7 Top Taghazout Beaches for Surfers & Non-Surfers

Taghazout sits on Morocco’s Atlantic coast about 20km north of Agadir city. It’s wedged between the russet hills of the anti-Atlas mountains and the open Atlantic Ocean. Given those facts, it’s hardly a surprise that it’s drawn surfers from across Europe and beyond since the hippie trail days of the 1960s, and continues to be one of the top surf towns in Morocco to this day.

The village itself is small and dense – a labyrinth of whitewashed walls, surf shops, tagine-scented cafés, and rooftop terraces stacked up above a little fishing harbor. That lords over countless beaches, which often double as world-class surf spots.

They lie to both the north and south, but the general rule is that the south – towards Tamraght – is more suited to beginner surfers, while the north – towards Imsouane – gets better for more experienced surfers chasing those regional right hand point breaks.

Most people come for the waves, and we can see why, but there’s a full range of beach experiences here too. You can get sun-trap coves sheltered from the afternoon trade winds, wide resort-backed bays for those after sunbeds and chilling, and breezy beaches with wild hiking paths behind them.

This guide takes a look at the lot, to offer seven of the finest beaches in Taghazout beaches for all sorts of travelers.

>>Read our in-depth guide to surfing in Taghazout right now

Beaches to the south of Taghazout

Plage Taghazout

This is the main town beach and the one you see on most pictures of Taghazout. It’s the one with the colorful fishing boats hauled up on the sand, the white-and-ochre village rising behind, and a long beach curling away to the south.

It’s broken into two bits. The northern section, directly below the old village, is the more local-feeling stretch. It has a lovely lively buzz, especially at sunset, but it’s also a bit crammed in.

Walk south around the little rocky outcrop at the end of the village and things open out. This is the main stretch of Taghazout Beach, which rolls on for like a mile or more to the south. You can join the Corniche walkway there to get down to a very wide bit of sand where families and sunbathers gather en masse throughout the main season.

There are now a few big-name resorts behind the beach, which I personally thing look a bit ugly. On the flip side they offer easy accom options for families, and good access to the waves, which are generally not great quality but good for total beginners.

The surf? There are waves along most of Plage Taghazout, but it’’’s not the standout surf beach in the region. Most of it is beginner territory: Soft, sand-bottomed rollers and whitewater that attract surf schools in big numbers. However, belwo the Surf Berbere café towards the northern end of the beach, some hollower rights can pop up that will keep intermediate surfers happy when conditions align.

Tamraght Beach

Tamraght Beach is basically the southern continuation of greater Taghazout Bay, but it has its own identity because it serves Tamraght village, which has turned into one of the main learner-surf bases on this whole coast.

The beach itself is a long, broad, uninterrupted stripe of sand, backed in parts by newer development, golf courses that must take an unholy amount of water to keep going, and a run of big-name resorts. It’s all more polished than the old village in Taghazout proper.

It’s very easy to reach by car or taxi from Taghazout in under 10 minutes, and if you’re staying in Tamraght you can simply walk down from the village lanes to get to the sand/surf. Facilities are good without being overwhelming. There are surf schools, cafés, board hire, and hotels all close by, though the beach still feels open enough to spread out.

Crowds build because this is beginner central, but they’re usually the padded-foam-board sort rather than the aggressive sort. For non-surfers, it’s a good option for beach walks, and has plenty of room to sit without feeling hemmed in.

The surf? This is one of the better places around Taghazout for absolute beginners. The sandy setup, the forgiving sand bottom, and the sheer number of surf schools based nearby all make Tamraght more generally a natural learner zone.

 Imourane Beach

Imourane is one of the nicest all-round beaches in the whole Taghazout orbit, and definitely one of the better ones in Tamraght. It sits at the southern end of the long Taghazout-Tamraght stretch, but it feels quite different because the beach pinches into a more defined cove and is flanked by rocky outcrops, one of them the famous Devil’s Rock (the perfect sunset spot!).

That gives the place more shape and more character than the big open runs to the north. There’s usually a good social mix here. Carparks are packed with surf vans, but you also get day-tripping Moroccan families out of Agadir. The vibe is busy, yes, but normally in a cheerful way, and localism is not really a thing from my experience.

It’s easy to reach from Taghazout in about 10 minutes by taxi or car, and there’s roadside parking plus paths down over the sand. A handful of cafés and rental spots nearby mean you’re not stranded, but it still feels less resorty than the core Taghazout Bay hotel zone or nearby Tamraght.

