Key Takeaways
- Checks in Tangier from 21 to 23 January 2027, a prologue on the municipal beach and the official start on 24 January.
- The exact spot, times and public access for the prologue have not been published yet: follow the official website.
- Two convenient BoxSpot points: RS Valises near the Grand Socco (11am to 11pm) and Anabelle Para near the station (3pm to 10pm).
- No BoxSpot point in Dakhla or the south: 9 MAD per hour per bag in Tangier, 59 MAD maximum for the day.
The Africa Eco Race is starting from Tangier again. For its 18th edition, the rally raid for cars, trucks and motorbikes leaves the city on the Strait for the second year running: scrutineering from 21 to 23 January 2027, a prologue on the municipal beach and the official start on Sunday 24 January. If you are coming to see the crews before they head south, here is what has been announced, how to get around, and where to leave your suitcase so you can enjoy the day hands free.
Short answer
The official start of the 2027 Africa Eco Race is announced for Sunday 24 January 2027 in Tangier, after a prologue on the municipal beach; administrative and technical checks run from 21 to 23 January. For the day, BoxSpot has two convenient points in Tangier: RS Valises, a 3-minute walk from the Grand Socco (daily 11am to 11pm), and Anabelle Para, about 1 km from Tanger-Ville station (daily 3pm to 10pm). Price: 9 MAD per hour per bag, 4-hour minimum, never more than 59 MAD for the first bag for the day.
What has been announced for 2027
According to Le360 and Medi1 News, which published the programme in October 2026, the schedule is:
- Thursday 21 to Saturday 23 January 2027: administrative and technical checks in Tangier.
- Sunday 24 January: prologue on Tangier's municipal beach, then the official start.
- Saturday 30 January: rest day in Dakhla.
- Saturday 6 February: finish at Lac Rose, Senegal.
The race has twelve stages across Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal. On the official race website, the route is still shown as indicative, and the organisers say the detailed stages will be published at the end of November. The dates above may still be refined, so check them before you book a ticket.
Where to watch the prologue on the beach
The only place announced so far is the municipal beach, the long beach on Tangier's bay. The exact course, times and public access have not been published yet. Follow the official website and the organisers' accounts in the days before: that is where this information will appear.
Keep the weather in mind too. In January 2026, according to Le Matin, the beach prologue and the official start ceremony were cancelled because of bad weather. There is no reason to expect a repeat, but have an indoor plan B: our article what to do in Tangier on a rainy winter day has ideas.
Getting to Tangier and getting around
- By ferry from Tarifa: you arrive at Tanger Ville port, right in the centre. To plan your day around the crossings, read our guide Tarifa to Tangier ferry, from the first to the last boat.
- By train: Al Boraq and regular trains arrive at Tanger-Ville station. Timetables on oncf-voyages.ma.
- By plane: from Ibn Battouta airport, take a taxi to the centre.
- In town: petit taxis run everywhere in the centre. On a rally start day, expect traffic near the bay and leave extra time.
Where to leave your bags on start day
A suitcase on the sand or in a crowd ruins the day. BoxSpot has two well-placed points for visiting spectators:
- RS Valises, near the Gran Teatro Cervantes: rue Amérique du Sud, about a 3-minute walk from the Grand Socco and under 10 minutes from Tanger Ville port. Open daily from 11am to 11pm. The obvious choice if you arrive by ferry or want to end the day in the medina.
- Anabelle Para, near the Plaza de Toros: Hay Alia district, about 1 km from Tanger-Ville station. Open daily from 3pm to 10pm only. Handy for an afternoon drop-off, for example if you arrive by train during the checks and leave in the evening.
Mind the hours: neither point opens early in the morning. If the programme on 24 January starts before 11am, keep a small bag with you and drop the suitcase afterwards.
How the drop-off works
You book and pay online, in dirhams, by card. On site, you show your booking: the partner scans your QR code and takes a timestamped photo of your bags. To collect them, you show the same QR code: bags are only handed back against that code.
Three situations, three prices
A ferry day trip for the start
You land in the morning, drop your bag at RS Valises at 11am and pick it up at 7pm before the evening boat: 8 hours. Beyond 7 hours, an hourly booking is capped: 59 MAD for one bag. Two people with two bags pay 59 + 49 = 108 MAD.
An afternoon during the checks
You arrive by train one afternoon between 21 and 23 January, drop your suitcase at Anabelle Para at 3pm and collect it at 8pm: 5 hours, so 45 MAD for one bag.
The whole weekend
You leave a large suitcase for three days while you follow the checks and then the start: 59 + 39 + 39 = 137 MAD for one bag.
After Tangier? No BoxSpot point in Dakhla
The caravan then heads south, with the rest day in Dakhla on 30 January. To be clear: BoxSpot has no point in Dakhla, nor anywhere else on the route in southern Morocco. If you follow the race that far, arrange things with your accommodation. To see where our points are today, check the BoxSpot map.
Prices at a glance
| Duration | Price for 1 bag |
|---|---|
| 4 hours (minimum) | 36 MAD |
| 5 hours | 45 MAD |
| 6 hours | 54 MAD |
| 7 hours or more (day) | 59 MAD |
| 2 days | 98 MAD |
| 3 days | 137 MAD |
| Extra bag, by the day | 49 MAD on day one, then 39 MAD a day |
All points in the city are on the Tangier luggage storage page.
Book your drop-off near the Grand Socco
RS Valises, rue Amérique du Sud: a 3-minute walk from the Grand Socco, under 10 minutes from the port. Open daily from 11am to 11pm. From 9 MAD per hour per bag.
Book at RS ValisesFrequently Asked Questions
- The official start is announced for Sunday 24 January 2027, after a prologue on the municipal beach. Technical and administrative checks take place in Tangier from 21 to 23 January. Check the dates on the official website; detailed stages are due at the end of November.
- The prologue is announced on Tangier's municipal beach, the long beach on the bay. The exact spot, times and public access have not been published yet: follow the race's official website.
- No. BoxSpot has no point in Dakhla or anywhere else on the route in southern Morocco. Our points for the start are in Tangier: RS Valises near the Grand Socco and Anabelle Para near Tanger-Ville station.
- 9 MAD per hour per bag, with a 4-hour minimum (36 MAD). An hourly booking never costs more than 59 MAD for the first bag for the day; each following day is 39 MAD. An extra bag costs 49 MAD on day one.
About the author
Mohamed Aymane SFOULI
CTO & Co-Founder
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