Known for its reeling right-hand point breaks, unbelievably long rides, and reliable and consistent swell year-round, Morocco’s been luring surfers to its 1,800 miles of coastline since the early 60s. Back then, it was mostly Europeans hopping the 8 miles of ocean between southern Spain and Tangier. Today, it’s surfers the world over, everyone finding themselves suddenly thrust into an exciting world of spice-scented souks, tasty tagines, and camel culture as soon as they slip out of their wetsuit. In this surfers guide to Morocco, we share where to find the best waves in this truly epic surf destination, from the iconic Anchor Point in Taghazout to the pro-level heavy barrels of Safi and the up-and-comer destinations like Asilah by Tangier.
Taghazout
Best for: all levels
Formerly a sleepy fishing village, the Taghazout of today is one of Morocco’s buzziest surf towns with a rare-for-Morocco, booze-available party scene to go with it. At the core of its surf allure, at least for the pros and surf advanced, are the 500-meter rides at Anchor Point, followed closely by the fast-breaking barrels at Killers Point (also known as Killers). It’s these two point breaks that originally put Taghazout on the surf map in the early 60s, while its bouquet of other beautiful breaks like La Source, Hash Point, Panorama, Mysteries, and Boilers only add to its rightly earned title of being Morocco’s surf capital.
Tamraght
Best for: beginners and intermediates
Just five miles south of Taghazout, Tamraght offers a more relaxed surf base while still being within reach of Taghazout’s bounty of breaks. It’s also home to plenty of its own beginner and improver-friendly surf spots, like Devil’s Rock (also known as Imouran), Banana Point and Beach, and Crocro (also known as Crocodiles). The town of Tamraght may not have the nightlife of its neighbor up north, but it does have a surprisingly deep and diverse cafe and restaurant scene where you can spice up your diet of mint tea and tagine with pour-overs, poke bowls, and pizza, too.
Imsouane
Best for: all levels
Though getting busier by the year, relatively remote and off-the-beaten-track Imsouane remains one of the most charming and refreshingly undeveloped surf destinations in Morocco. Before becoming known as the home of Africa’s longest wave and a true longboarding paradise, Imsouane was just a fishing village and not much more. Still today, surfing in Imsouane’s Bay occasionally requires paddling out of the way of fishing boats as they come and go from the harbor. Besides snagging the longest ride of your life at world-famous longboard paradise The Bay, there’s Cathedral just on the other side of the headland – a more exposed beach and point break known for its steep waves and monstrous barrels in the wintertime.
Essaouira
Best for: beginners
While Essaouira can certainly live up to its nickname “Wind City of Africa,” its waves aren’t always wind-battered, blown out, and better suited for kitesurfers, especially if you time your surf trip for the less windy fall and winter months. The massive crescent-shaped beach and bay known as Tagharte sits just beyond the city’s UNESCO-protected fortress walls and atmospheric medina, while the Mogodor Islands offshore play gatekeeper to the beautiful, beginner-friendly swell that rolls in. When the wind and waves aren’t working together in Essaouira, you can always hire a taxi and try Sidi Kaouki 20 minutes south instead. There, you’ll find four spacious and sand-bottomed surf spots, all beach breaks and beginner-friendly too.
Asilah
Best for: all levels
Just a 30-minute train ride south of Tangier, Asilah is an up-and-coming, still empty surf destination in Morocco with a gorgeous white-washed and art-covered medina right up against its azure waves. Asilah’s surf beaches, like Paradise and Briech, are all exposed beach breaks with waves that can range from mushy and mellow to more challenging when the winter swell rolls in. If Asilah’s not working, nearby Larache, a 25-minute drive south, has a few breaks that might be, including Loukos, a very consistent left-breaking wave.
Safi
Best for: advanced
No longer a secret spot, the heavy and barreling sand point break of Safi is the stuff of surf legends when it’s working, and unfortunately that isn’t too often. Located just an hour’s drive north of Essaouira, Safi isn’t for the faint of heart. In fact, don’t even bother to paddle out unless you know you can handle the local-heavy lineup, neck-breaking slabs, and extremely fast and thick barrels. This is the sort of surf spot many a pro would travel halfway around the world to surf, so pay attention when a big northwesterly swell strikes this stretch of Morocco’s Atlantic coast and get out there if you dare.
