The Dakhla Lagoon is the reason most visitors make the long journey to this remote peninsula. The lagoon occupies the sheltered inner side of the Río de Oro Peninsula, separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a thin strip of sand and protected from swell by the peninsula's shape. The result is flat water, a depth of one to two metres across most of the area, and trade winds that blow reliably from the north-northeast almost year-round.
Kitesurfing and windsurfing camps cluster along the lagoon shore, offering lessons and equipment rental for all levels. The shallow, sandy bottom makes falls relatively gentle, and the consistent conditions make progress fast. For non-kite visitors the lagoon is still beautiful — flamingos and other wading birds gather in the shallower sections, and the light at dusk over the water is excellent.