The surf? This is one of the classic beginner slash intermediate beaches near Taghazout. Devil’s Rock gets both lefts and rights over sand, and one reason people like it is that it can stay a touch cleaner when northerly wind starts affecting more open beaches.

Banana Beach

Banana Beach is where the coastline re-wilds itself a little. About 15 minutes south of Taghazout by car, and closer to the lovely little village center of Aourir, the hotel-and-resort strip drops away and you get a beach with more breathing space.

The backdrop is mainly the dry hills and scrub of the anti-Atlas, with whitewashed village homes clinging to them here and there. You’re hardly in the middle of nowhere, though – Agadir is closer and there are still roadside cafés with mint tea on offer on the shoreline.

The beach itself is a good-looking sweep of sand, broad enough for good sunbathing setups and walking. It tends to attract surfers, campervans, and people who want a more laid-back beach day without the full village bustle.

Access is straightforward off the coastal road, with parking on offer above and paths leading straight down to the sand.

The surf? The headline act is Banana Point, a mellow-ish right-hander that peels off the reef and headland and is often more protected from northerly wind than the beaches nearby. It’s one of the more forgiving right points in the area, and great for logs when it smaller, though stronger swell can still bring rips and some good punch so check the forecast properly.

Beaches to the north of Taghazout

Madraba Beach

Head north out of Taghazout and the coast almost immediately starts to feel rougher and emptier. It’s the area I like the most for beach hopping personally, just because there aren’t as many big hotels keeping watch behind.

Madraba Beach is also a big reason why I like this run. This is the strand that runs up from the world-famous Anchor Point, and although a bit more accommodation has crept into the zone over recent years, it still feels notably less developed than further south.

You park beside or just off the road, shoulder your stuff, and wander down through the dunes. The beach itself is broad and open, looking straight west out to the Atlantic. The hills rise steep behind to help cut down the winds, and there’s usually lots of space. Just be wary of rips and big currents – part of the reason this section of coast is so famous for surf is because it gets thwacked by swell all winter long.

Bring your own water, snacks, and shade if you’re planning to linger.

The surf? There can be decent beach peaks along Madraba itself, but the star is unquestiobaly Anchor Point on its southern end. That wave is one of Africa’s most celebrated rights, breaking off rock shelf and reef into long walls that can run for hundreds of metres on the right swell. It’s advanced surfers only really but great to watch.

La Source Beach

La Source is sort of the quieter, slightly tucked-away cousin to Anchor/Madraba Beach. It’s effectively the northern end of that same stretch of coastline, sat just north of a little coast hotel apartment block thingy.

What I like about it is that it feels just hidden enough to escape the full circus, while still being close to the action – you’re still under 10 minutes out of the heart of Taghazout town, which is cool.

The beach has a bit of a small feel, with cliffs rising high above and helping to shield sections from the wind, especially when there’s north in it. That makes it a very good shout for lying out, reading a book, or simply getting a beach fix on days when the more exposed sands like the main Plage Taghazout are being ruffled to bits by Morocco’s endless gusts.

Access is by the main coast road and then a short walk down. Facilities are limited compared to central Taghazout, so think of this more as a beach for people who are happy with a lower-key setup rather than a full-service day with sunbeds and the like.

The surf? La Source is a proper point setup and it can be excellent. It’s usually considered a step down in intensity from Anchor, but only relatively speaking. On solid swell it still turns into an experienced-surfer wav. On a cleaner mid-sized day, though, it can be a very appealing alternative for strong intermediates and above.

Imi Ouaddar

Imi Ouaddar is upcoming as a bit of an alternative to Taghazout as a base for surfing the main point breaks along this bit of Morocco. It’s about 10 to 15 minutes north by car, and while it’s certainly no secret anymore, it remains less polished and less hassled than the main village beaches.

The bay is wide, sandy, and easy on the eye – the odd camel here, Atlas foothills kicking up to the east. There are places to stay here and a holiday park in the area, but you don’t get the same density of touts, surf shops, and general noise as in Taghazout proper, largely because it’s more focused on domestic Moroccan tourism than the international crowd.

It’s definitely got the makings of a proper resort area, since the sand is soft and powdery, a few hotels put sunbeds out, and you won’t have to go far from the shoreline to the center of town to get a tagine/mint tea.

On top of that, it’s bascally just as good as a base for getting out and surfing spots like Anchor and Killers as Taghazout is, so watch this space!

The surf? Imi Ouaddar has its own beach peaks, but the bigger draw for surfers is strategic since you’re well placed for La Source, Anchor, and especially Killer Point.