When winter comes to Europe, many surfers head for southern Morocco. The Atlantic coast then picks up North Atlantic swells, the sun is out, and the water is surfable all year with a wetsuit. Here are the spots, the season and what to know before you go.
Taghazout and the Agadir bay
North of Agadir, the former fishing village of Taghazout has become the capital of Moroccan surfing. Around it, a string of points where the wave peels along the coast:
- Anchor Point: the country's most famous right, long and powerful when the swell is big. For experienced surfers.
- Killer Point: an exposed right north of the village, for good surfers.
- Hash Point and Panoramas: more accessible, right below the village.
- Banana Point and Tamraght: further south, with gentler sections and sandy beaches to learn on.
Imsouane: the beginners' wave
About an hour and a half north of Taghazout, the village of Imsouane is famous for its bay: a very long, even right, ideal for learning and for longboarding. It is one of the places where you can ride some of the longest waves in the country.
Other spots
- Essaouira and Sidi Kaouki: Essaouira is best known for wind, so for kitesurfing and windsurfing; Sidi Kaouki, further south, has beach-break waves. Essaouira is 175 km from Agadir by road.
- Safi: a hollow right for experienced surfers only.
- Rabat and Mehdia: beach breaks in the north, with surf schools below the Kasbah of the Udayas.
- Dakhla: far south, a lagoon famous for kitesurfing.
The best season
The best swells arrive from autumn to spring, roughly October to March: the season for Taghazout's points. Summer is calmer and windier, with smaller waves, a good time for beginners. Bring a wetsuit all year, a thicker one in winter.
Learning to surf in Morocco
Taghazout, Tamraght and Imsouane have plenty of surf camps and schools, with lodging, lessons and gear. On a first trip, a school that picks the day's spot for the swell makes all the difference. Respect priority in the water, and leave the powerful points to experienced surfers.
Internet at the break
On a surf trip the phone does everything: checking swell and wind forecasts in the morning, telling the group which spot you chose, booking a lesson, sending the videos. Taghazout and Tamraght have good coverage; on the coast road between spots and towards Imsouane the signal is patchier. For a one to two-week surf trip, our 10-day plan at €32 and 15-day plan at €45 give 1 GB a day at full speed then 512 Kbps, with hotspot included. For a season, the 30-day plan costs €79.
See the Morocco eSIM plans and check your phone's compatibility. For the area, read internet in Agadir and our Essaouira guide.