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{IsIn|Spain}}
hitchhiking the ferry is not possible anymore (?)
There are more or less two ways to hitch the ferry. You will either ask around in the parking area, or wait at the entrance gate for the trucks boarding the ferry. You are not assured to get an exit stamp of the Schengen Area through any of those options.
The first roundabout South of the boarding station/ticket boots leads you to the parking area where all the trucks wait before boarding, but also after coming out of the ferry that arrived from Morocco (: good opportunities to head out very far into Europe will arise from asking around there(within an hour, I could have hopped into 2 trucks headed all the way back to Paris, one truck to London, and one to Italy)!).
Multiple parking areas will be awaiting you. Enter the area through the opening in the fence, right before the gates where truckers exit the area, about 50 meters from the roundabout. It is perfectly legal for you to be in there and to ask around for a ride (words of the Portuary Police themselves). However, do not talk to the trucks on the road as the act of soliciting a ride is actually illegal in the port (words, again, of the Portuary Police). I take it that "soliciting a ride" only applies to a running vehicle on the road.
If you want to try the other option, you should head into the boarding building and find out when the next ferry is leaving: trucks will start driving through the ferry's entrance gate (first roundabout North of the boarding building) as early as an hour and a half before the ferry leaves.
On the ferry, a man sitting in a chair with a computer in front of him will be doing the Entrance Stamp to Morocco. He will not be there throughout the whole trip, so take care of that as early as possible once you are on board. Usually My understanding is that the ticket for trucks is valid for up to 2 persons inside the cab, you will get and its price doesn't vary based on whether or not both places are used up. It also includes a free meal shower and a free shower once meal on board.
The boarding building in Spain has 1 hour of free Wi-Fi to offer. On the Moroccan side, it is supposed to be the same, but it actually turns off more or less every half hour, but also allows you to log in again infinitely.
Personal experience: Blitz and J successfully hitchhiked to Morocco in February 2018. J speaks French and this was essential for communicating with drivers and securing rides. We first tried to pass by the final police check before trucks board the ferry, the on duty officer told us it was impossible, had never been done and we couldn’t pass. Having read hitchwiki we knew this wasn’t true and decided to persist, passing through the fence elsewhere was not an option because we both had packs and the area from the fence to the ferry is large so we would have been spotted immediately. J suggested we try at the roundabout before the final police check anyway incase the officer on duty had changed. We spoke to truck drivers and were both taken through within 20 minutes by trucks. When passing through the police check the officer had changed and the officer on duty barely glanced at either of us.
Me and my friend were not able to make it past the police checkpoints in september 2018. As we tried to walk around the (first?) checkpoint two police officers in a car came and told us to go back. We didnt try it any longer so maybe if you are more sneaky and resistant you can make it.
The August 30th I, ([[User:Groben|Groben]]) was able to board the ferry in a truck. Someone drove me into the port, then on the first roundabout we went right, there is a parking with some trucks and a cafeteria. I think it's called "parque de seguridad" I'm not sure. I asked a truck he told me I was crazy. I asked a second one and he took me in. It took me less than a minute... And free meal on the ferry.
==== 2020 and onward (post corona) ====
March 2023: My girlfriend and me ([[User:DeepGroove]]) tried to hitchhike a ferry but did not succeed. A truck driver in front of the first checkpoint told us that this is not possible since Corona. Drivers must bring papers and everybody on the truck had to be officially in that papers. And somehow that's not possible for hitchhikers. The harbor policeman at the first checkpoint also said, it's not possible. We gave up at that point. Would be interested, if someone made it since Corona.
== Coming from Morocco ==
Around the harbour are plenty of supposedly "cheap hotels" for around 10€/night. However, the waiting hall for the ferries is open 24/24h, is actually safe, controlled and also some other people (locals/homeless/travelers) sleep in it. If you don't find a lift for the ferry or a long lift for Europe, it is better to sleep there and try the next day instead of moving somewhere else.
:"I slept one night in waiting hall on toilets for disabled people and it was ok. No one disturb me but for sure it´s not the most beautifull beautiful sleeping spot." Waiting hall for the ferries is open 24/24h, is actually safe, controlled and also some other people (locals/homeless/travelers) sleep in it. If you don't find a lift for the ferry or a long lift for Europe, it is better to sleep there and try the next day instead of moving somewhere else.
[[Category:Andalusia]]
