Visiting Nador and the Marchica Lagoon by Rental Car

In Nador, a car is mostly for getting out of town: Cape Three Forks, the south shore of the Marchica lagoon and the coast towards Ras El Ma and Saidia are hard to see without one. Loccor lists 6 cars in Nador, from 250 to 300 MAD a day, 5 of them with no security deposit. One day for the lagoon and one for the cape cover the essentials.

Photo: Gbanaudi — CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

What is the Marchica lagoon and how do you drive around it?
How to get to Cape Three Forks from Nador
How far east to go: Ras El Ma and Saidia
Where to collect your rental car in Nador
Roads and seasons: when to visit Nador by car
Which car to rent in Nador

What is the Marchica lagoon and how do you drive around it?

The Marchica, or Mar Chica, is the lagoon on Nador's doorstep. Some 24 to 25 kilometres long and about 7.5 kilometres wide, it covers around 115 km², making it the largest lagoon on the southern shore of the Mediterranean. It runs from Cape Three Forks to Cap de l'Eau and has been a Ramsar site, a wetland of international importance, since 15 January 2005. It is also listed as a Site of Biological and Ecological Interest.

Three municipalities line its shores: Nador, Beni Ensar and Kariat Arekmane. The simplest day starts on the Nador corniche, a promenade laid out for several kilometres along the lagoon, with cafés and benches. Then take the car east on national road 16, which runs through Kariat Arekmane on the south shore, between the lagoon and the sea.

The lagoon is the focus of a large development programme, including the Atalayoun site and a planned bird park called the Bay of Flamingos. A second channel to the Mediterranean has also been cut to improve the renewal of seawater. With a car, you stop wherever the view over the lagoon opens up, without depending on an organised tour.

How to get to Cape Three Forks from Nador

Cape Three Forks is a mountainous headland jutting some twenty kilometres into the Mediterranean, about 25 kilometres north of Nador, covering some 8,000 hectares. It is the most prominent point on Morocco's eastern Mediterranean coast, known for its scenery and its beaches, which are deserted most of the time.

The route leaves Nador towards the enclave of Melilla. You skirt the Gourougou massif, pass the Spanish enclave and then the town of Farkhana, as far as the Trifa forest. From there, about twenty kilometres of fairly narrow road remain before the cape. Drive it in daylight and take your time: this last stretch is the one that needs care.

At the end, the cape's lighthouse, built in 1909, stands more than 22 metres tall. The more remote village of Tibouda is about an hour's drive from Nador. Leave in the morning, pack a picnic and keep the late afternoon for the drive back.

How far east to go: Ras El Ma and Saidia

Heading east, national road 16 follows the coast from Nador to Saidia by way of Ras El Ma. Allow about 75 kilometres and a little over an hour's drive between Nador and Saidia.

Ras El Ma, also called Ras Kebdana or Cap de l'Eau, is a fishing town, part of the Kingdom of Nekor around the 8th century, with a sandy beach of about 6 kilometres on its eastern side. It draws plenty of day-trippers from Nador and Oujda, so arrive early in summer. Carrying on to Saidia makes a full day on the coast and gets you back to Nador before dark.

Where to collect your rental car in Nador

If you are flying in, Nador El Aroui airport lies about 25 to 27 kilometres south-west of the centre, 20 to 40 minutes away depending on traffic. When booking on Loccor, state your arrival point.

Payment comes in two steps: a deposit online when you book, then the balance directly at the agency when you collect the car. A national driving licence written in Latin script is enough to rent. If you are visiting family in the Oriental region, our guide to car rental for Moroccans living abroad sets out what to check before booking.

Roads and seasons: when to visit Nador by car

Nador has a Mediterranean climate. The warmest months run from July to September, the coolest are January and February. Historical records point to April, May, September and October as the best compromise: mild temperatures, little rain and plenty of sunshine.

To go further west, Al Hoceima is about 126 kilometres away, a little over two hours. National road 16, the Mediterranean ring road, links Tangier to Saidia over 507 kilometres; its last section opened in August 2012, and until then there was no coast road between Al Hoceima and Nador. To continue to Chefchaouen and the heart of the Rif, our dedicated guide covers the mountain roads.

Which car to rent in Nador

On 23 September 2026, Loccor's Nador catalogue listed 6 cars: Renault Clio, Dacia Duster, Dacia Logan and Peugeot 208, from 250 to 300 MAD a day, with unlimited mileage. Five of the six can be rented with no security deposit, which is unusual: the deposit depends on each agency and is shown on the car's listing.

For the corniche, the lagoon and the coast to Saidia, a Clio, a 208 or a Logan is plenty. For the narrow last stretch to Cape Three Forks, the taller Duster adds a little comfort. With such a small fleet, book early, especially for summer. Unlimited mileage means no surprises on long days out: the round trip to Saidia is about 150 kilometres and the one to Al Hoceima about 250, at no extra cost.

Frequently asked questions

How much does renting a car in Nador cost on Loccor?

On 23 September 2026, the 6 cars listed in Nador ranged from 250 to 300 MAD a day, with unlimited mileage. You pay a deposit online and the balance at the agency on collection.

Can I rent a car without a security deposit in Nador?

Yes: on 23 September 2026, 5 of the 6 cars in Nador could be rented with no security deposit. The rule depends on the agency and is shown on each car's listing.

How far is Cape Three Forks from Nador?

About 25 kilometres north of Nador. You pass Farkhana and the Trifa forest, then about twenty kilometres of fairly narrow road lead to the cape and its 1909 lighthouse.

How long is the drive from Nador to Saidia?

A little over an hour for about 75 kilometres, on national road 16 via Ras El Ma.