Morocco’s Atlantic coast picks up swell almost year-round, but the best surf town for you depends on the month you’re going and how much surfing you’ve done before.
We’ve run surf holidays from Taghazout since 2008, so we know this stretch of coast better than most people. Here’s where we’d send you, and what each place is like.
| Town | Main break type |
| Taghazout & Tamraght | Right-hand points, beach breaks |
| Imsouane | Long right-hand point |
| Essaouira | Wind-affected; best for kite surfing |
| Sidi Kaouki | Beach breaks |
| Safi | Right-hand barreling point |
| Oualidia | Beach and reef breaks |
| Tafedna | Big-wave, sandy beach, right-hand wave |
| Bouznika | Beach breaks |
| Mirleft | Beach and reef breaks |
Top Surf Towns
Taghazout and Tamraght
Taghazout is the town most people think of when they talk about surfing in Morocco. It started as a fishing village and now has surf shops and rooftop cafes, plus waves within walking distance.
Anchor Point has the reputation. It’s a long right-hander that works best at low to mid tide with a northwest swell. Killer Point, Hash Point, Panoramas and Mysteries are close by and a bit more forgiving. Taghazout is a great choice for mixed groups where one person is learning, and another wants a longer wave. You can read more in our guide to surfing in Taghazout. If you’re here for the yoga, or just along for the ride, the rooftop cafes are an excellent place to watch the waves come in.
Tamraght sits just south of Taghazout. It’s a bigger town, and sits back from the sea rather than right on the sand. The beach breaks here are friendly if you’re still working on standing up, and our list of the best beginner surf spots in Morocco covers them.
Imsouane
Imsouane is about 70 kilometres north of Taghazout. And one of the longest waves in the country, often called one of the best longboard waves in Africa. The ride is slow and gentle, but it fills up, so expect to share.
The village is small and quiet outside the main surf season. Many people from Taghazout come here for the day or stay one night, and it’s worth the drive when the swell is clean.
Essaouira and Sidi Kaouki
Essaouira is a walled port city, once called Mogador; the medina is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s windy for much of the year, which makes it a kitesurfing and windsurfing town first. When the wind drops and the winter swells arrive, the sandy beach breaks are mellow. Most people stay for the old town, the harbour and the food, and surf in the mornings.Â
Sidi Kaouki is about 30 minutes down the coast. It has consistent beach breaks and the relaxed feel of a small village, which some of the busier towns further south have lost. For a break-by-break look at this whole stretch, see our guide to where to surf in Morocco.
Safi
Safi sits between Casablanca and Essaouira. The main break is a powerful right-hand point with a barrel that has drawn professionals for years. It works best in winter. The water is cold and the line-up is tight, so many people watch from the shore. Surfers who paddle out tend to take their time and see how the line-up works first.
Lalla Fatna is a softer option nearby, a sandy beach break between Oualidia and Safi. It works on all tides and likes a southeast offshore wind.
More Spots Worth a Detour
Oualidia
Oualidia is best known for its oysters, but it also has sandy beach and reef breaks. It sits on the coast between Casablanca and Essaouira, just up from Lalla Fatna. The sand and the feel of the place make it a gentle spot for a first session.
Tafedna
This small fishing village sits on a long sandy beach between Essaouira and Imsouane, roughly an hour from each. It has a right-hand wave and more space in the water than Imsouane. When a big winter swell hits, Tafedna has a reputation as Morocco’s answer to Mavericks. If you’re an experienced big-wave surfer who’s happy to tow in, keep an eye on the forecast. For everyone else, it’s worth heading down to the shore to watch.
To the north, Cap Sim has a point with a long right. In summer, the wind picks up and kitesurfers take over the bay. It makes a great stop on a coastal road trip.
Bouznika
Plenty of people drive the coast between Rabat and Casablanca without stopping, which is partly why Bouznika’s beach breaks stay quieter than the big names. It’s an easy add-on if you’re based in Casablanca.
Mirleft
Around 130 km south of Agadir, Mirleft is smaller and less developed than Taghazout. It has a few cafes and a relaxed feel. You’ll need to drive to the bigger breaks.
Best Time to Surf in Morocco
October to April (Peak Season)
This is when the swells are biggest and most consistent. The long points like Anchor Point, Killer Point and Safi come alive, and Atlantic swells bring the best waves of the year. The water is cooler, so a wetsuit is worth packing, and the famous breaks are at their busiest. Beginners surf these months too. The beach breaks are the place for it, and a lesson will pick the right spot for that day’s swell.
April to September (Milder Season)
Waves are friendlier and the line-ups thin out. It’s a great stretch for building confidence on a longboard or soft-top. The wind picks up in some places, Essaouira especially, so mornings are the time to surf. There are still rideable waves with local knowledge, and our team can point you to the right break on the day.
Before You Paddle Out
Equipment
The Atlantic is cold, especially in winter, and Safi is a cold-water break where a wetsuit is essential. Your surf camp can tell you what suits the month you’re visiting. In summer, a thinner suit or a shortie is usually plenty. It’s worth packing reef-safe sunscreen from home.
You don’t need to bring a board. Shops and camps around Taghazout rent boards and wetsuits by the day or week, so the board bag can stay at home and you can try a few shapes. A soft-top is forgiving to learn on. A longboard or mid-length suits the mellow waves at Tamraght and Imsouane. Anchor Point and Safi call for something with more performance.Â
At DFrost Almugar, we keep boards in most shapes and sizes on location, from bodyboards and SUPs to soft-tops and performance shortboards. The team will match one to that week’s swell.
Etiquette
At busy spots like Anchor Point and Imsouane, the surfer closest to where the wave is breaking has the right of way. Most line-ups are friendly if you say hello and wait your turn. Booking lessons with local shops helps too, and your coach can pick the right spot for the day.
Choosing Your Surf Town
Taghazout and Tamraght are the easiest places to start. A long point and sandy beach breaks sit on the same short stretch of coast. Imsouane and Sidi Kaouki fit well as day trips or add-ons. Safi is a winter trip in its own right, and plenty of people are happy watching it from the shore.
If you’d like a base in the middle of it all, DFrost Almugar has hosted surfers and yogis in Taghazout since 2008. Our packages include surf coaching, guided surf safaris and surf and yoga weeks. Pick your dates, tell us how you like to spend a day and we’ll point you to the right waves.