Essaouira SURF

LEARN AND RIDE KITESURF, SURF AND Wing-foil in ESSAOUIRA MOROCCO

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Learn the basics and feel the rush of riding your first wave on Essaouira's pristine beach

ESSAOUIRA SURF

ESSAOUIRA KITESURF

Learn the basics and experience the freedom of gliding across the water powered by the wind

ESSAOUIRA WING-FOIL

Learn the basics and enjoy the latest water-sport sensation

OUR PACKAGES

ESSAOUIRA KITESURF PACKAGE (295€)

ESSAOUIRA SURF PACKAGE (165€)

ESSAOUIRA WING-FOIL PACKAGE (320€)

ESSAOUIRA

Essaouira is a charming coastal city located on the western coast of Morocco, facing the Atlantic Ocean. The city is known for its distinctive blue and white architecture, influenced by Portuguese, French, and Berber styles. Its medina (old town) is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Essaouira's combination of reliable winds, diverse spots, and vibrant culture makes it an excellent destination for water sports enthusiasts, especially those interested in kitesurfing and windsurfing.

Essaouira offers a more relaxed and bohemian atmosphere compared to larger Moroccan cities, making it a favorite among travelers looking for a blend of culture, history, and coastal charm.

The best surfing and kitesurfing spots in Essaouira?

The Waves of Essaouira

Essaouira, the pearl of Morocco’s Atlantic coast, offers a unique experience for surfing enthusiasts. With its vast golden sand beaches, relaxed atmosphere and consistent waves, the city has become a must-see for surfing enthusiasts. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced surfer, Essaouira offers a variety of spots to suit all levels.

From the gentler waves of Essaouira Bay to the more exhilarating challenges of Moulay Bouzerktoun, the diversity of spots means there’s something for everyone. Add to that the city’s rich culture and bohemian charm, and you have an exceptional surfing destination, where adventure on the waves blends harmoniously with the captivating charm of the medina.

Moulay Bouzerktoun

Located a few kilometers north of Essaouira, Moulay Bouzerktoun is a world-renowned spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing. The powerful waves and constant winds also make it a popular spot for surfers. The laid-back atmosphere and wild beauty of this place make it a unique experience.

Sidi Kaouki

About 25 kilometers south of Essaouira, Sidi Kaouki offers a wide beach and consistent waves. It is an ideal spot for beginner surfers, but it also offers interesting conditions for more experienced surfers. The relaxed atmosphere of this fishing village adds to the charm of the experience.

Cap Yes

Located north of Essaouira, Cap Sim offers quality waves for experienced surfers. It is a less crowded spot, which allows amateurs to enjoy a more peaceful experience while facing more powerful waves.

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Surfing in Essaouira: the ultimate guide

The Waves of Essaouira: A surfer’s paradise 🏄‍♂️

The Waves of Essaouira: A surfer’s paradise or `the city of the trade winds` has been attracting windsurf and kitesurf enthusiasts for many years, as the wind frequently blows in this region. However, it is also a little paradise for surfers! Only a few hours from France and Europe, it is easy to get to with direct flights to either the local airport (30 minutes by car), Marrakech (2 hours) or Agadir (3 hours). From Essaouira Bay to Sidi Kaouki and Moulay Bouzerktoun, the waves are surfable all year around, although more present and bigger in winter.

Weather in Essaouira: Plan your surf session

Temperatures in Essaouira are around 25° in summer and 15° in winter, while the water varies from 17° to 21° all year around. Even if it is never too cold, remember to bring your full wetsuit of at least 3/2mm in summer, and 5/3mm from October onwards. It is always a good idea to choose warmth when you are on the water for a while!

Experienced surfers should come to the Essaouira region in winter in search of more consistent waves. For those who surf less frequently or are just starting out, it is perfectly possible to come in autumn as well as in winter, but if you are looking for smaller waves then it is best to visit Essaouira in spring or summer (until August).

What to do in Essaouira besides surfing?

