Tarfaya - human settlement

Tarfaya is a small port town on the southwestern coast of Morocco.

Understand

Tarfaya is about 32 km north of the disputed Western Sahara territory border. The town is home to the largest wind farm in Africa, called Tarfaya Wind Farm.

Get in

By bus

Buses run regularly from Laayoune in Western Sahara to the south, and Agadir to the north. Usually there is at least one bus per day, costing around €18 one-way (CTM (dead link: January 2023) and Supratours).

By boat

A car ferry from the Canary Islands was scheduled to open since 2017, but as of February 2018 it is neither operating nor is a date for the start of service known.

Get around

The center is pretty compact and can easily be discovered on foot. Small taxis are also available.

See

Antoine de Saint Exupéry, famed writer of The Little Prince, was stationed here in 1929, then named «Cape Juby». There is a small airplane statue dedicated to him in a small park on northern end of the beach and a museum about the flying postal service dedicated to him in the town center. Also, the Castle Dar Mar (also known as Casa Mar), built 1880 by the British, is located about 50 m off the shore, just north of the port.

• Antoine de St Exupery Museum, 27.943963°, -12.924754°. 2020-04-10

Do

The main road is usually full of people from sunset on. Men talk, barter, and discuss the day's happenings as the day comes to an end. There are usually more donkeys then women present on the road, and the female traveler could be subject to stares and strange looks.

Buy

There are many general stores, restaurants, and one travel agency in town. As tourism isn't very big in the town, souvenirs are limited to what is present at the general stores. The excellent exchange rate from dollars or euros to dirham makes most goods in the city extremely cheap.

Eat

There are several restaurants along the main paved road, specializing in traditional Moroccan food. However, the most popular food of Tarfaya is what can best be described as a squid and mixed seafood kebab. They are sold off of a cart on the main road for about 5 dirham each, and are absolutely delicious.

Drink

As found commonly throughout Morocco, sweet mint tea is served in most of the restaurants. Tarfaya is mainly a Muslim town, and does not have bars serving alcohol.

Sleep

There are several hotels in Tarfaya. Hotel Casamar, close to the entry gate to the port, is a good budget choice, with a good kitchen.

It is also possible to rent rooms or apartments in the town from select townspeople. If you remain on the main road and ask around during sunset hours or inquire at shops and restaurants during the day, people can point you to the correct place.

Connect

There is one internet cafe in the town, which is relatively cheap.

Most cafes, restaurants and hotels offer free Wi-Fi.

4G is available.

Go next

• Agadir – a long bus ride (about 8-10 hr) through the desert and along the coast will take you to this southern Moroccan tourist paradise.
• Western Sahara – The main city of Laayoune (El Aaiún) is about an hour away.