Morocco for Digital Nomads: Surf, Slow Days and What to Check First

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Some places just make sense for this life. Morocco is one of them: Atlantic waves, cheap long stays, mint tea in the afternoon and a short flight from most of Europe.

It is not for everyone. Here is what Morocco is like for digital nomads, and what to check before you come.

Why Morocco works

• The surf. The Atlantic coast around Taghazout and Imsouane has waves for every level, and the best swell runs from autumn to spring.
• Slow days. Surf towns move at the speed of the tide. They reward people who stay a while.
• Variety. Desert, mountains, medinas and long empty beaches, all in one country.
• The time zone. Close to the UK and Europe, so your working day matches your clients.

Time zone and clients

Morocco runs on GMT+1 most of the year and goes back to GMT during Ramadan. That keeps you level with London or one hour ahead, and five or six hours ahead of New York. Clients in the UK and Europe share your whole day. Clients in the USA mean late afternoon calls, which leaves your mornings free for the waves. My guide to digital nomad time zones explains how to find your overlap.

Internet: plan your backups

Connections are good in the cities and the main surf towns and patchy in smaller villages. Test before you rent for a month, keep a local SIM with data as a hotspot and know where your backup spots are. My guide to digital nomad internet covers how to stay connected.

Money

The UK government says the Moroccan dirham is a closed currency, so you cannot easily exchange it outside Morocco. Get dirhams from a cash machine when you land, carry some cash for taxis and markets and bring two bank cards from different banks. Card fraud and scams are common, so keep an eye on your card when you pay.

Entry rules: check the official sources

At the time of writing, gov.uk’s Morocco entry requirements say British visitors:

• Can visit for up to 90 days without a visa for tourism.
• Must ask for an extension at a Moroccan police station to stay longer.
• Need a passport that expires at least 3 months after the day they arrive. Damaged passports have been refused.
• Must declare foreign currency worth 100,000 dirham or more when they arrive or leave.

Flying a drone needs permission from Morocco’s civil aviation authority first, or you risk a fine and losing the drone. If you are thinking of leaving the country to reset your days, read my guide to visa runs first. Other nationalities should check with the Moroccan embassy.

Read the full gov.uk travel advice for Morocco before you book, and again before you travel. It covers safety and local laws as well as entry rules.

Health cover in Morocco

Many beaches have little or no lifeguard cover, and strong currents and rocky reef breaks are part of the deal. Add long drives between towns and it all adds up. Sort your cover before you paddle out.

I use Genki. Genki Traveler covers unexpected illness and injury worldwide for up to 12 months, and you can sign up even if you are already in Morocco. If you had no cover before, only emergencies are covered for the first 14 days. Read the conditions for surfing, then check your price on Genki. My guide to travel insurance for surfing explains what to look for.

Is Morocco right for you?

If you want big city coworking every day, base yourself in a city and visit the coast. If you want waves, sunshine and quiet mornings to do your best work, give a surf town a month. Then see if you want to leave.

Photo by Ale Romo on Unsplash.