The Taghazout Surf Beaches

Taghazout was a small fishing village and became the centre of surfing in Morocco because of what lies on either side of it: a run of right-hand point breaks peeling off rocky headlands, with sandy bays in between. Anchor Point is the best known, a long wall that works on a decent winter swell; Panorama, Hash Point, Killer Point and the beach break at Banana are the other names you hear. Between sessions the village is a scatter of flat-roofed houses, board hire shops and cafés above the sand, and the wider bay to the south has been rebuilt as a resort development. Beginners learn on the softer beach breaks further north.

The landscape

• Anchor Point - the long right-hand point break that made the village known.
• Banana Beach - the sandy bay south of the village where beginners learn.
• The headlands - rock points and coves you can walk between at low tide.
• The fishing boats - blue skiffs still launched off the beach in the village.

When to go

The surf season runs from October to April, when Atlantic swells arrive and the point breaks work; that is also when the town is fullest and lessons cost most. Summer is flat, hot and better for swimming than surfing. Mornings are usually cleanest before the wind picks up. Book accommodation early over the winter holidays.

What to expect

The village is small and has been overwhelmed by surf tourism, so the water is crowded at the good points and drop-ins are common. The beach itself is not beautiful, with rocky sections and litter, and building work along the bay is ongoing. Board hire and lesson prices are negotiable and quoted high to newcomers. The water is cold enough to want a wetsuit most of the year.

Nearby

Paradise Valley is inland on the Immouzzer road, and Agadir's long city beach is a short drive south.