Originally a quiet fishing village, Taghazout has become one of Morocco’s surfing hotspots. If you’re flying in, the quickest way to get to Taghazout is from Agadir’s international airport. Once in Agadir, you can hire a grand taxi for the thirty-minute drive, catch a local bus at the airport or grab a bus from the larger Inezgane bus station just outside Agadir. From Marrakech, you can get to Taghazout in less than three hours, although if you’re taking local transport you’ll most likely need to go through Inezgane.

Beginners can enjoy learning to surf at Taghazout all year, but intermediate and advanced surfers will want to take advantage of the larger surf from September through April. Many European surfers head south to Taghazout during the winter for the good waves and warmer waters. Several beaches around Taghazout are good for surfing; Anchor Point, Killer’s and Boiler’s have the best waves for advanced surfers.

Taghazout is small enough to get around on foot, although you may need to hire a taxi to take you to some other nearby beaches and surf spots. The village’s tourist industry caters to the foreign surf crowd; Taghazout is considered a stop along the European surf trail. The village’s Atlantic Surf Shop offers lessons from certified instructors in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. You can rent surfboards and wetsuits at several places in Taghazout. Local tour operators can arrange horseback riding, camel riding, sailing and golfing.

The majority of accommodation in Taghazout is made up of vacation rentals and backpacker-style hostels. You can rent an entire home or apartment or simply book a bed in a hostel. Downtown Taghazout has some pubs, cafes, massage parlors and shops, although you won’t find any nightlife. Taghazout is a dry town, so if you want alcohol, you’ll need to pick some up in Agadir.

Due to its proximity to Agadir and its popularity as a surfing destination, the area is being further developed to promote foreign tourism.

Written by Heather Carreiro.

Photo by guy.p.