’s a Turkish restroom. For those who don’t know, a Turkish restroom isn’t the most comfortable to use. There’s only a whole in the floor and you have to squat on top of it hoping you don’t miss the hole and aim at your outfit instead. After that, you wash and rinse yourself with a bucket of water. If you’re not comfortable with using the bucket, bring sanitary wipes. I was so grateful that I still carried sanitary wipes for Magdalene; they came in handy. Oh and bring at least 2 dirhams to pay the guy in front of the restroom.
3. Prepare for a long car ride
Depending on where you’re coming from, more than likely you will be getting to the Blue Pearl by a vehicle. The closest airports are in Tangier and Tetouan. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, who suffers from motion sickness, to drive incessantly from Tangier to Chefchaouen. If that is your route, try to make pit stops. As stated above, Magdalene became sick on our ride from Tangier to Chefchaouen. Not the best way to be introduced to a new town.
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