Surf and ocean

Morocco Surf Guide 2026

From the long, slow rights of Imsouane to the reef points north of Taghazout: where to surf at your level, when the swell comes, what to wear in the water and how surf camps work.

Taghazout from the water. Photograph: AJSPARK4444, CC BY-SA 4.0

Main season: Sep - Apr
Biggest swell: Dec - Feb
Learn at: Imsouane, Taghazout
Wetsuit: 3/2mm most of the year

Why Surfers Keep Coming Back to Morocco

Morocco's Atlantic coast faces the North Atlantic swells head on, and between Agadir and Essaouira they break on reefs, points and sandy beaches that suit every level.

The centre of it all is the coast around Taghazout, a fishing village that became a surf town after travelling surfers found Anchor Point. Today it has camps, schools, surf shops and cafés, while Imsouane to the north and Sidi Kaouki near Essaouira stay quieter. This guide covers the main spots, the seasons, wetsuits, camps, yoga-surf weeks, etiquette and where to stay.

Surf Seasons in Morocco

There are rideable waves most of the year, but swell size and water temperature change with the seasons.

Dec - Feb: Peak swellNorth Atlantic storms send the biggest, most consistent swells. Anchor Point, Killer Point and Boilers break most often. The water is at its coolest, and Taghazout is busy with surfers escaping the European winter, so book ahead.
Sep - Nov, Mar - Apr: Shoulder seasonSmaller, cleaner swells, glassy mornings and fewer people. Imsouane, Taghazout beach and Sidi Kaouki have fun, manageable waves. September and October bring the warmest water of the surf season.
Jun - Aug: Small surf, strong windThe surf coast is often small or flat. The trade winds blow hard in Essaouira and Dakhla, which makes summer kitesurfing and windsurfing season.

Kites laid out on the sand of the Dakhla lagoon while a kitesurfer launches, with pale dunes across the water — Summer is wind season: kites on the lagoon shore at Dakhla. Photograph: Nomadz, CC BY-SA 3.0

Best Surf Spots in Morocco

From heavy reef breaks to slow longboard waves, north of Agadir to Essaouira.

Anchor Point: Advanced. Right-hand point break over reefJust north of Taghazout. A long right that needs a solid northwest swell to break properly, with a tight take-off zone and a strong local crew. Best from autumn to early spring.
Killer Point: Advanced. Right-hand reef breakJust north of Anchor Point, reached over rough ground. Faster and more powerful than its neighbour, with a rocky entry and exit. Named after the orcas that are sometimes seen offshore, not the wave.
Boilers: Expert. Powerful reef breakFurther north towards Cap Ghir, named after the boiler of a shipwreck that shows at low tide. Shallow reef and a critical take-off: only for surfers at home on reef breaks.
Tamri: Intermediate to advanced. Beach breakAn exposed beach break north of Cap Ghir that picks up more swell than the sheltered bays. Peaks shift with the sand, and currents can be strong.
Imsouane Bay: Beginner to intermediate. Right-hand point over sandA fishing village between Agadir and Essaouira. The bay breaks as a slow, peeling right that is often described as one of the longest waves in Africa, ideal for longboarding and learning.
Taghazout beach: Beginner. Beach breakThe sandy beach in front of the village, where many surf schools teach. Peaks move with the sandbars; small days suit first-timers and bigger days give intermediates punchy waves.
Sidi Kaouki: Beginner to intermediate. Beach breakA long, open beach south of Essaouira with fewer people than Taghazout. Whitewater for learners and clean peaks for intermediates, best in the morning before the wind picks up.
Essaouira: Beginner. Beach breakThe wide beach south of the medina has small waves over sand. Surf in the morning; the afternoon wind belongs to kitesurfers and windsurfers.

Beginner vs Advanced: Where to Surf

Learning: Imsouane Bay, Taghazout beach, Sidi Kaouki and Essaouira. All break over sand, and all have surf schools nearby.

Experienced: Anchor Point, Killer Point, Boilers and Tamri. The first three break over reef and rock; Tamri is a powerful, shifting beach break.

Surf Camps & Schools

Camps run all along the coast between Taghazout and Imsouane. Prices change with the season, so check with each camp directly.

Surf hostel: Shared rooms, daily guidingDorm or shared rooms, breakfast, board storage and a guide who drives you to whichever break is working. You eat out or cook. Most are in Tamraght, around Taghazout and in Imsouane.
Surf camp: Private rooms, lessons, mealsPrivate or twin rooms, daily lessons or guiding, boards and wetsuits, usually breakfast and dinner, often morning yoga. Found in Taghazout, Tamraght, Imsouane and Sidi Kaouki.
Coaching retreat: Small groups, full boardSmall coaching groups, video analysis, full board and airport transfers, sometimes with a pool. Mostly around Taghazout and Tamraght.

Before you book

Lesson or guiding?
A lesson means an instructor teaches you in the water. Guiding means someone drives you to the right break and you surf on your own. Beginners need lessons.
What is in the price?
Board, wetsuit, transport to the breaks, meals, yoga and airport transfer. Get the list in writing so you can compare camps.
How big are the groups?
Ask how many students each instructor takes in the water, and whether the instructors hold a recognised surf-coaching qualification.
Where does it surf?
A camp with its own transport can follow the swell up and down the coast. One without it surfs the beach out front.

Water Temperature & Wetsuit Guide

The cool Canary Current keeps the sea colder than many visitors expect. Approximate monthly averages for Agadir:

Jan - Feb: About 16 - 17°C3/2mm full suit; a 4/3mm if you feel the cold.
Mar - May: About 17°C3/2mm full suit.
Jun - Jul: About 18 - 19°C3/2mm or a 2mm spring suit.
Aug - Sep: About 20 - 22°CSpring suit or shorty; the warmest water of the year.
Oct - Dec: About 17 - 20°CBack to a 3/2mm full suit as the water cools.

