L'Hippocampe is a small beach hotel located on the 11 km long lagoon that makes Oualidia a haven for birds, surfers and fishermen.
NEW - Recently refurbished rooms at Hippocampe! A long time coming but it has finally happened!
ABOUT
A small, pink-coloured and family-run beach hotel, Hippocampe sits just a few dreamy steps above Oualidia’s lagoon: a silence-inducing outpost filled with birds and fishermen. Next door is a ruined summer palace; after that, stretching away for miles, only sand and water. Be warned that Hippocampe can occasionally be a bit unpolished and basic, and certainly won’t suit those seeking slick luxury. But it is bargain-priced, characterful, charming and unbeatably positioned.
ROOMS
Chalet-style, with summery, light décor, Hippocampe has 21 simple rooms. The 12 Standard Rooms and seven recently-refurbished Comfort Rooms all come with showers, while two larger suites, also recently spruced up, offer a bath. The rooms are either in the gardens or behind, where natural elevation means views to the Atlantic, and the suites sit at the front, claiming direct beach access. We recommend the Comfort Rooms or the suites, as the Standard Rooms haven't yet been refurbished.
FACILITIES
Those exotic, extensive gardens thrill with red geraniums, pink hibiscus and ivy colonnades. Equally good is the restaurant, which serves fresh seafood – including oysters, the local specialty – in a sunset-facing position. The (unheated) pool overlooks the lagoon, and comes armed with a glass shield to thwart sand-whipping sea breezes. Breakfast and lunch can be enjoyed on the verandah.
EXTRA INFO
Sponsored by Quicksilver, Oualidia’s surf school has taught everyone from royal children to old-age pensioners. There’s free Wi-Fi throughout. The staff have limited English – a bit of French is beneficial here, especially for reading the menus – but are very helpful. Mohammed is the star of the staff with his kindness and can-do attitude. The hotel can arrange a local taxi to take guests on full and half-day excursions to places of interest such as the pottery factories in Safi or to play golf in El Jadida. Surfing lessons or board and wetsuit hire are available form the French run surf school on the lagoon. Surfing instructors are very professional and the school is sponsored by Quicksilver.
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Oualidia stole our hearts. Hippocampe was exactly as expected thanks to your briefing and you were right about us loving its simplicity. The suite was perfect, clean (and housekeeping came in each day) and its location was incredible, what a delight to open the door in the morning to the quiet, misty lagoon. We had a wonderful small patio area and were right next to the pool. The hotel gardens were a riot of colour and staff couldn’t have been more helpful and attentive. We took a boat-trip down the lagoon, the girls kayaked, swam (in pool & sea) paddle-boarded and were generally indulged by everyone we met. Staff were particularly helpful when it came to sorting out food for the kids! Food was great, particularly breakfasts on the terrace, we couldn’t have been looked after better. We were very sorry to leave – it was the perfect start to our break as we were able to relax before heading into Marrakech madness.
Our driver to Oualidia and also who picked us up for our tour from the hotel was fantastic, very courteous, with clean car and booster seats for the girls. He was also a very good driver so we felt safe on the crazy roads!
Karen Lloyd who stayed here in May 2023.
Hippocampe Hotel, Oualidia has been rated 1 time, with an overall rating of 5.00 out of 5.
We really know Morocco and have had the pleasure of making many people's dream trips become reality over the years. It has been our privilege to be asked to manage holidays, weddings and productions for so many fantastic and discerning clients. We remain small and dedicated to providing excellent honest advice to enable you to sit back, relax and enjoy the fun bits without having to manage the unpredictability of this fascinating country.
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