A PARADISE FOR ALL SURFERS
The Moroccan coast is renowned for its many surf spots, but if you’re familiar with African waves, you’ve probably heard of a spot called “The Bay”, also known as “Imsouane” by many surfers around the world.
The village of Imsouane
A longboarder’s paradise, the village of Imsouane plage is nestled between two bays on the northwest coast of Africa. When the conditions align, Imsouane has the distinction of being home to one of the longest waves in the world, so we prefer to warn you: you might just have the surf session of your life 😉
Imsouane is a small fishing village located between Essaouira and Agadir, which (despite its growing popularity) has managed to preserve its natural environment and retain its authentic, surf village atmosphere.
The village offers two surf spots: on one side is “La Cathédrale”, a beach break ending in a point, which works best at high tide. On the other is the world-famous “La Baie” spot, offering endless straights at low tide, with the best wave at high tide and medium swell with a long period.
A day of surfing in Imsouane
Departure for a day trip to Imsouane is ideally early in the morning, so as not to miss the low tide. Schedule permitting, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a sunrise yoga class to wake up the body and a delicious breakfast to replenish your energy. It’s best to arrive in La Baie at mid-tide, when conditions are best and the magic begins to happen. The road will give you a taste of the Souss countryside, with its endless fields of argan trees alternating with desert landscapes. On the way, we cross Tamri, an estuary where some of the region’s finest bananas and mandarins are produced.
As soon as you arrive in Imsouane, you can admire La Baie from the cliffs and watch the swell lines appear, arriving from the ocean and rolling to the bottom of the bay. It’s usually at this moment that the excitement starts to build, and you can already imagine yourself surfing the wave that never seems to stop.
Arrival on the spot
On arrival, we park opposite “La Baie”, one of Morocco’s most legendary spots. At this time of day, activity is in full swing, with surfers and fishermen bustling around their favorite playground: the ocean. After a brisk walk along the rocky cliffs, we all gather to watch the waves roll in, trying to read and understand the spot and currents before getting in the water.
In ideal conditions, we’re at mid-tide ebb, the sun is shining, a light offshore breeze is smoothing the water, and luckily there’s not too much current. All the elements are in place for a magical session.
Surfing the bay’s long straights
At low tide, the best way in (for experienced surfers) is along the harbor breakwater – you can then walk almost to the line-up if the tide is low enough. Since there’s a lot of rowing in La Baie, a little walking will help you conserve energy for the surfing session ahead. Beginners will set off on the next section near the shore. There will be waves for all levels, the main advice for safe fun being to respect priorities as the surf spot can get very crowded. If you manage to catch the right wave, it could take you to the very end of the bay, one of those waves you remember for the rest of your life. In that case, there’s no other option but to get out of the water and back to the line-up (10 to 15 minutes’ walk, but well worth the 2 minutes’ ride).
The port of Imsouane
The port of Imsouane is a typical one, with the traditional blue boats of fishermen just back from their fishing session. The smell of fish is usually strong, and will immerse you in the village atmosphere. Don’t miss the fish market, where, if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to watch the fish being auctioned.
Once out of the water, it’s time for a well-deserved lunch in one of the local restaurants overlooking the ocean. Grilled fish is obviously the dish not to be missed, accompanied by a Moroccan salad and home fries, to be enjoyed under the sun, watching the waves roll in.
Just enough time to refuel and digest, then we’re back in the water for the second session of the day (for the bravest 😉)
Back to surfcamp
The return journey will be filled with memories and a feeling of gratitude after a day full of emotion (and effort), rewarded by a delicious traditional Moroccan dinner concocted by expert hands, around which the surfers share their experience of a day they’ll never forget.
Book your vacation with Zen Surf now and get the chance to surf in this little piece of paradise on the North African coast.
NB: days at Imsouane can easily be organized directly on site with our staff. This spot is well beyond our normal radius of action (1h40 drive), so there’s an extra charge of €30/person to get there.
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