There is a small village in Morocco that is home to some of the most beautiful and picturesque areas of the country. The village of Oualidia, lies between El Jadida and Safi in the southern region of Morocco.

The village has an 11-kilometre long lagoon, where sea water enters throughtwo breaches in a rock wall. Due to this, the village and the lagoon offers constantly changing scenery that will delight any traveler who comes to this small village.

Next to the lagoon, one of the most popular attractions of Oualidia can be seen; the Kasbah built in 1634 by Sultan El Qualid. An old summer palace, now in ruins, can also be found near the village.

As well, the beaches have very fine sand that is perfect for relaxing on, while the lagoon is excellent for fishing expeditions, surfing and windsurfing.

There are also a variety of sandy coves and rocky cliffs that can provide the perfect setting for a very romantic walk along the Atlantic Ocean.

Of course, anyone who loves oysters is going to love Oualidia as it is the main producer of oysters in all of Morocco.

The most popular season for the village is between July and September, with many French and Moroccan tourists coming to the area to spend their summer months. For those tourists who like peace and quiet, it is best to visit between October and June.

There are many excellent attractions that Oualidia has to offer, including an 18-hole golf course only 50 miles to the north.

The village is also only 40 miles from Safi, which is the best place to get pottery in the entire country. The location of the village makes it the perfect place to set up a base if you want to tour Morocco over an extended period of time. It is only two hours from Marrakech and Casablanca, and two and a half hours from Essaouira.

Oualidia may not have the citadels, medinas and vast amounts of cultural and historical attractions, but it does have some of the most beautiful scenery, friendliest people and unique experiences that Morocco has to offer. It should not be avoided at all, no trip to Morocco is complete without it.

As well, the village offers one of the most spectacular marine habitats in the entire world, thanks to its windswept coastline and sheltered lagoon.

A visit to Oualidia would not be complete without a walk through some of the most beautiful flowers in the world, all of which can be found along the hillsides of the village. These flowers include poppies, marigolds and asphodels.

Bird watching

If you are a bird watcher and you want to see some of the richest assortments of birds in the entire world, then this is the place to be.

Oualidia is the centre of the richest bird habitats in Morocco and provides an excellent place to view migrating birds between Spring and Autumn.

The wetlands, sands, jagged reefs and lagoons help to shelter a large number of bird species in the Oualidia area, including flamingoes, avocets, stilts, godwits, storks, terns, warblers and egrets.

Tours

There are several tours in the Oualidia area that will take you on fishing trips into the lagoon, as well as others that will provide oyster trips for you and your touring party. You will be able to see how the oysters are gathered and how they are processed in the hub of oyster activity in Morocco.

Other tours will take you on birdwatching expeditions that will aid in pointing out native species and migrating bird species.

Of course, whenever you are picking a tour guide, make sure they are government certified. Failure to do so could result in you getting the run around and not getting the promised tour you were hoping for.

Where to Stay

One of the best places to stay in Oualidia is the La Sultana Hotel and Spa. This hotel offers amazing views of the lagoon, giving you the prime position to see the beauty of the Atlantic Ocean from your very own room.

The hotel also offers a wide variety of packages for the traveler to Oualidia, many of which include a body massage with aroma therapy, candlelight dinner for two and a traditional Turkish bath.

The hotel also features hanging gardens that are a beautiful sight in itself, panoramic terraces, Jacuzzis, hydrated solariums and a soft bar.

The restaurant at the hotel will be able to provide you with excellent Moroccan food that will delight your taste buds and awaken your senses.

If you have to stay anywhere in Oualidia, this is the place to truly enjoy the beauty and majesty of this small seaside village.

Conclusion

Oualidia is by far one of the most beautiful places in Morocco, if not the entire world. For those who are not that into history, this may be the perfect place to go. That is not to say there is no history here, the ruins nearby the town are full of it, however it offers much more than that.

For the nature lover, the chance to see some of the rarest fishes and birds in the entire world can bring them here. You will be able to see, in their natural habitat, animals that most people have only seen in zoos. You can watch the flamingoes take flight, or scuba dive under the water to see some of the most beautiful tropical fishes in the world.

Beyond that, you can windsurf in the lagoon, go on a fishing expedition or simply relax at a seaside restaurant and taste the oysters, and crabs, that the village is famous for.

If that is not what you want to do, you can dive for the oysters yourself!

Due to its location, between the two main cities in Morocco; Casablanca and Marrakech, this is the prime place for a commuting tourist to stay. You can travel two hours to Casablanca to sample some of the culture and history there, and return that night for a dinner on the beaches of Oualidia.

No visit to Morocco is complete without it.