A turquoise right-hander wave that stretches out 800 meters long, with views of the Atlas Mountains and, in the distance, the sounds of the call to prayer coming out of the minarets. So much magic in one, that can only be in Imsouane. Let me explain all about how to get there, where to stay, where to get boards, and everything you need to know about Surfing the Magic Bay of Imsouane in Morocco.
When I saw the crazy promo from Ryanair of 10,- roundtrip flights from Malaga to Agadir, I waited no longer and immediately got two tickets. We´d been wanting to go and surf in Morocco forever, but the borders were closed for a long time due to COVID-19. Though we still had to take a PCR test (this is not needed now anymore when you´re vaccinated) we decided to go for 10 days in search of those magic waves.
Though Imsouane is not a secret to surfers, how to get there and where to stay still holds some mysteries 😉
Located about 2.5 hours north of Agadir airport, Imsouane is still a slightly quiet fisherman village. I say slightly, because also here, the surf hostels and schools are slowly picking up. However, it´s still rather hard to reach, making it a lot more quiet than Taghazout for example. There is literally not much more to do than surf, surf, surf, chill in the sun and enjoy the good foods.
The surf (because that´s what you really care about?!)
Imsouane is still a unique experience, human-sized and close to the local community. You can buy fish from the local fishermen at the port and go grill it in one of the small restaurants that look out over the spot. Or go explore the surrounding cliffs on foot. Or, just sit and watch the sea for hours and hours in a row.
The most famous spot is called ´the Bay´, the famous 800m long righthander wave that comes peeling in softly and slowly. On small days perfect for longboarders and on big days still doable for those not yet professional. This point break works best at low tide/mid tide, with a combination of North/East wind. With its sandy bottom, it is suitable for all levels.
The other peak is called ´Cathedral´ and is stronger and better for intermediates. This spot is a point break exposed to West, North/West swells. It works best at the rising tide, with beautiful rights and lefts. The east wind is ideal for creating amazing tubular waves. In the case of big swells, this is the spot to go for experienced surfers. When the swell is small, it´s also accessible to beginners and intermediates.
Bring your board or rent a board?
The choice is up to you! We brought both of our boards together in one board bag, and paid for the transport on the airplane just once. If you are going for a short time and are alone, renting a board might be an option for you. Most rentals are around 80 dirhams a day and it allows you to switch boards depending on the swell. (I still rented a longboard for some days, since the swell went down a bit).
Where to stay?
There are many different options. There are beautiful surf camps with private rooms and lookouts over the bay, like Olo surf or Imi Bay. Of course, these are also the pricier options.
We stayed in a small guesthouse, Tooda House (Instagram here), run by the lovely Houdette. It included a daily breakfast which was, to say the least, absolutely amazing, served on the terrace from where you can check the waves at the Bay!!! From there it was a 7-minute walk down to the peak.
On the main street, there are several small restaurants and little shops to buy your basic groceries. Be aware that there is no ATM and there is (with the exception of one) no place to pay by card (come prepared!!!). We basically ate every day at the ´Brothers´, a little food truck with absolutely fantastic veggie sandwiches! And the brothers are amazing sweethearts!
How to get there?
Unfortunately, no busses are going all the way from Agadir or Taghazout to Imsouane. Your best bet is to take private transport which should be around 500 dirhams from Agadir airport. This is one way, and at this moment of time, 500 Dirham is about 50 euro. Most taxis have a way to transport boards on top of their cars. We ended up sharing a taxi with a bunch of locals. We also asked for a spot where we had read that provided shuttles between Taghazout and Imsouane at some point.
Aapparently, this is not done anymore (some vague reasons were given) and in general we were not treated very nicely when we asked them in their shop either. So that was a no. Of course, there is also the option to rent a car at Agadir airport. This way you are more flexible in your search for other peaks in the area as well. Unfortunately, I do not have much info on car rentals and their prices.
With this, I hope to have given you all the information you need about Surfing the Magic Bay of Imsouane in Morocco. And so, I can only say: pack your bags, and prepare for wanting to stay in Imsouane indefinitely!
In case you´re interested to read more about surfing, in Spain for example. See here.
