The essentials
The route is sold by Baleària, which inherited it from Armas Trasmediterránea in July 2026. It advertises a crossing of about 5 hours and 3 sailings a week.
It is a seasonal route. In November 2026, Baleària's timetable showed no sailings between November and the end of March 2027, and the summer 2027 dates had not yet been published. The comparison site Ferryhopper places the season between July and September.
In summer 2026 the route ran, but with little traffic: 12,566 passengers over the whole return phase, according to Protección Civil, Spain's civil protection agency. Out of season, the natural alternative is Almería – Nador, which sails every day.
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. The company does not publish a specific time for this route.
MotorhomeAccepted
Baleària says you can add a ‘car, motorbike, van, caravan or bicycle’ when booking.
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. Take care on the return: Baleària warns that the port of Motril applies strict health measures to pets coming from Morocco.
Guide prices
- Foot passenger, one way
- from 77.55 €
- Car + driver, one way
- No reliable figure
Baleària advertises the route ‘from €77.55’, without giving a date or season. It does not publish a ‘from’ price for a car with driver. There are reclining seats and cabins depending on the ship and the sailing.
‘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 on the Granada coast. The port authority publishes these motorway times: Granada 30 minutes, Málaga and Almería 45 minutes, Jaén 60 minutes, Córdoba 90 minutes and Madrid 4 hours.
For ferry customers there is a long-stay car park that is requested with a form on the port's website; the price is not published and the maximum stay is 7 or 8 days depending on which page you consult.
Check-in: Baleària applies its general time here, 60 minutes on foot and 90 with a vehicle. In high season, follow whatever notice the company publishes.
Arrival: Nador (Beni Ensar)
You arrive at Beni Ensar, the port of Nador, next to the Melilla border and about 13 km from the centre of Nador.
With a vehicle, the temporary import (admission temporaire) is processed at the port's customs: see the guide to taking a car to Morocco.
By road from Nador (Beni Ensar)
| City | Distance | Driving |
|---|---|---|
| Nador | 13 km | 15 min |
| Oujda | 152 km | 2 h 19 min |
| Al Hoceima | 138 km | 2 h 18 min |
| Taza | 217 km | 3 h 02 min |
| Fez | 326 km | 4 h 10 min |
| Meknes | 383 km | 4 h 45 min |
| Rabat | 517 km | 6 h 11 min |
| Casablanca | 611 km | 7 h 12 min |
Distance and driving time without stops, calculated with OSRM on OpenStreetMap data (2026-11-10). For guidance only.
Pros and cons
For
- A shorter crossing than from Almería: about 5 hours.
- Motril is half an hour from Granada and 45 minutes from Málaga.
- A small port, with less traffic than Almería or Algeciras.
- Direct arrival in Morocco's Oriental region.
Against
- Only runs in summer; 2027 dates not published.
- 3 sailings a week: little flexibility.
- Traffic fell sharply in 2026; the route's future is not guaranteed.
- A higher ‘from’ price than via Almería.
Who it is the right choice for
It is the right choice in summer if you are leaving from Granada, Jaén, Málaga or Córdoba for Nador or the Oriental region, and if you find a sailing that fits your dates. If not, Almería – Nador has a daily ship.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a ferry from Motril to Nador in winter?
No. In November 2026, Baleària had no sailings published between November and the end of March 2027. It is a summer route.
How long does the crossing take?
About 5 hours according to Baleària.
How many sailings are there a week?
Baleària advertises 3 sailings a week in season; the days and times change with the time of year.
Who runs the route now?
Baleària, since it took over the Alboran Sea routes of Armas Trasmediterránea on 1 July 2026. The port of Motril's website still mentions Armas.
When will the summer 2027 dates come out?
In November 2026 they had not been published. You can sign up for our email alerts: we will write when sales open.
Sources (6)
Every figure on this page comes from a source consulted on the date shown.
- Baleària · ferry Motril – Nador, 2026-11-11
- Baleària · tabla de horarios Motril – Nador, 2026-11-11
- Ferryhopper · Motril – Nador (comparison site), 2026-11-11
- Baleària · antelación para embarcar sin vehículo, 2026-11-11
- Baleària · antelación para embarcar con vehículo, 2026-11-11
- Baleària · nota de prensa, 2026-11-11