The waves of Essaouira: a paradise for surfers 

Essaouira or the city of the trade winds has been attracting windsurfing and kitesurfing enthusiasts for many years. This is because the wind blows frequently in this region. It is also a small paradise for surfers! Only a few hours from France and Europe, access is easy since direct flights are offered with an arrival either at the local airport (30 minutes by car), that of Marrakech (2 hours) or Agadir (3 hours). From Essaouira Bay to Sidi Kaouki and Moulay Bouzerktoun, the waves are surfable all year round, although more present and bigger in winter.

Weather in Essaouira: plan your surf session

Regarding the temperatures in Essaouira, the air is around 25 ° in summer and 15 ° in winter; as for the water, it varies from 17 to 21 ° all year round. Even if it is never too cold, remember to bring your full body suit of at least 3 / 2mm in summer and 5 /3mm from October. Indeed, it’s always good to favor warmth over coolness when you’re on the water for a good while!

The ideal for experienced surfers is to come to the Essaouira region during the winter, in search of more consistent and regular waves. For those who surf less often or are just starting out, it is quite possible to come also in autumn and winter, but if you are looking for smaller waves, it is preferable to discover Essaouira in spring or summer (until August).

What to do in Essaouira outside the surf sessions?

Essaouira and its region are well known by fans of surfing and water sports, but many tourists passionate about Moroccan architecture also come to stay there. A visit to the medina of Essaouira (old town), protected by its XIII century ramparts, is undoubtedly the most beautiful thing to discover here.

On the other hand, enjoy beautiful walks on foot, camel, horseback, quad bike or mountain bike, because the Moroccan beaches deserve to be trod while admiring the horizon.The serene fishing villages of Sidi Kaouki (located 12 km south of Essaouira) and Moulay Bouzerktoun (25 km north) are worth mentioning for their peaceful atmosphere, away from the hustle and bustle.

And after surfing, relax in one of the many spas in the city of Essaouira, relaxation is an integral part of Moroccan culture.

For gourmands and even for others besides, taste the local cuisine, it’s delicious! Enjoy a couscous, a tagine or a pastilla in one of the local restaurants, the choice is huge!

Choose the surfing level adapted to your experience

The ION CLUB Essaouira center, open all year round, offers both introductory surf lessons as for the advanced level surfer who surfs small waves, passing through the intermediary who only surfs foams. 

Private courses (4 people / instructor), semi-private (2 people / instructor) and private, you have several options to learn and progress in surfing.

Surfing equipment: essential equipment and recommendations

Surfing equipment has developed markedly over the past several years, especially floats for beginners since it is strongly advised to use a foam board today (soft board), lighter and which hurts less in case of shock (for yourself or the surfers around you). Other advantages are that it is stronger than a 100% resin board and more accessible with better buoyancy and significant stability. It is also a board that accompanies you in the first foams but also in small waves to fuel your progress. The softboards are from 7 to 9 feet for beginners, it all depends on your height and weight, but there are also smaller ones.

Another choice of surfboard to evolve, opt for a mini Malibu, it is a little smaller than a longboard and more maneuverable, and less fast so as not to be at the level of sliding during your first “real” waves. This wider board, correcting your placement errors on the float, allows you to evolve smoothly. The mini Malibu has a length of around 8 feet.

Finally, a more experienced surfer will take his waves on other types of boards such as the shortboard for very good riders, the fish, the hybrid and the egg for intermediate levels at a good level, and finally the longboard for “old school” surf enthusiasts.

Surfing safety: tips for safe practice

There are more and more of us on the surf spots, summer and winter, which is why knowing the priority rules such as learning about the configuration of a spot and the weather is to be taken seriously!

For your safety, generally start on a surf spot with a sandy bottom, choose instead to go there at low tide, when the sea or the ocean then begins to rise. Also gauge the currents, the wind speed if there are any, avoid stormy weather, and start by surfing the mosses if you still have difficulty standing up. Above all, don’t overestimate yourself!

Regarding the rules between surfers, one of the first bases is not to try to take a wave if another person is already on it, the latter having surely done his take-off before you (get into a standing position on his board) as close as possible to the inside (area close to the impact of the wave). Another important base, go up to the peak (where the wave starts to break) from the side (when possible, where the wave no longer rolls) so as not to disturb the surfers who are just on a wave. Of course, remember to attach a leash to your board to always have it close to you once on the water and never let go of it when you get stirred up by the waves in order to avoid any collision with another float or another surfer.

The best surf spots in Essaouira

The spots of the bay of Essaouira

With its 5 kilometers of beach, the Essaouira Bay spot is ideal for all surfers. The Mogador islands hold back the swell from the open sea and only let through pretty waves that roll down to Tagharte, the main beach of Essaouira. Here, it is a secure place with sandy bottoms almost everywhere and without rocks at the water’s edge. The ION CLUB Essaouira center also has its structure south of Tagharte beach with its surf school, and offers board rental … With such supervision, you will necessarily have a super pleasant surfing holiday in Essaouira and finally be able to ride with confidence!

Further south of the city of Essaouira but still in the bay, there is another beach named Diabat. Here, it is not supervised unlike Tagharte, and you can find pebbles at the bottom of the water. However, the waves are more present because the beach is clear of any obstacle. To access it, you will be forced to go through a track, so the car is mandatory.

Moulay Bouzerktoun

For lovers of bigger waves, it is advisable to go surfing at least once in Moulay Bouzerktoun, a small fishing village located 25 km north of Essaouira. The waves that break can sometimes be very impressive, which is why your surfing level must already be good, or even very good when beautiful conditions are announced. Check with the locals before getting into the water because here it is not sand but a lot of rocks, and the wind can blow (especially in summer) very hard.

Sidi Kaouki

This time south of Essaouira, 20 minutes by car, the 4 surf spots of Sidi Kaouki are to be experienced if you are in the region. The village has a sandy beach about 4 kilometers long, there is a lot of space on the water and therefore more peaks. Distrust all the same because the currents are sometimes strong, don’t go alone!  Sidi Kaouki is one of the best spots in the region, and it is best to go there in the morning before the wind picks up.

As you will have understood, surfing in Morocco is part of the local culture with its multitude of spots! Don’t wait any longer, come and taste the waves of Essaouira and its region, you will remember it for the rest of your life!

Surf lessons and schools in Essaouira: where to learn?

The ION CLUB Essaouira center is situated in an ideal location on the expansive beach of the bay, to the south, in close proximity to the most accessible surf spot in the area.

 Regardless of your level, the instructors will be able to introduce you to surfing or help you progress, whether in a group lesson, in a semi-private internship or even on your own to evolve even faster.

ION CLUB has a wide choice of equipment adapted to your physique and your level.

Obviously, there are other surf clubs in Essaouira and Sidi Kaouki who will clearly supervise you and take care of you just as much as our center!

Tips for an unforgettable stay in Essaouira

In order to have an ideal and unforgettable stay in Essaouira, start by booking on the period that suits you best, based on your surfing level and the expected temperatures depending on the time of year. Direct flights are chartered to come to Essaouira, and if your plane lands in Marrakech, take advantage of 48 hours to discover the most famous city in Morocco. Another tip, if you are at the hotel, choose the breakfast option alone rather than half board or full board, because it’s really worth it to savor Moroccan gastronomy in one of the local restaurants, knowing that the budget for eating is much less important than in Europe.

And finally, try the Moroccan massages and hammams, you are in one of the best countries for this … after a good surfing session, it is very appreciable!