Reef booties protect your feet from sea urchins and make the rocky entries at Anchor Point and Killer Point easier. In summer, wear a rash vest for long sessions and use plenty of high-SPF sunscreen.

Board Rental & Equipment

Surf shops in Taghazout, Imsouane, Essaouira and Sidi Kaouki rent softboards, hardboards, longboards, bodyboards, wetsuits and booties by the day or week, and many do ding repairs. Weekly rates work out cheaper than daily ones. If you bring your own board, check your airline's sports-equipment fee before you book.

Surf Culture & Lineup Etiquette

Respect the locals
Moroccan surfers ride Anchor Point and Killer Point every day. Do not paddle straight to the peak on your first session: sit wide, watch the line-up, take the wider waves and earn your position.
Follow priority
The surfer closest to the breaking part of the wave has right of way. At the point breaks it is strictly enforced, and dropping in gets you called out fast. If in doubt, pull back.
Keep the beach clean
Plastic waste is a problem on this coast. Take your rubbish home, and pick up a little more after your session.
Respect Ramadan
During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking and smoking in public in daylight. Camps keep running, but be discreet with snacks between sessions, and expect restaurant hours to move to the evening.
Cover up in the village
Beachwear is fine on the beach, not in the streets. Put on a shirt before you walk through Taghazout or Imsouane.
Spend locally
Eat in village restaurants, shop in village shops, and choose schools and camps that employ local instructors.

Yoga & Surf Retreats

Many camps on the Taghazout to Imsouane coast sell yoga-surf weeks. A typical day:

Early morning
Yoga, often on a rooftop terrace, then breakfast.
Morning
The main surf session, guided or coached, usually two to three hours.
Midday
Lunch and free time in the village.
Afternoon
An optional second surf session.
Evening
A slower yoga or stretching class at sunset, then dinner.

Most retreats teach vinyasa and yin yoga, and some add breathwork or meditation. Packages usually include accommodation and some meals; check how many classes and surf sessions a day you get.

Budget Surf Trip Planning

Fly into Agadir or Marrakech
Low-cost airlines fly to Agadir and Marrakech from many European cities. Check the sports-equipment fee before booking if you are bringing a board.
Rent by the week
Most surf shops charge less per day for a weekly board and wetsuit rental than for single days.
Stay longer, pay less
Apartments in Taghazout and Tamraght and guesthouses in Imsouane often offer lower rates for long stays. Ask the host directly.
Cook some meals
Many hostels and camps have a shared kitchen. Buy bread, eggs, vegetables and fish in the village.

Where to Stay Near the Breaks

Taghazout: The surf villageWalk to the breaks just north and south of the village, including Panoramas and Hash Point. Guesthouses, hostels and apartments, rooftop cafés and yoga studios. Book early for December to February.
Tamraght: Quieter, many campsJust south of Taghazout, close to Banana Beach and Devil's Rock. More residential, and home to many of the surf camps, so it is easy to meet other surfers.
Imsouane: Fishing villageGuesthouses above the bay, fresh fish from the port and little nightlife: built for early nights and early surfs. Bring enough cash.
Sidi Kaouki: Off-grid beachA few guesthouses facing a long empty beach. Very few services, so stock up in Essaouira before you arrive.

Questions

Surfing in Morocco: questions

When is the best time to surf in Morocco?

Autumn to spring. From roughly September to April, North Atlantic swells reach the coast consistently. Midwinter brings the biggest swells, which suit advanced surfers on the reef and point breaks. The shoulder months (September to November, March and April) usually bring smaller, cleaner waves and warmer water, the best window for beginners and intermediates.

Is Morocco a good destination for beginner surfers?

Yes. The bay at Imsouane breaks as a slow, long right over sand, and Taghazout beach, Sidi Kaouki and Essaouira all have beach breaks with surf schools. Group lessons normally include the board and wetsuit; confirm this when you book.

How much does a surf camp cost in Morocco?

It depends on the room, the season and what is included. Camps range from shared hostel rooms with daily surf guiding to private rooms with meals, daily lessons and yoga. Compare what each package includes (board, wetsuit, transport to the breaks, meals) and check the current price with the camp directly.

Do I need a wetsuit for surfing in Morocco?

Yes, for most of the year. Around Agadir the sea is coolest in January and February, at about 16 to 17°C, and warmest in September, at about 20 to 22°C. A 3/2mm full suit covers most of the season; some surfers pack a 4/3mm for January and February, and a shorty or spring suit is enough in late summer.

What is the best surf spot for experienced surfers in Morocco?

Anchor Point near Taghazout is the best known: a long right-hand point break over reef that needs a solid northwest swell. Killer Point, just to the north, is a faster, more powerful right. Boilers, further north towards Cap Ghir, is a powerful reef break. Tamri is an exposed beach break that picks up more swell than the bays.

Can I rent surf equipment in Taghazout and Imsouane?

Yes. Both villages have surf shops that rent softboards, hardboards and wetsuits by the day or week, and many also do ding repairs. If you bring your own board, check your airline's sports-equipment fee before you book.

Are there yoga and surf combo retreats in Morocco?

Yes. Many camps along the Taghazout to Imsouane coast combine daily yoga with surf lessons or guiding, usually as a week-long package with accommodation and some meals. Check how many yoga classes and surf sessions a day are included.

How do I get to Taghazout from Agadir airport?

Taghazout is on the coast road north of Agadir. From Agadir Al Massira Airport, take a taxi or a transfer arranged by your camp or guesthouse. City buses run between Agadir and Taghazout but do not serve the airport directly. Agree the taxi fare before you set off.