Taghazout

If you’re a surfer (or want to become one), then the Atlantic Ocean in Western Morocco is a great place to be. The waves on the west coast in the fall have some great surf, and there are few places that you can visit to catch some breaks, and Taghazout is one of them. A lesser-known town in Morocco, Taghazout is a quaint surf town packed full of beachfront restaurants, surf shops, and markets. A 30 minute drive north from the city of Agadir, you can either visit as a day trip, or spend a few days enjoying the laid back lifestyle that the town offers. 

To get to Taghazout from Marrakech, head to Agadir by bus on the South West coast of Morocco (either Supratours or CTM will get you there). From Agadir, head north to Taghazout either via a shared Grand taxi, your own private car, or a local bus. Shared transport will of course be the most cost effective, but may take longer if you need to wait for the grand taxi to fill up!

For the yogis - as goes with many surf towns, there is also a ton of yoga offerings here, which of course I loved. Yoga classes are offered daily by multiple places throughout the day, so you wont have to worry about trying to find a class to suit your style or schedule!

For the surfers – there are many beaches near Taghazout that offer great surf breaks, one of the better-known being Banana point/beach. Watch the tide schedule and get a lesson or rent your gear and transport from one of the many surf shops in town, and enjoy some great surf waves. As a very mediocre surfer myself – I got pounded by some waves here, so for the more experienced (which isn’t hard to be, compared to my skills) be sure to take a day to ride the waves here, or catch an amazing sunset on the water.

Speaking of sunsets, Taghazout offers a very unique place to watch the sunset – its skate park. Sitting atop the hill overlooking the town, it is the local spot to watch the sunset and skateboarders alike showing off their skills as they ‘ride the wave’ in the skate park. Other great places to watch the sunset include from the water on your surfboard, or one of the many restaurants and cafes that line the beachfront.

For a day or weekend trip from Taghazout, take a ride to another lesser-known town to the north, Essouira. The towns name translates to ‘little picture’ in Arabic, and as its location on the Atlantic Ocean would suggest, it’s an artists dream. It has a vibrant white and blue medina, colorful port, and long, wide beach perfect for sunbathing. Similar to Taghazout, you will find many surf shops and waves awaiting your board.

To get the most of the laid back lifestyle – plan to stay in the Taghazout area for a few days, though if you are in a time crunch, a day trip from Agadir would suffice.