Africa

Dakhla

The secret of the desert

This city in Western Sahara, located some 550 kilometres south of Laayoune, is a protected nature reserve that retains all its magic uncompromised, with never-ending horizons, blue seas, dune hills that end in the water and spectacular sunsets.

It is the perfect place for sporting, adventure or relaxing holidays. Dakhla offers the option of living a different experience every day, at the seaside or in the desert. It is renowned as a paradise for kitesurfing and other water sports, which are combined with camel rides, trips out in SUVs, etc. The average temperature is 28ºC.

Dragon Island

This small unexplored island lies off the Rio de Oro peninsula. Its dragon shape makes it attractive to the eyes of any visitor.

Imlili swimming pool

In this area far from the centre of Dakhla we can find natural pools that have formed in the desert itself.

Black acacia wood

This small wood is also located far from the city centre but it's worth seeing this strange phenomenon in the desert.

Asnna well

The city's natural spa. Thanks to its traditional practices and relaxing massages, this spa leaves everyone who visits it feeling as good as new.

PK25 and Forum el Bouir beaches

The first is at the foot of a hotel of the same name and is one of the most famous. The second is both a beach and a lagoon and is well known to visiting surfers.

Dakhla lagoon

This lagoon in the desert is a luxury for kite surfers, a sport practised all year round in this area.

White dune

This dune, with a lagoon in the middle and white sand that illuminates the water, is paradise in the desert. It is well known among kite surfers for its windy conditions.

The most common is to eat the ones that are caught by the fishermen themselves every morning and sold to restaurants and hotels in the area.

Razor clams and oysters

As with fish, fishermen usually catch them early in the morning so that restaurants and hotels can prepare them fresh.

Couscous

This typical North African meal is a semolina paste with meat and vegetables.

Mreifisa

This is an unleavened bread with rabbit meat. The meat must first be baked in sand.

Rice with fish

Rice is one of the most widely consumed foods in Dakhla and is served as a side dish to fish in Dakhla.

Ezzmiti

A type of traditional African cereal.

Tayyin

It is a typical dish made from camel or lamb meat.

Currency: Moroccan dirham.

Official languages: Arabic, French and Spanish.

Documentation needed: Spaniards do not need a visa to enter Western Sahara as tourists.

Climate: days in Dakhla are very hot and nights are very cold. The normal maximum temperature is between 25°C and 30°C, while the minimum temperature is between 10°C and 15°C. However, in the summer months, maximum temperatures soar to over 40°C.

Vaccinations: none obligatory but tuberculosis vaccination is recommended.

This town, formerly known as Villa Cisneros, is located on the Rio de Oro peninsula west of Western Sahara.

It is known as the point where the sea and the desert merge into one and is very famous among lovers of water sports such as surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing, sports that can be practised all year round on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean thanks to the wind that usually accompanies its coasts.

Bargaining is a widespread practice throughout the country. In fact, if the customer does not want to negotiate, it can even be annoying for the sellers. The first price you will be quoted will usually be very high, reduce it considerably in your offer, and from then on, let yourself be drawn into the game.

Another very important recommendation has to do with drinking water. Never drink it from the tap and, when you order it in a restaurant, make sure that the bottle is not open. It is also a bad idea to eat unwashed fruit or uncooked food. It's not that anything serious will happen to you, it's just that our European stomachs are not used to it and may suffer some "uncomfortable" upset.