Staying Open: Hitchhiking Coastal Morocco

Every time I travel to Morocco, I feel a little nervous because each trip is entirely different. I don’t like to plan too much because it builds expectations, and I’d rather be surprised if something happens than disappointed if it doesn’t. I don’t know where I’ll sleep, where I’ll eat, what places I’ll visit, who I’ll meet, what means of transportation I’ll take, or what business deals I’ll do, and so on. Because of this uncertainty, it’s never easy to leave my comfort zone.

Just before embarking on this adventure, I adopted a new way of looking at things. I told myself that the only thing I must do is stay open to whatever happens, whether it’s good or bad. If something negative occurs, I probably won’t be able to see the whole picture in that moment. I might feel angry, sad, or disappointed, but in the end, it will be a lesson sent by the universe that I need to go through – one piece of the puzzle.

And with this new attitude, I embarked on my seventh trip to Morocco. For a while, I had wanted to try hitchhiking, but it never seemed like the right time or place. I always found an excuse, thinking it might be dangerous. A few days before arriving in Morocco, I contacted a guy, my previous Airbnb host, to stay at his place, knowing he was also into hitchhiking. I asked if he’d like to join me on a trip to a specific place, and he agreed. We met, hitchhiked, and it was amazing. We had so much fun—laughing, sharing, and inspiring each other. Although we initially planned to visit only one destination, we ended up exploring eight places along the west coast of Morocco and became great friends—travel buddies. Staying open allowed me to live in the moment, letting go of all the potential negatives that could have happened.

By sharing my story, I hope to encourage you not to be afraid of the unknown, to accept everything, and to expect nothing. That’s when the magic happens!

And for those who are planing their trip to Morocco here is a little bit about the places I stopped by:

A small fishing village, Tifnit is unspoiled and very Moroccan. It’s special because just behind the village, you’ll find the Sahara’s sand dunes. These massive dunes stretch for about 5 km along the coast. Tifnit has its own magic.

With a busy port and a beach resort sprawling beneath its kasbah, Agadir was completely rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1960. Today, it is the country’s premier destination for sun, sand, pubs, and pizza. Laid out in a large grid of downtown streets, surrounded by spacious residential suburbs, Agadir’s concrete inland quarters are rather unattractive. However, the city comes alive along the beachfront promenade, where Moroccan street life unfolds with a refreshing sense of space. Arching south of the shiny white marina, the sandy beach offers clean water and 300 sunny days a year.

This place will leave you amazed! Located 20 km north of Agadir, Paradise Valley is part of the Tamraght River valley in the Moroccan High Atlas mountains. The valley is famous for its rock pools and small waterfalls, making it a popular spot for picnics, swimming, and relaxing in the sun.

Despite its popularity with surfers from around the world, Imsouane is, first and foremost, home to a bustling fishing community.

The constant blustery winds make it one of Morocco’s top spots for windsurfing and surfing. If you’re not a sports fan, there isn’t much else to do here.

Known as the "Wind City of Africa," many people come here to wander through the spice-scented lanes and palm-lined avenues of the fortified medina, browse the many art galleries and boutiques, relax in some of the country’s best hotels, and watch fishing nets being mended or traditional boats being constructed in the atmospheric port. Essaouira is a beautiful, charming town with a unique ability to inspire.

I hope you found some useful information, and if you need any advice, I’m here to help!

Thank you for reading.

Love, Toma