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Chefchaouen’s disappointing waterfall

Chefchaouen, Morocco is in the north of Morocco and is probably most famous for its beautifully vibrant blue medina (or city center). The Morocco Lonely Planet also said the city is famous for a beautiful Chefchaouen waterfall (pictured above). Unfortunately while I was there the waterfall was a bit of a joke with hardly any water flowing. It was definitely more like a sad trickle.

When I visited in May of 2010, the weather was cool (not as hot as further south in Marrakesh or Fez). I spent most days sitting at a cafe nearby the waterfall drinking the most delicious mint tea of my life. Like during most of my travels in Morocco I was able to spend most days just sitting at a cafe quietly thinking—and watching as life moved by. Check out those giant carpets drying on the side of the wall.

Chefchaouen Waterfall (Morocco)

  1. So let me get this straight – you’re sitting amid one of THE most gloriously charming mountain villages on the Planet, and… you’re “disappointed” that the waterfall there doesn’t quite measure up to some arbitrary superlative spewed by Lonely Planet???

    Sorry, but imho putting “disappointing” and “Chefchaouen” into the same sentence is just plain… let’s just go with “silly” to put it kindly.

    I mean, why not a post entitled “Chefchaouen’s disappointing skyscrapers”? Or… “disappointing beaches”. The “point” is (pun intended), wouldn’t it just be better to travel the globe without expectations, and instead just soak up the “Wow” of whatever we find?

    I mean seriously. What were you expecting – Angel Falls? in Chefchaouen??? Far better to just savor that delectable mint tea, the delicious street cart snails, the cobblestone streets, the delightful locals, and oh yeah – that lovely blue at every turn.

    • Adam says:

      You make some really great points Dyanne.

      My visit to Chefchaouen was the very first time I was in Morocco, the very first time I was in a country other than the US or somewhere in Europe. I definitely relied heavily on my guidebook there. To this day I still remember that mint tea and always refer to it as the best I’ve ever had. To be completely honest, that’s how I remember Chefchaouen—not by this waterfall.

  2. We had a great time when we travelled to Chefchaouen, it is very different from other parts of Morocco and a place to totally relax with the fresh air and do a bit of walking. Is it true that the blue and white colours originate from people of Jewish decent and it just caught on as fashionable?

    • Adam says:

      Thanks for commenting guys!

      Yeah, I heard the same thing about the blue colors—but I also heard it was to keep the temperatures cooler during the day.

      Chefchaouen was my 2nd favorite city in Morocco. Now that I’ve done some more traveling, I think I’d really like to return to see my second impression.

  3. Ain’t this the truth! I spent literally an hour trying to find that motherf*cker and it was not by any means worth it! In general, I felt like Chefchaouen was a bit blah, especially compared to how people had talked it up.

    Oh, and after being in Marrakech, I can never, ever drink mint tea again — and probably have diabetes brewin’.

    • Adam says:

      Hey Robert! Yeah, the waterfall was a bit disappointing, but in general I liked Chefchaouen—just not nearly as much as Marrakech!

      I’m pretty sure the Moroccans make their mint tea with crack or something. I drank so much of it there…

  4. […] Owing to its hilltop, wooded location, Chefchaouen is a regional hub for hiking, swimming and all manner of outdoor activities for backpackers in Morocco. Within the town center, a “waterfall” is perhaps the most famous attraction. It’s relatively difficult to find, however — and I’m sad to report that it’s not particularly worth the trek. […]

  5. it was rather disappointing indeed. I hope you found something similar to a grand waterfalls in Morocco.

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