Imsouane, Morocco: Your Ultimate Travel Guide (2025 Edition)

Last Updated on 16th July 2025 by Jessie

Imsouane is a small, rural fishing village situated in the Souss-Massa region of Morocco. Since the 1960s, surfers from all over the world have been making the pilgrimage to Imsouane. But for many years the desert oasis remained a well-kept secret reserved for those in the know.

In recent decades, surf tourism has boomed in the seaside town, largely due to the allure of the majestic Magic Bay. These days, the cat is well and truly out of the bag and Imsouane is brimming with hostels and surf camps. Despite this, and for the time being at least (inshallah), the laid-back surf hippie vibes remain and Imsouane is well worth a stop on your Moroccan travel itinerary.

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What to Expect in Imsouane

Tourism aside, Imsouane is primarily a fishing village. The seafood market and fishing port hold prime real estate in the centre of town, sitting just to the right of Magic Bay. Each day the local fishermen dodge surfers as they navigate their wooden boats past the lineup and haul crates of sardines into the port. No easy feat.

There are a handful of local seafood restaurants within the harbour. The best seats in the house to feast on the freshest catch of the day whilst watching the surf. L’humdulilah.

As for the surf, there’s good reason why Imsouane is quickly becoming the most popular destination for surf travel in Morocco. The humble little village boasts the longest surfable wave in all of Africa. On a good day, 700m+ righthanders peel into Magic Bay, serving up consistent unbroken sets. A longboarder’s dream.

The accessibility of the wave draws in surfers of all abilities and it’s a popular spot for surf lessons. At peak times, Magic Bay can be a bit of a circus, so keep your wits and your surf etiquette about you.

On the north side of the port, you will find Cathedrals: another quality surf break with a little less notoriety. Cathedrals is a beach break more suited to intermediate and advanced surfers, offering lefts and rights with a little more power. Regardless of whether you surf or not, the abundance of waves surrounding the village offers endless hours of leisurely viewing time.

How to Get to Imsouane

There are no direct buses or trains to Imsouane, but getting there is all part of the adventure. Whether you’re coming from Agadir, Essaouira, or somewhere in between, the journey usually involves a shared taxi, private driver or a shuttle like Souk to Surf.

👉 Read the full transport guide to Imsouane.

If you’re heading north from Tamraght/Taghazout, I recommend making a pit stop in Tamri. On the main road, look out for a little street food vendor serving up fried calamari sandwiches. They easily rank in the top 5 sandwiches I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating. And I’ve had many a pleasure.

Imsouane does not have any ATMs in the village, so Tamri is also the closest place to get cash out. Many of the local restaurants and surf shops don’t accept Eftpos, so make sure you’ve got enough Dirhams for the trip.

Before you make the final descent into Imsouane, there is a viewpoint at the top of the cliff offering an epic panoramic view of the bay. Well worth stopping in, and also a great sunset location.

Day Trip to Imsouane

Most hostels and surf camps in Tamraght and Taghazout offer day trips to Imsouane. This will either be included in the package or offered as an optional extra.

Check out these posts for my top recommendations for hostels and surf camps in Tamraght.

Getting Around Imsouane

Imsouane is super small and compact, so once you’re there, you can easily get around the village on foot.

When to Visit Imsouane

Like most of the coastal Souss-Massa region, the sun shines in Imsouane most days of the year. The average annual temperature is an easy 26°. Imsouane does tend to get a little cooler than Tamraght and Taghazout thanks to the Atlantic sea breeze.

As for the surf, you can pretty much find waves in Imsouane all year round. The summer months serve up mellow baby waves perfect for beginners. Whereas, the peak surf season runs from October to June, aligning with the winter escape plans of many European neighbours. For optimum swell conditions, you want to visit between November and March.

As previously mentioned, the beans have well and truly been spilled on Imsouane. Each winter more and more tourists flock to the village for their shot at the magic wave. September and October are your best bet for avoiding crowds. Or you can simply opt for sunrise and sunset surfs to bypass the bulk of the surf schools.

Things to Do in Imsouane

Beyond the surf, Imsouane is a place to be. Take your time exploring the cliffside walks, sunbathing on the long beach, chatting to fishermen at the port, or watching the sunset over the bay. It’s small but packed with charm.

👉 See full list of the top 10 things to do in Imsouane

Surf Breaks

Magic Bay (La Baie)

Surf level: All levels.
Wave: Sandy bottom point break.
Direction: Right handers.

Undeniably, Imsouane’s claim to fame – Magic Bay. The Bay is a fan favourite for longboarders, offering a 700m+ uninterrupted ride. Plenty of time to play with some fancy footwork. But there’s fun to be had on a shortboard too; particularly on larger swells when it forms sharp little sections close to the harbour.

The Bay works best on low-mid tide. The entire beach disappears at high tide. This break is super popular for beginners, as you can pretty much walk all the way to the line-up and then jump on one of the mellow, peeling right-handers and ride it all the way into shore. From the beach, it’s a 10-minute walk back to line up to do it all again.

