Ras el-Maa

Where the mountain spring emerges into the town. Local women wash laundry on the rocks; children splash in the pools; the sound of water follows you back into the medina. This is where Chefchaouen's blue paint meets actual blue — water and sky. The scene is unchanged from decades ago. Carpets and blankets spread on rocks to dry. The small waterfalls descend through a channel the Andalusian founders built. Tourism has arrived, but the washing continues — the visitors are incorporated, not disruptive. The path continues up the hillside toward the Spanish Mosque. The walk is steep but the views improve. Ras el-Maa sits at the transition — medina below, mountain above. Early morning is quietest; the women come later. Best time: Mid-morning (activity at the springs) Allow: 30 minutes Combine with: Spanish Mosque hike