The essentials
It is sold by Baleària, which inherited it from Armas Trasmediterránea in July 2026. It advertises a crossing of about 5 hours and 4 sailings a week.
It is a seasonal route: in November 2026 Baleària's timetable showed no sailings until at least the end of March 2027, and summer 2027 had not been published. According to Ferryhopper, in 2026 it ran from June to September.
Al Hoceima has no other direct link with Spain. Out of season you have to arrive via Almería – Nador and carry on by road, or via Tanger Med, which is considerably further.
On foot, by car, motorhome or motorbike, or with a pet
On footAccepted
Accepted. Baleària's general check-in time: 60 minutes without a vehicle.
CarAccepted
Accepted. Baleària's general check-in time: 90 minutes with a vehicle.
MotorhomeAccepted
Baleària lists ‘car, motorbike, van, caravan or bicycle’.
MotorbikeAccepted
Accepted.
PetsAccepted
Accepted: they are added during booking. To enter Morocco, the ferry companies ask for a pet passport or animal health certificate, a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination. What people most often forget is the return: the rabies antibody test has to be done before leaving Spain. We explain it in the pets guide.
Guide prices
- Foot passenger, one way
- from 86.55 €
- Car + driver, one way
- No reliable figure
Baleària advertises the route ‘from €86.55’, with no date or season. It does not publish a ‘from’ price for a car with driver. On board there are cabins and lounges with reclining seats.
‘From’ prices seen on the date we checked. They change with the date, the ferry company and how far ahead you book: use them to compare routes, not as a guaranteed fare. Last checked: November 2026.
Departure: Motril
The port of Motril is 30 minutes from Granada and 45 from Málaga and Almería by motorway, according to the port authority.
Long-stay car park for ferry customers, to be requested in advance with a form on the port's website. Price not published.
Check-in: Baleària's general time, 60 minutes on foot and 90 with a vehicle.
Arrival: Al Hoceima
The port of Al Hoceima has a ferry terminal and a passenger terminal with two berths, within the town itself. Baleària lists taxis, buses and toilets at the port.
With a vehicle, the temporary import (admission temporaire) is processed at customs: see the guide to taking a car to Morocco.
By road from Al Hoceima
| City | Distance | Driving |
|---|---|---|
| Al Hoceima | 2 km | 3 min |
| Nador | 127 km | 2 h 09 min |
| Taza | 158 km | 3 h 04 min |
| Tetouan | 232 km | 4 h 08 min |
| Fez | 270 km | 4 h 16 min |
| Oujda | 264 km | 4 h 05 min |
| Rabat | 461 km | 6 h 17 min |
| Casablanca | 555 km | 7 h 19 min |
Distance and driving time without stops, calculated with OSRM on OpenStreetMap data (2026-11-10). For guidance only.
Pros and cons
For
- The only direct route to the central Rif.
- Arrival inside the town of Al Hoceima.
- A crossing of about 5 hours, with no night on board.
- Avoids several hours of mountain road from Nador or Tetouan.
Against
- Only runs in summer; 2027 dates not published.
- 4 sailings a week.
- Traffic falling sharply in 2026; future not guaranteed.
- It is the route with the highest ‘from’ price in the Alboran Sea.
Who it is the right choice for
It is the right choice in summer if your destination is Al Hoceima or its province. For any other destination, or out of season, compare it with Almería – Nador.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct ferry to Al Hoceima from Spain?
Yes, from Motril, with Baleària and only in the summer season. There is no route from Almería or from Málaga.
How long does the Motril – Al Hoceima ferry take?
About 5 hours according to Baleària.
Does it run in winter?
No. In November 2026 no sailings had been published until at least the end of March 2027.
Are Alhucemas and Al Hoceima the same port?
Yes: Alhucemas is the Spanish name for Al Hoceima. The ferry companies use both forms.
What is the alternative out of season?
Almería – Nador, which sails every day, and then the road to Al Hoceima.
Sources (5)
Every figure on this page comes from a source consulted on the date shown.
- Baleària · ferry Motril – Al Hoceima, 2026-11-11
- Baleària · tabla de horarios Motril – Al Hoceima, 2026-11-11
- Ferryhopper · rutas de ferry España – Marruecos 2026 (comparison site), 2026-11-11
- Baleària · antelación para embarcar sin vehículo, 2026-11-11
- Baleària · antelación para embarcar con vehículo, 2026-11-11