Oualidia - Morocco Holiday Destination
Abdoul Maliki
Planning a trip to Oualidia
Nestled on the Atlantic Coast between Al Jadida and Casablanca, Oualidia is a cozy little fishing town, famous for its seafood and in particular, its oysters. This small village was off the map for many years due to its somewhat isolated location. Today many people both Moroccan and tourists enjoy visiting year-round, but especially in summer due to the beautiful oceanfront.
The first “royal beach” came to be in Oualidia in the 1940s when King Mohamed V built a palace and dubbed it so. It’s long been abandoned but many people, especially of the elite class followed the king’s lead. Today it’s best known for oysters but they weren’t on the radar until the 1950s when Japanese oysters were used and French techniques applied. It’s since grown into quite an industry.
While summer is the most popular time of year to visit Oualidia it’s beautiful year round. We visited in November and the weather was still lovely, though perhaps a little too cold if ocean swimming is on your radar.
Getting to Oualidia
Oualidia is between the cities of Safi and El Jadida. It is approximately two hours drive from Casablanca and three hours driving from Marrakech. The roads to Oualidia are small two-lane roads though partial access exists from the larger toll roads.
Using Public Transportation to Reach Oualidia
There are limited public transportation options available to reach Oualidia.
Trains
No train lines run to Oualidia directly but you can take the train from Casablanca to El Jadida and then transfer to the CTM bus from El Jadida to Oualidia.
This route is available once a day.
Buses
The CTM bus line runs from Casablanca to Oualidia once a day and costs 85dh. You also can travel from El Jadida to Oualidia and Essaouira to Oualidia as options.
From Marrakech, you can reach any of these three destinations and continue to Oualidia.
Taxi
Grand taxis are available from most cities to reach Oualidia, however, the closer your starting point to the two-lane the easier it will be to find a ride.
A shared grand taxi is the least expensive option however you will need to wait until the taxi fills up which can be a long time. It’s also possible to hire the driver and the full car to take you.
Driver
A private driver might be the best option if you don’t want to rent a car (or have access to a car) and don’t want to drive yourself. We can help you to arrange a driver for a forward transfer.
This can be done either with a 4×4 or van OR they also can arrange a private taxi. The price should be discussed and agreed upon before departure.
Getting around Oualidia
The city is small two-lane so it’s possible to walk most places. You can also rent a bike or use the petit taxis to get around the city. If you want to go further afield then you’ll need to grab a grand taxi.
What to do in Oualidia
You don’t come to Oualidia to do things – you come here to relax! If you’re after an active holiday two-lane point to this might not be the best stop for you. But if you want to chill out you couldn’t have found a better spot.
Weekly Market
If you’re in Oualidia on the weekend then it’s worth a trip into town to visit the weekly souk (market). You can’t miss it. This is where Moroccans from the village and surrounding areas come to do their weekly shopping.
You can wander the stalls selling produce and home goods as well as any and everything else you can imagine. It also has a section where you can find people eating lunch with lots of seafood of course! If you’re adventurous it’s worth having a meal here.
Surfing and windsurfing
The main area of Oualidia near the city is largely a calm lagoon but if you go a little further afield you will find plenty of surfing and windsurfing.
Boat Rentals
Boats, kayaks, and canoes are available to rent from agencies in town and near the water. The smaller crafts you can take out on your own.
If you’d rather have a chartered boat for fishing or simply a boat ride these are also available. Rumor is between August and October it’s possible to do some whale watching off the coast.
Birdwatching
In the spring and autumn are the best times to do birdwatching in Oualidia. This is when the migrations happen from Europe to Africa.
Birds like flamingos, egrets, and storks are just some of the flying creatures you can observe.
