Taghazout is Morocco’s surf capital and one of Africa’s great surf towns. A former fishing village 20 kilometers north of Agadir, it sits at the center of a run of world-class right-hand points that switch on from autumn to spring, when North Atlantic swells wrap around the headlands into long, walling rights, right as the rest of Europe shivers. Anchor Point is the wave that put Morocco on the map, backed up by heavy hitters like Killers and Boilers, while gentle beginner beaches just down the coast make it a place to learn as well as charge. Add warm sun, cheap living, incredible food and a huge surf-camp scene, and it’s one of the best-value surf trips anywhere. This is the hub of our guide to surfing in Morocco. Here’s every break, when to go, and how to set up.
Quick surf guide to Taghazout
- Best season: autumn to spring (October to April), peaking December to February on NW Atlantic swell
- Best for beginners: Banana Point and Devil’s Rock, Panorama
- Best for advanced: Anchor Point, Killers, Boilers
- Wave type: world-class right-hand points over rock, plus sandy beginner beaches
- Water temp: 16 to 22°C, a 3/2 most of the season, a 4/3 for winter dawns; booties for the points
- Crowds: high at the marquee points in peak season
- Getting there: Agadir (AGA) about 45 minutes, or Marrakech (RAK) about 3 hours
- Budget: $25 to $150 a day; excellent value
Where to surf in Taghazout
The world-class points string along the coast north of the village, with mellow points and beginner beaches close by and just to the south. Tap a marker to preview a break, then click its name to jump to my full rundown below.
The world-class points
The run of right-hand points north of the village that made Morocco famous, for confident surfers when the winter swell arrives.
Anchor Point
The wave that made Morocco famous, Anchor Point is a long, fast, walling right that reels down a perfectly angled rock headland for hundreds of meters, sometimes over a kilometer, on a solid winter NW swell. Its sweet spot is head-high to double-overhead: smaller and it won’t wrap, bigger and it turns serious. Sectiony but makeable, it’s one of the best right points in Africa and a bucket-list wave, for confident surfers when it’s on. On its day, the reason people come to Taghazout.
Killer Point
Named for the killer whales sometimes seen offshore, Killers is the region’s heavy hitter and biggest swell magnet, holding more size than anywhere on the coast and reeling fast down the reef when a big front rolls in. It’s a mission to reach, a long paddle or a boat, and feels bigger in the water than it looks from the cliff. A step-up board and real experience are required, and the reward is a long, powerful right on the days everything else closes out.
Boilers
The furthest north of the main breaks, named after the rusted ship’s boiler on the rocks, Boilers is the most hollow and punchy wave around: a steep, barreling right that breaks over a shallow, urchin-lined rock reef in a natural wind channel that keeps it clean. Time the keyhole entry off the rocks right, or you’ll meet the boiler itself, and wear booties for the reef. A quality, consequential wave for advanced surfers, and worth the drive when it’s working.
The mellow points and beginner beaches
Right in and just south of the village, gentler waves make Taghazout a place to learn and progress, not just charge.
Panorama and Hash Point
Right below the village, Panorama is Taghazout’s most accessible quality wave: a mellower, forgiving right that breaks close to shore beneath the town’s cafes, a favorite of improving surfers and longboarders, though the rip can pull hard on bigger days. Next door, Hash Point is a fatter, lazier right at the north end of the village that walls up on bigger swells, said to earn its name from surfers who couldn’t be bothered to walk up to Anchor Point. Both are great first rocky points for improvers stepping up from the beaches, and busy with surf schools.
Banana Point and Devil’s Rock
Just south toward Aourir and Tamraght, the main learner zone offers the friendliest waves in the area. Banana Point, on the edge of Aourir (Banana Village), is a mellow, sand-bottom right that peels off a river mouth into forgiving walls, best around high tide, while Devil’s Rock offers gentle A-frame peaks over sand that break both left and right, a rarity on this right-hand coast. Surf schools cluster here, and it’s about as friendly as Moroccan surf gets, the natural place to take your first waves.
When to surf in Taghazout
Shoulder
Summer (small, beginner beaches)
Taghazout is a winter destination. From roughly October to April, North Atlantic depressions send clean NW groundswell marching into the coast, and the right-hand points switch on, with the biggest and most consistent surf between December and February, exactly when Europe is at its coldest and greyest. This is the time to come for Anchor Point, Killers and Boilers, and the season the town buzzes with surfers and camps.
