Massawa - Health

Where is Massawa?

Massawa is a major historic port city located in the Northern Red Sea region of Eritrea in East Africa. Situated on the Red Sea at the northern end of the Gulf of Zula, it spans islands and the mainland, acting as a key maritime gateway near the Dahlak Archipelago.

This is a commercial port and the only port of entry for yachts currently.

The old city contains a mixture of Italian, Egyptian and Ottoman architecture, reflecting the city's colorful history. A good stop to visit Asmara for the day (3-hour drive).

It is now possible to get diesel here, although this does require some paperwork. See Yachting Essentials for more details.

If going to Massawa in order to get permission to visit the nearby Dhalak Islands, the latest reports are that these islands are still "out of bounds" to foreign yachts (since 2013). The tourist office in Massawa is very helpful and it's worth checking with them for the latest situation. See Restrictions for more information about the Dhalak Islands.

Entrance Notes and Cautions:

• Approaching Eritrea through the South Mits’iwa Channel, cruisers report normal functioning of GPS throughout (no spoofing).
• The navigation lights on Shumma Island, Assarca Island and Madote Island are not visible on a clear night - quite possibly none of them are working (March 2026).
• Navionics charts are reported to be adequate for navigating the channel at night.
• Entry into Massawa during daylight is straightforward, but lights are missing in the approaches and there are many unlit hazards.

Position:

15° 36.91'N, 39° 28.98'E (port entrance)