Difference between revisions of "Tangier"

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[[User:Traveling_Charles|Traveling Charles]] and his companion mistakenly tried arriving at night and found only a few trucks being loaded onto the ferries. Be sure to arrive between 10:00 and 19:00 for best results. They were two people and split on to two trucks as the drivers wanted to make sure they also got food tickets. They recommend to make sure to just ask drivers, because they also tried getting help from the people loading the boats, which was the key for success on the Spanish side, but on the Moroccain side it was actually problematic to ask help from the workers. Balearia company seemed to be the best choice for boat companies.
 
[[User:Traveling_Charles|Traveling Charles]] and his companion mistakenly tried arriving at night and found only a few trucks being loaded onto the ferries. Be sure to arrive between 10:00 and 19:00 for best results. They were two people and split on to two trucks as the drivers wanted to make sure they also got food tickets. They recommend to make sure to just ask drivers, because they also tried getting help from the people loading the boats, which was the key for success on the Spanish side, but on the Moroccain side it was actually problematic to ask help from the workers. Balearia company seemed to be the best choice for boat companies.
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As of March 2016, there is a guard whose sole job it is to not let anyone without a ticket through to the passport control. Discussion was unsuccessful, but it might depend on the individual.
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There are often Buses with Moroccans going to Spain, Italy, or other European countries who don't pay the standard price for each passenger. Instead, there are ticket agents hanging around the terminal, who seem to negotiate bulk prices for the buses with the ferry companies. So if you find a nice agent and explain that you don't have much money, you might score free, or at least significantly cheaper tickets. When negotiating a price for 50 people, one or two more probably don't make any difference at all.
  
 
===Ferry to [[Italy]], [[Genova]] or [[Barcelona]]===
 
===Ferry to [[Italy]], [[Genova]] or [[Barcelona]]===

Revision as of 19:48, 19 March 2016

Tangier is a city in Morocco, across the strait of Gibraltar from Spain.

Hitchhiking out

<map lat='35.77353614091867' lng='-5.8179473876953125' zoom='12' view='0' float='right'/>

Ferry to Spain (Port Tanger Med)

The new port, Tanger Med, is situated some 40 km east of the city and there are ferries to Spain (Algeciras) several times a day (less frequently to Barcelona and Italy). From the big roundabout in Tanger (Place Jamia el Arbia) walk about 4 kilometers towards national road N2 (follow the Tanger Med sign). After a big flyover bridge there is a bus stop where you can hitch a short ride to a toll booth that takes you to the highway A4 (not too much traffic but if you just keep walking towards the highway someone stops). Alternatively, get to the national road N16 (the beach road following Avenue d'Espagne).

When you get to the terminal, ask for a boarding card from one of the booths and fill it. Then waltz to the X-ray and someone probably asks for your ticket. Explain that you are a hitchhiker and that the trucks are allowed to have one passenger apart from the driver. Be prepared for lengthy conversation though. Smile.

Once you are done with the formalities a minibus will take you to down to the port. Moroccan drivers are your best choice. Just convince them that you don't have drugs with you (Arabic sign "I have no drugs" makes them smile). Explain that all they have to do is to take you into the ferry and in Spain you will walk out of the ferry by yourself.

It might take a while but eventually you will get a ride to the ferry. Then you just go and have a nice meal with the driver.

Just before reaching Algeciras you should try to hitch a ride out of the port (otherwise be prepared for a long walk).

Two hitchhikers managed to hitch a lift to Spain from the truck gate in April 2013. It was very difficult, they weren't sure what was happening most of the time, and they don't think it would be very easy to repeat. But it is possible! Full story in the discussion section.

When Fedecicco did it (March 2012) port authority absolutely didn't want to let him in without a ticket (they sent him to the other truck entrance where they resent him back again). He had to enter by force, didn't care about them and went straight to the police and custom office on the right after the entrance. There, being european and explaining, blablaing and so on he could finally enter.

A hitchiker had a very bad time there; people working at the port have orders to not help hitchikers and to mislead them. After searching for hours the place for the trucks, he finally got there, but the douane officers he met were there were the worst people he could encounter. They'll do anything to annoy you and to make you wait. A douane officer even forced him to get out of a truck he got in. The hitchiker abandonned after trying for some hours to find a truck. Be carefull because in the night there are immigrants all over the port trying to hide inside a truck, it could be dangerous to walk on the road alone, mostly if you have an european passport. [Bob-bob]

Traveling Charles and his companion mistakenly tried arriving at night and found only a few trucks being loaded onto the ferries. Be sure to arrive between 10:00 and 19:00 for best results. They were two people and split on to two trucks as the drivers wanted to make sure they also got food tickets. They recommend to make sure to just ask drivers, because they also tried getting help from the people loading the boats, which was the key for success on the Spanish side, but on the Moroccain side it was actually problematic to ask help from the workers. Balearia company seemed to be the best choice for boat companies.

As of March 2016, there is a guard whose sole job it is to not let anyone without a ticket through to the passport control. Discussion was unsuccessful, but it might depend on the individual.

There are often Buses with Moroccans going to Spain, Italy, or other European countries who don't pay the standard price for each passenger. Instead, there are ticket agents hanging around the terminal, who seem to negotiate bulk prices for the buses with the ferry companies. So if you find a nice agent and explain that you don't have much money, you might score free, or at least significantly cheaper tickets. When negotiating a price for 50 people, one or two more probably don't make any difference at all.

Ferry to Italy, Genova or Barcelona

(March 2012) Impossible. Because the way is longer (they told me more than 8h, to Barcelona is about 24h and Genova 48h) they ask for documents, driving license and a 100€ ticket for the codriver of the truck. That's why all companies just pay for one driver. Fedecicco asked drivers but all refused to take him.

South towards Rabat, Tetouan (from Port Tanger Med)

From the main exit of the port, follow the main road (the only one that trucks can run on). You'll see a sign reading first "Toutes directions", and "Tetouan", and then "Tetouan, Rabat". After a walk of some 2 km you'll reach a large roundabout. There is plenty of room for cars to stop, though you'll continually have to wave taxis off.

For Chefchaouen, you can use the direction Tetouan (the M2 motorway runs south along this route), though you'll most likely have to be dropped off in Tetouan and hitch from there.

For going to Rabat, another option is to take a train to Asilah, the first stop south of Tangier. From there it takes about 30 minutes to walk to the highway. Ask for the Afriquia gas station and you'll find plenty of cars and trucks there.

South towards Tetouan (from Tanger City)

Find your way to the Tanger Morora (Moghogha) Railway Station. You can walk from the city centre, but you could also take a bus. Walking from the centre, you should already be on the big road (N2) towards Tetouan. To get to the N2, you may have to ask your way through, as signage is rather poor. The road begins after a big roundabout (Place de la Ligue Arabe), which also marks the start of the big road towards Rabat (N1) in the other direction. After some time, you will pass another roundabout and then a bridge crossing the rails, from which you can also see the railway station. After the bridge, you can start hitching by the side of the road. Cars should be able to stop there. It might also be possible to start hitching right in the city centre once you're on the N2, but that may mean more local traffic and less people leaving Tanger.

Public transportation

For the airport, take bus 9, 9b or 9c, which goes from near the medina. You can catch the 9b and 9c at place Kouweit and the 9 at Mabrouk. They all are not so frequent (go every half an hour/hour), so be prepared to wait. The bus journey takes only 15 minutes, but none of them go directly to the airport. They only pass by it on the main road. Get off the bus after the Metro store and than you'll have 10 more minutes to walk.