Essaouira and the surrounding areas are well known to surfers and water sports enthusiasts, but many tourists with a passion for Moroccan architecture also come to stay here. A visit to Essaouira’s medina (old town), protected by its 13th-century ramparts, is undoubtedly the most beautiful thing to discover here.

You can enjoy beautiful walks, camel rides, horseback riding, quad biking or mountain biking, and the Moroccan beaches deserve to be explored whilst admiring the horizon. Worth a visit are the authentic fishing villages of Sidi Kaouki (12 km south of Essaouira) and Moulay Bouzerktoun (25 km north) for their tranquility and being far from the crowds.

After surfing, unwind in one of Essaouira’s many spas as relaxation is an integral part of Moroccan culture.

For those with a sweet tooth, and even for those without, try the local cuisine – it is absolutely delicious! Treat yourself to couscous, tajine or pastilla in one of the local restaurants – the choice is immense!

Choose the surfing level to suit your experience

The WAVE'L CLUB Essaouira center is open all year around and offers both introductory surfing courses as well as courses for intermediates and the more advanced surfer.

Groups (4 people per instructor), semi-private (2 people/instructor) and private courses offer you several options for learning and progressing in surfing.

Surfing Equipment: Essential equipment and recommendations

Surfing equipment has undergone significant development over the last few years, especially beginner boards. Today it is highly recommended to use a foam board (soft board), which is lighter and less painful in the event of impact (for yourself or the surfers around you). Another advantage is that it is stronger than a 100% resin board, and more accessible, with better buoyancy and considerable stability. In fact, it is a board that can accompany you in the early stages of foam-riding, as well as in small waves to fuel your progress. Soft boards range from 7 to 9 feet for beginners, depending on your height and weight, but there are also smaller boards.

A mini Malibu is a little smaller than a longboard, but more maneuverable and slower, so you will not have to worry about going through your first “real” waves. This board is wider, correcting your placement errors on the go, and allowing you to evolve more smoothly. Mini Malibu boards are around 8 feet long.

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

Surfing Safety: Tips for safe surfing

There are more and more of us on the surf spots throughout the summer and winter, so knowing the rules of priority, and finding out about the configuration of a spot and the weather conditions is something to be taken seriously!

For your safety, generally start at a surf spot with a sandy bottom, and choose to go there at low tide when the sea or ocean begins to rise. Gauge the currents, the wind speed if there is any, avoid stormy weather, and start by surfing the foam if you are still having trouble standing up. Above all, do not overestimate yourself!

As far as rules between surfers are concerned, one of the first basics is not to try to catch a wave if someone else is already on it, as that person will probably have done his or her take-off (standing up on the board) before you, and as close as possible to the inside (the area close to the impact of the wave). Another important basic rule is to ride up to the peak (where the wave starts to break) from the side (when possible, where the wave stops rolling), so as not to disturb other surfers who are actually riding a wave. Of course, don’t forget to attach a leash to your board so that it is always close to you when you are on the water, and never let go of it when you are being tossed about by the waves, to avoid colliding with another board or surfer.

Surf lessons and schools in Essaouira: Where to learn?

The WAVEL CLUB Essaouira center is ideally located on the bay’s large beach to the south, closest to the region’s easiest surf spot. Whatever your level, the instructors will be able to introduce you to surfing or help you to progress, whether in a group lesson, a semi-private course or on your own in a private session in order to progress even faster.

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

Of course, there are other surf clubs in Essaouira and Sidi Kaouki that will take care of you just as well as our center!

Tips for an unforgettable stay in Essaouira

For an ideal and unforgettable stay in Essaouira, start by booking the period that suits you best, according to your level of surfing and the expected temperatures at the time of year. There are direct flights to Essaouira, and if your plane lands in Marrakech, take advantage of 48 hours to discover Morocco’s most famous city. Another tip: If you are staying in a hotel, choose the breakfast-only option rather than half or full board, as it is well worth savoring Moroccan gastronomy in one of the local restaurants, bearing in mind that the budget for food is much lower than in Europe.

Last but not least, try a Moroccan massage or hammam after a good surf session! You are in one of the best countries for it.