Highlights
Sightseeing
Mosey around Oualidia’s jumble of low-rise, whitewashed buildings, home to a handful of artisan shops and fantastic fish restaurants. Oualidia is known for its oysters and you can learn about local farming techniques on a guided excursion, finishing the trip with a wonderful oyster picnic. Alternatively, embark on a fishing trip along the striking Atlantic Coast, to hook seabass, seabream, squid and conger eel, or stay lagoon-side for skate, black seabream, scorpionfish, mullet and more. Back on land, Saturday’s street market brings local villagers and donkey carts filled with olives, spices, seasonal fruits, vegetables, handmade pottery and furniture – a brilliant spot to soak up the atmosphere of authentic Moroccan life.
Birdwatching
In spring and autumn, Oualidia is a haven for birdwatching, its lagoon and tidal wetlands teeming with migrating pink flamingos, waders, storks, egrets, avocets, stilts and warblers. Be sure to book a birdwatching safari around the lagoon’s shallow waters for a front-row seat of this truly fabulous spectacle of Mother Nature.
Activities
Walk the quarter-mile loop around the mesmerising lagoon, looking out for local oystermen and the ruined summer palace of King Mohammed V, or head into the calm lagoon waters for sailing, swimming and stand-up paddle boarding. On each side of the breakwater sits a safe, sandy beach, a perfect base from which to enjoy water-sports such as windsurfing and surfing – a professional surf school caters for all abilities, including beginners and children. Otherwise, opt for an exhilarating outing on horseback to explore Oualidia’s golden beaches and rugged countryside.