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. On 23 September 2026, Loccor listed several cars in Nador, from 250 to 300 MAD a day, most 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)

Published on 23 September 2026

What is the Marchica lagoon and how do you drive around it?
Nador beach: where to swim around the city
How to get to Cape Three Forks from Nador
Mount Gourougou: Nador's lookout
How far east to go: Ras El Ma and Saidia
Car rental in Nador: where to collect your car
Roads and seasons: when to visit Nador by car
Port of Nador or Nador West Med: two ports, two jobs
Ferry Almería to Nador: the crossing and arriving at Beni Ensar
Guercif-Nador motorway: when will it open?
Nador, Oujda, Al Hoceima: driving distances
Which car to rent in Nador

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

The Marchica, or Mar Chica, is the lagoon on Nador’s doorstep. About 25 kilometres long, it covers some 115 km², between the Cape Three Forks peninsula to the north and Cap de l’Eau to the south-east. It has been listed as a Ramsar site, a wetland of international importance, since 15 January 2005.

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.

Nador beach: where to swim around the city

Nador's beach is not in the city centre: Nador lines the Marchica lagoon, with its corniche, but not the open sea. To swim in the Mediterranean, you need the car.

The closest option is national road 16 heading east through Kariat Arekmane, on the south shore, between the lagoon and the sea: the beaches are on the sea side. Further on, Ras El Ma has a sandy beach of about 6 kilometres on its eastern side, very busy in summer.

To the north, the beaches of Cape Three Forks are deserted most of the time, but the last stretch of road is narrow: keep them for a full day, setting off in the morning.

How to get to Cape Three Forks from Nador

Cape Three Forks is a mountainous headland that juts some twenty kilometres into the Mediterranean north of Nador, covering around 8,000 hectares. By road, allow about 42 kilometres from Nador. People come for the cliffs, the sea views and beaches that are empty most of the time.

The route leaves Nador for Beni Ensar, then skirts the Spanish enclave of Melilla on its western side, near Farkhana at the foot of Mount Gourougou, before heading north up the peninsula. The last stretch is narrow and winding and needs your full attention: drive it in daylight and take your time.

At the end stands the cape’s lighthouse, a 22-metre tower built in 1909 and brought into service in 1927. 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.

Mount Gourougou: Nador's lookout

Mount Gourougou rises west of Nador, near the enclave of Melilla. It is an old volcanic massif with wooded slopes, and from it the view takes in the city, the Marchica lagoon and the sea.

By car, you skirt it on the road to Cape Three Forks. For the forest roads that climb higher, ask locally about their condition and access, which may be restricted; drive by day and leave nothing visible in the car.

The best time is the morning, on a clear day, when the view reaches over the lagoon as far as Cape Three Forks.

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 80 kilometres between Nador and Saidia, on an easy coastal road.

Ras El Ma, also called Ras Kebdana or Cap de l’Eau, is a fishing port 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.

Car rental in Nador: where to collect your car

For car rental in Nador, Loccor's Nador page shows the cars agencies have listed for your dates; the pick-up point is given on each listing.

If you are flying in, Nador El Aroui airport is about 25 kilometres from the centre, roughly half an hour’s drive. 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 130 kilometres away along the coast road. National road 16, the Mediterranean ring road, links Tangier to Saidia over 507 kilometres; its last section was 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.

Port of Nador or Nador West Med: two ports, two jobs

Nador now has two ports, and they do different jobs. The port of Nador that passengers use is at Beni Ensar, about ten kilometres north of the city on national road 19, right by the Melilla border. It shares its piers and entrance with the port of Melilla, and it is where ferries from Spain and France arrive.

Nador West Med is something else. It sits in Betoya Bay, at the mouth of the Kert river, around 30 kilometres west of Nador. Its first container terminal, known as the East terminal, began operating on 31 October 2026, and a second is due in 2027. This is a freight port for containers, oil products and coal. As of 4 November 2026, the sources we checked mention no passenger service there, so if you are catching a ferry, put Beni Ensar in your GPS.

Ferry Almería to Nador: the crossing and arriving at Beni Ensar

The shortest route to Nador leaves from Almería. Baleària quotes a crossing of about 7 hours 25 minutes. Other companies also serve Nador, and there are lines from Motril and Sète. Sailings change with the season, so check the timetable on the company’s website before you fix your dates.

If you arrive on foot and are renting a car in Nador, allow for the ten or so kilometres between the port and the city. The pick-up location is shown on each listing, so look at it before you book. If you are bringing your own car, our guide to crossing from Spain to Morocco by ferry covers the formalities.

Guercif-Nador motorway: when will it open?

The Guercif-Nador motorway, about 104 kilometres long, is planned to link the Nador West Med complex to the Fez-Oujda motorway via Driouch and Saka. As of 4 November 2026, we found no announcement that any part of it has opened to traffic, so do not count on it for your trip.

Work is moving section by section. The 27-kilometre stretch on the port side was more than 80% complete in April 2026. The 40-kilometre stretch has been under construction since January 2026, with delivery planned for 2028. The last 36 kilometres will make the connection with the Fez-Oujda motorway. Completion, first announced for 2028, is now expected in 2029.

Until then, coming from Fez or Guercif, you leave the Fez-Oujda motorway and finish the trip to Nador on national roads. Allow more time than you would on a motorway, and avoid arriving after dark if you do not know the area.

Nador, Oujda, Al Hoceima: driving distances

Nador to Oujda is 134 to 138 kilometres depending on the route, or about 2 hours’ driving. Nador to Al Hoceima is about 130 kilometres on national road 16, and more like 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours, because the coast road is winding. These times are estimates that leave out traffic and stops.

Which car to rent in Nador

On 8 November 2026, Loccor's Nador catalogue ran from small cars such as the Dacia Logan, Renault Clio and Peugeot 208, from 250 MAD a day, up to premium saloons and SUVs, all with unlimited mileage. A few small cars can be rented with no security deposit; for the others, 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 160 kilometres and the one to Al Hoceima about 260, at no extra cost.

Frequently asked questions

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

On 23 September 2026, the 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, most of the 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 42 kilometres by road. You skirt Melilla on its western side, near Farkhana, then a narrow road climbs the peninsula to the cape and its 1909 lighthouse.

How long is the drive from Nador to Saidia?

Allow about 80 kilometres on national road 16, which runs through Ras El Ma. The coast road is easy; in summer, set off early, as traffic builds up around the beaches.

Is there a beach in Nador?

Not in the city centre, which lines the Marchica lagoon. The sea beaches are east along national road 16, towards Kariat Arekmane and Ras El Ma, or north towards Cape Three Forks.

Can you drive up Mount Gourougou?

You skirt it on the road to Cape Three Forks. For the forest roads that climb higher, ask locally about their condition and access, and drive by day.

Where do ferries from Spain arrive at the port of Nador?

At Beni Ensar, about ten kilometres north of Nador, near the Melilla border. This is not Nador West Med, which lies around 30 kilometres west of the city.

Does Nador West Med take passengers?

As of 4 November 2026, the sources we checked mention no passenger service there. Its first container terminal began operating on 31 October 2026. Passenger ferries arrive at Beni Ensar.

Is the Guercif-Nador motorway open?

No. As of 4 November 2026, we found no announcement that it has opened to traffic. Completion is expected in 2029. Until then, the trip to Nador ends on national roads.