Taghazout.

The breaks

Recognised, publicly known surf spots around Taghazout. Suitability depends on the day's swell, wind and tide, so treat the level as a guide, not a guarantee.

Full profile: Anchor Point.

Why Taghazout became Morocco's surf capital

The coast north of Agadir is lined with rocky headlands that face the North Atlantic. When winter storms send swell south, waves wrap around those headlands and peel along them as long right-handers. Add mild winter weather, warm sunshine and a relatively short flight from much of Europe, and it is easy to see why surfers have been coming here for decades.

Taghazout village sits in the middle of this coast, with most of the best-known points within a short drive. It has changed fast, from a small fishing village to a busy surf hub with camps, cafés and a large resort development to the south. It still has a village feel in places, with narrow lanes, fishing boats on the beach and a slower pace than Agadir.

The point breaks

Anchor Point, just north of the village, is the most famous wave: a long right-hand point that can run for a long way on a good swell. It needs a decent north-west swell to work and is best for experienced surfers, with rocks to navigate on the way in and out and a line-up that gets busy.

Killer Point, further north, is a powerful right that handles bigger swells, often reached by a walk or drive over rough ground. Mysteries and Boilers are reef and point waves north of Anchor with their own character; Boilers is named after the remains of a ship's boiler on the reef. Hash Point, right in front of the village, is smaller and more accessible. Panoramas, at the southern end of Taghazout beach, is a right that suits intermediates on small to medium days.

Beginner and improver beaches

South of Taghazout, the village of Tamraght and the surrounding beaches offer gentler waves. Devil's Rock, a beach break in front of Tamraght, is one of the most popular learner spots, with sandy peaks and space for lessons. Crocro is another beach break nearby, often used by schools.

Banana Point, at the river mouth near Aourir, is a mellow right that works well for improvers and longboarders on smaller swells. Taghazout's own beach can also be suitable on small days. As anywhere, conditions vary with the swell and tide, so let a local school choose the beach.

Taghazout: which area to stay in

Taghazout village puts you in walking distance of Hash Point, Panoramas and Anchor Point, with cafés and surf shops around you. It is busy, and accommodation ranges from simple surf houses to more polished guesthouses.

Tamraght, a few minutes south, is a quieter village with many surf camps and easy access to Devil's Rock and Banana Point. It suits beginners and improvers who want to be close to the learning beaches. Aourir, near Banana Point, is a more local town with markets and fewer visitors.

Taghazout Bay, the resort development to the south, offers international hotels, golf and pools. It is comfortable but less connected to the surf culture. Whichever you choose, check whether your accommodation includes daily surf transport to the breaks that suit you.

Imsouane and the wider coast

Taghazout sits in the middle of a long, swell-exposed coast, and the best trips use more of it. To the north, Imsouane is a small fishing village with one of the longest right-hand waves in Morocco: the Bay, a gentle, sand-bottomed right that can run for a remarkable distance on the right swell and tide. It suits longboarders and improvers, and it is usually a two-hour drive from Taghazout. Imsouane also has a more exposed point, the Cathedral, for experienced surfers.

South of Agadir, the coast towards Tifnit and Sidi Ifni is wilder and less developed, with fewer facilities and quieter line-ups for experienced, self-sufficient surfers. Inland, the Anti-Atlas and High Atlas mountains are within reach for multi-day trips.

If you are travelling independently, a rental car opens up this coast, but road conditions vary and driving at night is best avoided. Many surf camps run day trips to Imsouane and other spots when the swell suits, which can be a simpler option. Always check the forecast first: the Bay at Imsouane needs a decent north-west swell to wrap in, and on small days it may barely break.

Travel to Taghazout, and getting about

Agadir Al Massira airport is the nearest, usually under an hour by road. Many camps arrange airport transfers. Some visitors fly into Marrakech and travel on by road, which takes several hours.

Local grand taxis and buses run along the coast road between Agadir and Taghazout. Most surf camps provide transport to the breaks, which removes the need for a car. Renting a car gives more freedom to explore further north, including Imsouane, but driving in Morocco takes confidence.

Making the most of a week in Taghazout

Morocco's point breaks are tide-sensitive and swell-direction-sensitive, so the first day is about learning which wave works when. Talk to your camp or a local shop and be prepared to drive.

On a flat day, visit Paradise Valley, a palm-lined gorge with natural pools in the Atlas foothills, about an hour inland. Agadir's souk offers spices, crafts and food. Fresh fish is grilled on the beach in many coastal villages. If you have more time, Imsouane, a couple of hours north, has a long, gentle right-hand bay wave that is famous for its length.

Remember that Morocco is a Muslim country. Dress modestly away from the beach, especially in villages, and be aware of local customs during Ramadan.

Respecting the line-up

The points are crowded in peak season, and local surfers have been riding them since long before the surf camps arrived. Sit wide when you first paddle out, wait your turn and do not drop in. Large groups from camps should avoid swamping a peak. Out of the water, support local businesses and remember that Taghazout is still home to a fishing community.

Taghazout surf season month by month

A broad planning picture, not a forecast. Swell, wind and water temperature vary from year to year.

Learning to surf in Taghazout

The Taghazout area is one of the most popular places in Europe and North Africa to learn to surf, especially in winter when Atlantic beaches further north are cold and stormy. Most surf camps are based in Taghazout and Tamraght and offer packages with accommodation, meals, lessons, equipment and transport.

Beginners usually start at Devil's Rock, Crocro, Banana Point or another sheltered beach chosen for the day. In winter, waves on the points may be too big for lessons, but schools can usually find something suitable.

When comparing camps, ask how big the groups are, how many instructors there are, whether lessons are in the morning or adapted to the tide, and what happens if the surf is too big or too small. Check whether yoga, day trips and airport transfers are included or extra.

Comparing options across the country? Read our guide to surfing in Morocco.