The gateway to North Africa

Morocco is located in the far northwest of Africa, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the north, separated from Europe by the Strait of Gibraltar. It is a country of enormous diversity: the four imperial cities (Marrakech, Fez, Meknes and the capital Rabat), the medinas and souks, the Atlas Mountains, the long Atlantic coast and the Sahara dunes. The culture mixes Arab-Berber, African and European influences, with a distinct gastronomy (tajine, couscous, mint tea). Pestana is located in Marrakech, Casablanca and Tangier.

The Pestana Group has three hotels in Morocco. In Marrakech, the Pestana CR7 Marrakech (174 rooms, lifestyle, on M Avenue), with a spa, swimming pool, gym and business center. In Casablanca, the Pestana Casablanca (79 suites), next to the Corniche and the beach. In Tangier, the Pestana Tanger City Center, between the Corniche and Mohammed VI Avenue, about 300 m from the beach, for leisure and business.

The most pleasant times are spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), with mild temperatures for the medinas, the Atlas Mountains, and the desert. Summer (June to August) brings intense heat inland (Marrakech, Fez, and Meknes can exceed 38-40°C) and extreme heat in the Sahara; at this time, the cooler Atlantic coast of Casablanca and Tangier is a good alternative (with the Pestana Casablanca and Pestana Tanger City Center hotels by the sea). Winter is mild on the coast, with cold nights in the desert and snow in the Atlas Mountains.

Morocco is served by several international airports. The main ones for Pestana hotels are Mohammed V in Casablanca (CMN), the largest in the country; Marrakech-Menara (RAK), the closest to the Pestana CR7 Marrakech; and Ibn Battouta in Tangier (TNG), which serves the Pestana Tanger City Center. There are direct connections from Portugal and Europe. Once in Morocco, the Al Boraq high-speed train (the first in Africa) connects Tangier to Casablanca in approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes, via Kenitra and Rabat.

Marrakech for the UNESCO-listed medina, Jemaa el-Fna, the Majorelle Garden, and the palaces - near the Pestana CR7 Marrakech. Casablanca for the monumental Hassan II Mosque overlooking the Atlantic, the Art Deco architecture, and the Corniche, near the Pestana Casablanca. From Tangier, the kasbah, the medina, and Cape Spartel. Inland, the imperial cities of Fez (medina and tanneries) and Meknes, the crossings and camps in the Sahara, and the Berber villages and valleys of the Atlas Mountains.

On the coast and in the north, the train is the most efficient: the Al Boraq (high-speed) connects Tangier to Casablanca via Rabat and Kenitra, and the ONCF network also covers Marrakech and Fez. For the Sahara, the gorges and the villages of the Atlas Mountains – without rail connections and with mountain roads – the most practical and safe option is to hire a car with a driver or take an organized tour. In the cities, taxis ("petit taxi" urban and "grand taxi" intercity) and walking through the medinas complete the options.