Guide · · 3 min read
What to do in Oualidia? The lagoon, the oysters, the beaches and the village
Swimming and boat trips on the lagoon, oysters by the water, Atlantic beaches, the kasbah and the souk: everything there is to do in Oualidia, between El Jadida and Safi.
Oualidia is just a few streets between the coast road and the water. What brings people here is what lies at the end of those streets: a calm lagoon, sheltered from the Atlantic by a strip of sand, filled and emptied by the tide twice a day. Around it, beaches, fishing boats, oyster farms and a kasbah. Here is what to do there, at an easy pace.
Swim in the lagoon
This is the first reason to come. The lagoon water is calm and shallow in places, which makes it an ideal beach with children. The best time is high tide: the lagoon is full and the water is nicer. At low tide, much of it drains and leaves sandbanks.
Take a boat trip
The fishermen’s blue boats are part of the scenery. At high tide, you can go round the lagoon by boat, pass the oyster farms and reach the beaches on the far shore. Kayaks and paddleboards make the same trip at your own pace.
Taste Oualidia oysters
Oualidia is known across Morocco for its oysters, farmed in the lagoon. They are eaten fresh, opened in front of you, with a squeeze of lemon, by the water or on a terrace. Fish and seafood from the day’s catch complete the meal. We have a separate article about them.
Enjoy the Atlantic beaches
Past the sandbar is the ocean: long beaches, waves, walks at low tide. The currents are strong there: swim with care, where others swim. The coast is also a place to learn to surf when the swell is moderate. On the way back, the lagoon is still calm.
Watch the birds
The lagoon and its marshes are a protected wetland. Flamingos, herons, egrets and many waders stop here, especially in autumn and winter. Walk along the shore early in the morning or late in the day, with binoculars if you have them.
See the kasbah and the village
The village is named after the Saadian sultan El Oualid, who had a kasbah built on the heights in the 17th century. Walls and gates remain, with a view over the lagoon. Further down, you can see the former summer residence of King Mohammed V. The rest is best discovered on foot: blue doors, the harbour, the main street and its cafés.
Go to the market
Like every town in the region, Oualidia has its weekly souk: fruit, vegetables, spices, dried fruit, kitchenware. It is the place to fill your basket if you are staying in an apartment with a kitchen.
End the day facing the sunset
The coast faces west: every evening the sun goes down over the Atlantic. From the beach or from the heights, it is the meeting point at the end of the day.
FAQ
Can you swim in the Oualidia lagoon?
Yes. The water is calm and shallow in places, ideal with children. Go at high tide, and avoid the channel to the ocean, where the currents are strong.
How many days should you spend in Oualidia?
A weekend is enough for the lagoon, the oysters and the beach. Three to five days give you time to follow the tides, take a boat trip and a day out to El Jadida or Safi.
When is the best time to visit Oualidia?
All year round. Summer is the busiest season. From October to April the village is quieter, the lagoon is full of birds and accommodation prices are lower.
Where to stay in Oualidia?
Oualidia Holiday has five one-bedroom apartments in the same building, about 400 metres from the main street, for up to four guests.
