Continent
Africa
Country
Morocco
Next Big City
Agadir, Marrakesh
Next Town
Essaouira
 
Type:
Ocean
Rider Ability:
Intermediate, Expert
Features:
Food, Parking

Water

Type:
Small wave, Medium wave, Big wave
Hazards:
Reefs
Quality:
Cloudy
Best Tide:
No information

Waves with potentially imposing shore-break. Flat sections between sets, waves can become quite large - have had sessions that were 4-5 meter faces. Tide - big impact, difference can be almost 70m. Low tide, smaller quicker waves, high tide, bigger waves. Incoming tide, biggest waves. Careful on spot selection, since in certain areas there can be flat reef bed right near shore (not dangerous, unless you have to jump one meter from shoreline). Moulay is really a good wave spot but it's very difficult: to begin, prefer Essaouira. Watch out when walking over the reef plates for deeper holes. In summer the waves are not as good as during the rest of the year.

Beach

Type:
Sand
Size:
Big
Hazards:
Rocks
Beach Users:
None

Ideal. Absolutely no one around for miles, so don't go alone. Huge and wide, rocks are far apart for miles and are highly visible. Preferable go to the North of Moulay.

Weather

Spring:
Normal
Summer:
Normal
Fall:
Normal
Winter:
Normal

Temperatures range between 18°C in January to 25°C in August. The daytime average temperature in Marrakech in June, July and August can often be 12-18°C higher than Essaouira. Water, always on the cool side, around 16°C. 3mm long wetsuit required.

Wind

Best Months:
May, June, July, August, September
Wind Type:
Thermal, Trade
Best Direction:
No information
Main Direction:
No information

The wind pattern tends to be similar to that of the Canary Islands. The summer trade winds are accelerated by strong thermal action particularly during the spring and early summer when temperatures inland can be very hot. Generally the wind increases throughout the morning and by mid afternoon can often be blowing a solid 6-7 Bft. Between the months of October to April, Atlantic storms produce large swells which offer excellent wave conditions all the way up and down the coast from Oualidia to Agadir. The winds, however, are a little less consistent and predictable in direction although it should usually be possible to either surf or kitesurf on most days during the winter at or within a 25km radius of Essaouira. Heavy trade winds - esp in summer. Steady wind.



How to get there

Transport
Car
Access
Short walk

How to get to Essaouira by bus: you can take the CTM luxury bus lines or less expensive bus lines that operate from Casablanca and Agadir. From Marrakesh, the best option is to take the railway owned company Supratours that runs a bus from the train station in Marrakesh to the center of Essaouira. Taxi: it is worth taking a taxi from the airport or from the bus station since it is not too expensive. The grand taxi lot is next to the bus station. You can also take a petit taxi to get around town. Own car: you need 4wheel drive, and need to know how to drive 4wheels. Alternative is to park normal car on road, then walk down to beach, 20 minutes. Tough to do at the end of the day, worn out from kite session, with equipment, uphill, on rough terrain. To get there, drive past Moulay coming from Essaouira, pick a spot anywhere from 8.4 kms to 15kms north of Moulay sign. Careful if you want to drive down from main road with 4wheel drive, some of the land plots are private with occasionally feisty owners (when they are around).

Extra information

Rules
Other

Just take care which plot of land to cross down via 4wheel drive, to avoid complications from a land ownders. Don't go alone - if something happens to you, no one will know. No infrastructure whatsoever. Camping with a car on the beach forbidden.

Nightlife

No nightlife.