Morocco is Europe’s great winter escape, and one of the best-value surf destinations on the planet. Just a few hours’ flight south, the Atlantic coast around Taghazout comes alive from autumn to spring, when North Atlantic swells wrap into a run of world-class right-hand points, right as the rest of Europe shivers. It’s a country of right-handers (Anchor Point, Killers, Safi) but there’s far more here: gentle beginner beaches, the endlessly long ride at Imsouane, warm sun, cheap living, incredible food and a surf-camp scene to rival anywhere. It sits high on our guide to the world’s best places to surf. Here’s Morocco, region by region, plus when to go and what to pack.
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Quick surf guide to Morocco
- Best season: autumn to spring (October to April), prime December to February, when NW swells light up the points; summer is small
- Best for beginners: Banana Point and Devil’s Rock (Aourir/Tamraght), Imsouane, the Taghazout beaches
- Best for advanced: Anchor Point, Killers, Boilers, Safi
- Water temp: 17 to 20°C, a 3/2 wetsuit most of the season (a 4/3 for winter dawns), plus booties for the rocky points
- Gateways: Agadir (AGA, 45 min to Taghazout), Marrakech (RAK, about 3 hr), Essaouira (ESU)
- Budget: $25 to $60 a day, excellent value with a huge surf-camp scene
Where to surf in Morocco
Almost everyone bases themselves around Taghazout, but the coast has far more to offer north and south. We’ve broken it down region by region. Tap a marker to preview a spot, then click its name to jump straight to it below.
Taghazout and Agadir
The former fishing village of Taghazout, 20 kilometres north of Agadir, is the surf capital of Morocco and one of Africa’s great surf towns: a cluster of world-class right-hand points, forgiving beginner beaches and the country’s best surf camps, all within a short drive. This is where most trips begin. See my full guide to surfing in Taghazout.
Anchor Point
The wave that made Morocco famous. Anchor Point (Madraba) is a long, fast, walling right that reels down a perfectly angled rock headland for hundreds of metres, sometimes over a kilometre, 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. One of the best right points in Africa, and for confident surfers only.
Killer Point
Named for the killer whales sometimes seen offshore, Killers is the region’s heavy hitter: a long right point that holds more swell than anywhere else on the coast and reels 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 required.
Boilers
The furthest north of the main breaks, named after the rusted ship’s boiler on the rocks. Boilers sits in a natural wind channel that keeps it clean, letting solid swells peel into steep, hollow right-handers over rock. Time the keyhole entry off the rocks right, or you’ll meet the boiler itself. A quality, consequential wave for upper intermediates and above.
Panorama
Taghazout’s most accessible quality wave, Panoramas reels around the point and breaks close to shore right below the town’s cafes. It’s more forgiving than Anchor Point and a favourite of improving surfers, though the rip can pull hard on bigger days (jump off the rocks to save the paddle). A convenient, fun right to log hours on.
Hash Point
The de facto village break, right in front of town, Hash Point is a fatter, lazier right than its illustrious neighbours, said to earn its name from surfers who couldn’t be bothered to make the walk up to Anchor Point. Playful and semi-mellow, with some nice sections on bigger days, it’s a great first rocky point for improvers stepping up from the beaches.
Banana Point
The best beginner wave in the area, on the edge of Aourir (Banana Village), named for the surrounding banana plantations: a mellow, sand-bottom right that peels off a river mouth into forgiving walls, best around high tide. Surf schools cluster here, and it’s about as friendly as Moroccan surf gets. The natural place to take your first Moroccan waves.
Devil’s Rock
On the other side of Banana Point, Devil’s Rock offers gentle A-frame peaks over sand that break both left and right, a rarity on this right-hand coast and a treat for goofy-footers. Backed by beach cafes (and the odd passing camel), it’s a welcoming, low-pressure spot for beginners and improvers. Fun and forgiving on a small, clean day.
Imsouane and the north Taghazout coast
North of Taghazout the coast gets quieter and the points get better, culminating in Imsouane, home to one of the longest, most beginner-friendly rides in the country. Powerful beach breaks fill the gaps in between.
Imsouane
A magical spot: Imsouane’s Bay is a long, slow, wrapping right that peels for hundreds of metres into a sheltered fishing harbour, giving some of the longest and most forgiving rides in Morocco, perfect for longboarders and improvers. Just around the headland, Cathedral Point serves punchier peaks for the more experienced. Worth the trip north for the Bay alone. See my full guide to surfing in Imsouane.
Tamri
A big, swell-hungry beach break north of Taghazout that picks up more size than the sheltered points and throws punchy, hollow peaks near the river mouth. It’s the go-to when the points are too small, and a proper workout when it’s on. Powerful and exposed, better for confident surfers, and often windy by the afternoon.
Essaouira and Safi
Further up the Atlantic, the windy walled city of Essaouira anchors a stretch better known for kitesurfing and mellow beaches, while up at Safi lurks one of the best, and heaviest, right-hand barrels in the country.
Safi
When a big winter swell hits, Safi’s Garden is one of the longest and most perfect right-hand barrels in the world: a fast, hollow point that spins down the rocks in front of the industrial town. It’s fickle, needing serious swell to break properly, and strictly for experienced barrel surfers when it does. A rare, world-class Moroccan tube.
Essaouira
The beautiful, walled port city of Essaouira is more wind city than surf city, its long beach a mecca for kitesurfers and windsurfers, especially in summer. For surfers it offers gentle, forgiving beach-break waves and a great base for exploring, with buckets of culture, seafood and character behind the sand. Come for the vibe as much as the surf. See my full guide to surfing in Essaouira and its breaks.
