If you dream of swimming in the ocean at least once in your life and choose Morocco to do it… you’ll probably be very disappointed. Here’s why.
Traveling to Morocco: go everywhere, just not to the beach
Vacationing in Morocco is the perfect choice if you love immersing yourself in Mediterranean culture and the traditions of a country rich in history. But if you want to spend part of your stay at the beach, you might be better off choosing a different destination.
Morocco, in fact, isn’t particularly known for the beauty of its waters, even though many guidebooks talk about crystal-clear seas and unforgettable beaches. Among the countless reasons why Morocco is one of the most sought-after destinations, full of charm, culture, traditions, colors and scents, beach tourism is probably last on the list. At least, it is for Lisa, a tour operator who knows every corner of Morocco.
Beyond those endless stretches of water that make up the Atlantic Ocean, which washes most of Morocco’s coastline, there’s nothing more beautiful than what you’d already find along Europe’s Mediterranean shores. Instead, you’ll find almost nothing but icy water and strong wind.
Beaches in Morocco: why aren’t they a great choice?
Most of Morocco’s coastline, from Tangier all the way south to the border with Mauritania, faces the Atlantic Ocean, while the Mediterranean washes the stretch from Tangier to Saïdia, in the north of the country.
The waters of the Atlantic Ocean are cold all year round, with high waves and strong winds. These beaches are great for surfers, but much less appealing to anyone who’d like to spend a few hours relaxing in the sun or swimming.
For this second type of traveler, there is one city that comes close to the classic, busy Mediterranean beach resorts you may know from Italy or Spain. That city is Agadir, on Morocco’s southern Atlantic coast at the foot of the Anti-Atlas mountains: a tourist town with a large crescent-shaped beach.
Agadir has a lively nightlife, with plenty of cafés, bars, restaurants and clubs that make it a popular spot for swimming and beach vacations, along with its equipped beaches, hotels, resorts and many golf courses. Agadir’s kasbah was destroyed by the 1960 earthquake and later rebuilt, so it’s a new town where many hotels have sprung up.
Agadir’s beach sits on a bay, which is why the wind blows much less strongly than in places like Essaouira, which is very windy and therefore not recommended for a beach day.
Although Agadir is a mass-tourism destination, the atmosphere is very calm and relaxed, and you’ll also find wilder beaches at Aghroud, Aourir and Tifnit.
In general, along the entire Atlantic coast the sea is very rough, very cold and very windy. The exception is northern Morocco, where the Mediterranean is much calmer and warmer than the ocean. On these beaches, however, only local tourism is allowed because wearing a swimsuit is forbidden, so tourists can’t really use them unless they’re willing to stay dressed and lie under a beach umbrella.
Morocco’s sea and beaches: which ones to choose?
When you think of Morocco, beaches are certainly not the first thing that comes to mind. But if you visit Morocco between May and October, you might find the climate very humid and not want to give up a swim in the sea.
With 1,900 kilometers (about 1,180 miles) of beaches, Morocco offers a choice of seaside resorts that can still give vacationers pleasant moments and gorgeous sunsets. But where should you go to the beach in Morocco to see the most beautiful beaches?
In Morocco you can visit one of the many beaches not yet overrun by mass tourism, because these seaside spots aren’t very popular. That makes them a real treat for anyone who wants to relax away from the crowds and the nightlife.
The northern regions of Morocco face the Alboran Sea, the westernmost part of the Mediterranean, between Spain and Morocco. This coast is dotted with little-known beaches that are hard to reach, and all the more fascinating for those who persevere and find them. Among them are the beaches of Nador and Al Hoceima.
If you want to go to the beach on Morocco’s Atlantic Coast and dive into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, you’ll find better-known seaside towns like El Jadida or the already mentioned Essaouira. Here the water is colder, with long waves that surfers love.
Finally, along the coast of Western Sahara, you’ll find bays sheltered from the wind and historic medinas. Washed by the Atlantic Ocean, this coastline has a typical desert landscape, with vast expanses of sand stretching all the way to the sea. There are also small sandy islands and long, sheltered peninsulas with turquoise waters. Dakhla is the best-known beach destination in Western Sahara, followed by Oualidia and Imsouane, south of Essaouira.
Not far from the border with Western Sahara lies perhaps Morocco’s most famous beach, and certainly its most photographed: Legzira, thanks to its huge stretch of golden sand, made even more striking by the contrast with the white foam of the waves. Famous for its red arch, which collapsed in 2016, the beach still has two other impressive and very scenic rock arches.
Lisa Florian
Lisa