This wave is special, but don’t expect a piece of the magic all to yourself. It gets chaotic in The Bay, so respect priority and be considerate of others.

Cathedrals

Surf level: Intermediate to advanced.
Wave: Beach break with reef and sand.
Direction: Rights and lefts.

Whilst Cathedrals may not share the same celebrity status as The Bay, it holds its own. Situated on the northern side of the village, Cathedrals offers somewhat of an amphitheatre of waves on this open section of shoreline. Predominantly rights, with some lefts.

Cathedrals is better suited to intermediate and advanced surfers. The waves are quicker, more powerful and more technical than the mellow rides in Magic Bay. It works best on mid to high tide.

Surfboard Rental

For surfboard and wetsuit hire in Imsouane, I recommend Magic Bay Surf Shop. The prices are good and the staff are super friendly. If you’re a beginner, they will be able to kit you up with the perfect gear for the conditions of the day.

They also offer surf lessons.

See location

If you’re planning on learning to surf in Morocco, check out my top tips for beginners.

Bars & Nightlife in Imsouane

Imsouane isn’t a party town – but if you know where to look, you’ll find mellow hangouts with sunset views, cold beers, and the occasional live music night.

👉 Check out Imsouane’s bar and nightlife scene.

Where to Eat in Imsouane

From grilled fish straight off the boat to crispy msemen and avocado smoothies, the food scene in Imsouane is small but solid. There are a few great cafés for breakfast, seafood grills for dinner, and plenty of mint tea in between.

👉 Find the best cafes and restaurants in Imsouane

Where to Stay in Imsouane

Best Hostel in Imsouane

Lighthouse Imsouane

Dorm room from €20/night. Breakfast for €5 extra.

Best Private Room in Imsouane

The Moroccan Surf House

Private room from €55/night. Breakfast included.

Best Entire Apartment in Imsouane

Imsouane Surf Paradise

From €99/night. Breakfast included.

Best Surf Camps in Imsouane

If you’re in town to surf, there are a handful of excellent surf camps offering lessons, gear hire, yoga, and home-cooked meals. Whether you want to improve your technique or just relish in the fully catered experience, there’s a camp to suit your budget and style.

👉 Explore the best surf camps in Imsouane.

What Happened to Imsouane?

In January 2024, residents of Imsouane were given 24 hours’ notice to evacuate before local authorities sent in bulldozers to demolish half of the village. People scrambled to rescue their possessions and then stood and watched in disbelief as the heavy machinery rolled in and flattened their homes and livelihoods.

The destruction was soul-crushing, with over 110 houses and businesses destroyed. At least 150 people were left displaced or without an income.

Most of the destruction occurred in the Tasblast area, the oldest part of the village, where ramshackle buildings and cave houses lined the coast above Cathedrals. This was perhaps the most iconic part of Imsouane. The characteristic blue and white shanty homes were symbolic of the villages’ early evolution into a surf community.

The infrastructure was humble, representative of the soft merging between rural Moroccan culture and the surf hippie lifestyle. So, whilst half of the original buildings in Imsouane remain, the irreplaceable loss of heritage, culture and authenticity is devastating.

The official reasoning from authorities states that the structures were built on Government land and did not comply with regulations. And although that may be true, home and business owners were given no notice or opportunity to rectify the issues. Word on the grapevine is that the newly cleared, primo piece of land will be used to build large hotels. Gross.

The Future of Imsouane

This is one of the most damaging impacts of tourism and something we need to be mindful of as travellers. Whilst shockingly tragic, what happened in Imsouane is no different to that of other low-income tourist destinations like Oaxaca and Bali.

Multinational companies recognise the opportunity to make a big buck and swoop in with no consideration or respect for the local communities. Their pockets are fat enough to persuade local governments, and thus there’s no stopping them.

Large-scale development goes hand in hand with gentrification. Foreigners move in and buy up local real estate, prices increase, and the local residents are pushed out. And gradually, or rapidly, the native culture erodes in favour of the comforts of expats and tourists. Then, before we know it, all of the charm and authenticity of a place like Imsouane is lost as we find ourselves sipping oat milk lattes in a beige, air-conditioned café, in which every word spoken around us is in English. It kind of makes travel redundant.

Travelling Mindfully

I may be optimistic, but I’m not naïve enough to believe that the behaviours of budget backpackers can stack up against the big dogs. However, I still believe it’s worth doing everything we can to support the local people of the places we visit. This means supporting local businesses: opting for Moroccan-owned surf camps and hostels; dining at family-run restaurants; bargaining for handmade rugs and ceramics in a cramped little store rather than shopping online; and buying a third mint tea on the beach even though you’ve already got the caffeine jitters.

And if you are a little more financially blessed, maybe think twice about purchasing an apartment block in Morocco to rent out on Airbnb. Regardless of how promising the investment opportunity seems.

Anywho, the remaining businesses in Imsouane still want and need the support of tourists. So please travel, but do so with heart.

Bslama.

FAQs For Imsouane, Morocco

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