About Morocco:
Morocco (officially the Kingdom of Morocco) is a vibrant North African country known for its rich history, stunning landscapes, diverse culture, and strategic location bridging Africa, Europe, and the Arab world.
As of 2026, it’s a constitutional monarchy under King Mohammed VI, with a population of approximately 38.8 million people.
Geographically, Morocco features dramatic contrasts, with the Atlas Mountains running through the center; vast Sahara Desert dunes in the south and east; and fertile coastal plains along the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
Morocco is slightly larger than California, which has similar physical characteristics and nearly identical sizes (a range of roughly 5% to 76% larger depending on whether Western Sahara is included). Other comparisons include being about four times larger than Washington State.
Moroccan life revolves around hospitality, family, and flavorful food. Signature dishes include tagine (slow-cooked stew), couscous (often Friday’s national meal), pastilla, harira soup, and endless mint tea.
Markets (souks) are filled with stalls selling spices, carpets, leather goods, and argan oil products (Argan oil is a nutrient-dense plant oil, often called “liquid gold,” derived from the kernels of Moroccan Argania spinosa trees. It is widely used for skin hydration, anti-aging, and hair frizz reduction due to its high levels of vitamin E and fatty acid products).
Morocco is predominantly Sunni Muslim, with small Christian and Jewish communities.
Catholic places of interest in Morocco:
Catholics account less than 1% of the overall population of over 31 million. The country is divided into two archdioceses, Rabat and Tangiers.
Casablanca: Port city on the Atlantic Ocean with beautiful French-inspired Catholic churches.
Rabat: Capitol city with several Catholic churches.
Traveling to Morocco:
Morocco is one of the most politically stable countries in North Africa and the Middle East and is widely considered a safe destination for tourists, with many international indices ranking it as safer than several popular European countries (ahead of Portugal, Sweden, and the Netherlands.)
However, Western governments (including the U.S. and UK) maintain a Level 2 advisory (“Exercise Increased Caution”) primarily due to the potential threat of terrorism, though major incidents are very rare.
By air: fly into major airports in Casablanca or Marrakech, with many connections available via European hubs.
By sea: Ferries from Spain (Algeciras or Tarifa) to Tangier are popular, crossing in about an hour. Several major cruise lines include Morocco, primarily visiting Casablanca, Agadir, and Tangier on Mediterranean or Canary Islands itineraries. Top lines offering these, often departing from Spain or Lisbon, include Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and luxury lines like Viking and Ponant.
Visas are not required for stays under 90 days for many, including US, UK, EU, and Canadian citizens.