Summer, roughly May to August, is small and often flat on the points, though the beginner beaches at Banana Point and Devil’s Rock still offer gentle waves for learning. September and April are pleasant shoulder months with fewer crowds. Whatever the season, mornings are usually cleanest before the afternoon wind fills in. The water is cool but not cold, so a 3/2 does the job most of the season, with a 4/3 for winter dawns, plus booties for the rocky, urchin-covered points.
Surf camps and where to stay in Taghazout
Taghazout is one of the world’s great surf-camp towns, and the best value of the lot. The village and neighboring Tamraght and Aourir are packed with camps and schools for every level and budget, from rustic Berber surf houses to boutique surf-and-yoga lodges, most with rooftop terraces, guiding to the right point for your level, and airport transfers thrown in. Learn on the beginner beaches, join guided sessions to the points as you improve, and factor in a trip to Paradise Valley or the Agadir souk between swells. For where to stay and book, see our guide to the best surf camps in Taghazout, and our wider guide to surfing in Morocco.
Compare surf camps in Taghazout on BookSurfCamps
What to pack for Taghazout
Cool Atlantic water, rocky points and a conservative culture are what to plan for. My Taghazout checklist:
- A wetsuit: a 3/2 does the job most of the season, with a 4/3 for cold winter dawns and a springsuit in summer
- Booties for the rocky, urchin-covered points like Boilers, Anchors and Killers, plus a small first-aid kit
- The right board: a longboard or foamie for the beaches, or a step-up for the points on size; see our best beginner surfboards and check your board volume
- Reef-safe SPF, a surf hat, a surf watch for the tide-sensitive points, and modest clothes for the villages
Getting to Taghazout
Taghazout is a 45-minute drive north of Agadir airport (AGA), which has cheap, short flights from across Europe and is the main surf gateway. Marrakech (RAK) has more connections and is about a three-hour drive, a scenic option if you want to add a city stop. Most nationalities get a free 90-day entry stamp on arrival. You can base yourself in the village and walk to the closest points, but a car, or a camp with transfers, opens up the coast north to Killers and Boilers and south to the beginner beaches. If you’re planning a wider trip, pair this with surfing in Morocco.
Frequently asked questions
Is Taghazout good for beginners?
Yes, very. Banana Point and Devil’s Rock around Aourir and Tamraght are forgiving, sandy learner waves with a huge surf-school scene, and the mellow points of Panorama and Hash Point in the village are good next steps. Just avoid the heavy points, Killers and Boilers, until you’re experienced.
When is the best time to surf in Taghazout?
Autumn to spring, roughly October to April, is prime, when North Atlantic NW groundswells wrap into the right-hand points, with the biggest, cleanest surf between December and February. Summer is small and better suited to beginners on the beach breaks. It’s a winter-season destination, ideal when Europe is cold.
How good is Anchor Point?
World-class. Anchor Point is a long, fast, walling right that reels for hundreds of meters, sometimes over a kilometer, over rock on a solid winter NW swell, one of the best right points in Africa and the wave that put Morocco on the map. It’s for confident surfers when it’s head-high and up.
Do I need a wetsuit in Taghazout?
Yes. The Atlantic here is cool, around 16 to 22 degrees Celsius, so a 3/2 does the job most of the season, with a 4/3 for cold winter dawns and a springsuit in summer. Booties are strongly worth having for the rocky, urchin-covered points.
Is Taghazout a good surf-camp destination?
One of the best and best-value in the world. Taghazout and its neighbors Tamraght and Aourir are built around surf camps, offering lessons, guiding, boards and accommodation in one package, warm hospitality and a wave for every level within a short drive. Ideal for a first solo surf trip.
How do I get to Taghazout?
Fly into Agadir (AGA), a 45-minute drive south, the main gateway with cheap flights from Europe, or Marrakech (RAK) about three hours away. You can walk to the village points, but a car or a camp with transfers is best for reaching Killers and Boilers to the north and the beginner beaches to the south.
Taghazout is Europe’s winter escape and Morocco’s surf capital: world-class right points at Anchor and Killers, gentle beaches to learn on, warm sun and cheap comfort while the rest of the continent shivers. Come between autumn and spring for the points, wear your booties, respect the culture and the lineup, and Taghazout will keep pulling you back. See you in the lineup.
