Ras el-Maa

Ras el-Maa, meaning head of the water, is the spring at the eastern edge of the medina in Chefchaouen, in the Rif mountains of northern Morocco. Water from the mountain emerges here and flows into the Oued el-Kebir, supplying the town, and it has shaped Chefchaouen's life for centuries. Visitors find a small waterfall, a stream running through a green gorge, old communal washing houses where local women still wash laundry and carpets, and a row of riverside cafes with seating beside the water. The area is a short, mostly downhill walk of about 10 minutes from the medina along the Bab el-Ain road; a petit taxi costs about 10 MAD (about $1). A visit takes 45 to 90 minutes, depending on whether visitors stop for a drink. Fresh orange juice costs about 10 MAD, and small stalls sell bread with goat cheese and honey. The path also marks the beginning of the walk up to the Spanish Mosque on the hill opposite, which many visitors combine with Ras el-Maa. The best photo angles are the waterfall and the stream with the old washing houses in the foreground, and the view back up toward the medina walls. Mornings are generally quieter and better for watching local life, while late afternoon gives warm light on the water and the surrounding trees. Weekends and school holidays bring local families who picnic along the stream, and the cafes can be busy around sunset in summer. Water levels are highest in winter and spring and lower in late summer, when the waterfall is a trickle. The paths are uneven and can be wet or muddy, so sturdy shoes are advisable. No entry fee is charged, and visitors are asked to respect the washing areas, which remain in everyday use by residents rather than being staged for tourists.