Sidi Kaouki
A wild, windswept beach just south of Essaouira, Sidi Kaouki has long stretches of sand-bottom peaks and a point at the southern end, backed by a mellow, low-key village. It’s exposed and often blown out, but on a clean day it’s a quiet, scenic alternative to the Taghazout crowds. A relaxed spot for improvers.
The south
South of Agadir the coast empties out towards the Sahara, with pretty fishing towns, dramatic cliffs and uncrowded waves for those willing to explore.
Mirleft
A laid-back cliff-top town south of Agadir, Mirleft is fringed by a string of sandy coves and rocky points that stay refreshingly quiet even in peak season. The waves range from mellow beaches to workable points, and the setting, all red cliffs and Berber charm, is a reward in itself. Adventure surfing without the mission.
Sidi Ifni
A faded, art-deco former Spanish enclave near the edge of the Sahara, Sidi Ifni is one of Morocco’s most atmospheric surf towns, with empty beach and reef breaks along a dramatic, little-surfed coast. It takes effort to reach, which is exactly the appeal: quiet waves and a genuine end-of-the-road feel. For explorers. See my full guide to surfing in Sidi Ifni.
The north coast
The Atlantic coast around Rabat and Casablanca is Morocco’s most overlooked surf zone, closer to the capital, mellower and greener, with easy beach breaks and a growing local scene.
Mehdia
North of Rabat near Kenitra, Mehdia is a long, sandy beach break and one of the main learner spots for surfers from the capital, with a jetty that helps shape the sandbars. It’s mellower and more northerly than the Taghazout points, with a local, less touristy feel. A handy option if you’re based around Rabat or Casablanca.
Bouznika
Halfway between Rabat and Casablanca, Bouznika has a run of sandy beaches and a few reefs that make it a popular weekend spot for city surfers, with a mix of forgiving beach breaks and punchier reef peaks on their day. Uncrowded midweek and easy to reach, it’s the heart of the north’s growing surf scene. A relaxed base away from the Taghazout circus. See my full guide to surfing in Bouznika.
When to surf in Morocco
Shoulder
Summer (small, beginner beach breaks)
Morocco 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 around Taghazout 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 the points.
Summer (May to August) is small and often flat on the points, though the beach breaks still offer gentle waves for beginners, and Essaouira’s wind makes it a kitesurfing hotspot. September and April are pleasant shoulder months with fewer crowds. Whatever the season, mornings are usually cleanest before the afternoon wind fills in.
What are the best surf camps in Morocco?
Morocco is one of the world’s great surf-camp countries, and the best-value of the lot. Taghazout and neighbouring Tamraght and Aourir are the epicentre, 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 spot 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.
Compare surf camps in Morocco on BookSurfCamps
What to pack for Morocco
The Atlantic is cool and the best points break over rock, so pack accordingly. And remember Morocco is a conservative country: keep the beachwear for the beach. Your packing 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, plus a small first-aid kit
- Reef-safe SPF and a surf hat for the strong sun
- A surf watch to track the tides, since the points are tide-sensitive
- The right board: a longboard for the beaches and Imsouane, or a step-up for the points on size; see our best beginner surfboards and check your board volume
- A set of fins and a spare, plus a leash you trust
- Your best outfit from your favourite surf brand: see our best surf clothing brands, plus modest clothes for the medinas and villages
- A travel board bag, and some cash in dirhams for parking, coffee vans and small tips
Getting to Morocco
The main surf gateway is Agadir (AGA), a 45-minute drive from Taghazout, with cheap, short flights from across Europe. Marrakech (RAK) has more connections and is about a three-hour drive, and Essaouira (ESU) suits the central coast, while Casablanca (CMN) serves the north. Most nationalities get a free 90-day entry stamp on arrival. You can base yourself in Taghazout and walk to the points, but a car (or a camp with transfers) opens up the coast north and south. For another Atlantic winter option closer to home, see our guides to surfing in Portugal and surfing in Spain, whose Canary Islands offer a similar warm-water-in-winter escape.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to surf in Morocco?
Autumn to spring, roughly October to April, is prime: North Atlantic NW groundswells wrap into the right-hand points around Taghazout, 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.
Is Morocco good for beginners?
Yes, very. Banana Point and Devil’s Rock around Aourir and Tamraght, plus the long, gentle right at Imsouane and the Taghazout beaches, are forgiving learner waves with a huge surf-camp and school scene. Just avoid the heavy points (Killers, Boilers, Safi) until you’re experienced.
Where should I go for my first surf trip to Morocco?
Taghazout is the hub: a former fishing village near Agadir surrounded by every level of wave, packed with surf camps and schools. Fly into Agadir (45 minutes away) or Marrakech (about three hours) and base yourself in Taghazout, Tamraght or Aourir.
Do I need a wetsuit in Morocco?
Yes. The Atlantic is cool: 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 worth having for the rocky, urchin-covered points.
How good is Anchor Point?
World-class. Anchor Point is a long, fast, walling right that reels for hundreds of metres over rock on a solid winter 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 big.
Is Morocco a good surf-camp destination?
One of the best and best-value in the world. Taghazout and its neighbours 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.
Morocco is Europe’s winter escape: world-class right points at Anchor and Killers, gentle beaches and the endless right at Imsouane, all in warm sun and cheap comfort while the rest of the continent shivers. Bring a 3/2, come between autumn and spring, respect the culture and the points, and Taghazout will keep pulling you back. See you in the line-up.
