Taghazout Surf Spots for Beginners: Where to Learn and Where Not To
Reda · surf instructor in Taghazout·Last updated: 10 October 2026
The quick answer
Beginners in Taghazout learn on the sandy beaches: Panoramas, just south of the village, and Banana Beach in Aourir. When you can ride the whitewater, Devil’s Rock in Tamraght is the next step. The famous point breaks, Anchor Point, Killer Point and the reefs north of the village, break over rock and are for experienced surfers only.
I teach beginners on this coast almost every day, and the most common mistake I see is not a bad stance or a late pop-up. It is someone renting a board and paddling out at the wrong spot because it looked good in a photo. This guide is the map I wish every visitor had before they arrived.
Every spot at a glance
From north to south. The level is for an average day; on a big winter swell even the beginner beaches can be too much for a first lesson.
| Spot | Where | Bottom | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boilers | North of Taghazout | Reef | Advanced only |
| Killer Point | North of Taghazout | Rock and reef | Intermediate to advanced |
| La Source | Just north of the village | Shallow reef | Advanced only |
| Anchor Point | North end of the village | Rock | Intermediate to advanced |
| Hash Point | In front of the village | Rock | Improvers on small days |
| Panoramas | Just south of the village | Sand | Beginners |
| Devil’s Rock | Tamraght | Sand and rock | Beginners to improvers |
| Banana Beach | Aourir | Sand | Beginners |
Where beginners learn
Panoramas Beach
Panoramas is a wide, sandy beach break a short walk south of Taghazout village, and it is where I teach most first lessons. The waves break over sand, so a fall means landing in soft water, not on rock. The whitewater rolls in long and slow, which gives you time to pop up, and the water stays shallow enough to stand in.
It is also the most consistent beach around. When the points are flat or too big, there is usually something rideable here. The trade-off is that every surf school knows this too, so on summer mornings it gets busy. A good instructor finds you a quiet corner instead of putting you in the middle of six other groups.
Banana Beach (Aourir)
Banana Beach sits in Aourir, the village many people call Banana Village. It is a sandy beach that is a little more protected than Panoramas, and on big winter days it is often my first choice for complete beginners. While the famous points are firing up the coast, Banana Beach can still give a first-timer small, friendly whitewater.
It is also one of the best places for families. The vibe is relaxed, local kids learn here, and nobody is trying to prove anything.
Your first green waves
Devil’s Rock (Tamraght)
Once you can stand up in the whitewater and steer a little, the next goal is a green wave: a wave that has not broken yet. Devil’s Rock in Tamraght is the usual first step. It is a mix of sand and rock, with waves that peel along instead of just collapsing, and it is less crowded than the Taghazout spots.
The rocks are on one side and you need to know where to paddle out, so I bring students here when they are ready, not on day one.
Hash Point
Hash Point is the mellow right-hander right in front of the village. On small days it is one of the easier points to learn on once you are past the whitewater stage, but it still breaks over rock. Think of it as a goal for the end of your trip, not the beginning.
Imsouane Bay (day trip)
About an hour and a half north, the bay at Imsouane is famous for one of the longest, slowest waves in Morocco. On the right day it suits improvers and longboarders beautifully. It is a full day out, so it fits a longer trip rather than a first lesson.
Where beginners should not surf
The waves that made Taghazout famous are right-hand point breaks: long waves that wrap around a rocky headland. They are beautiful to watch and the wrong place to learn. The bottom is rock or reef, sea urchins live in the shallows, and the lineup is full of people who have surfed for years.
- Anchor Point: Morocco’s most famous wave. On a winter swell the ride can run for hundreds of metres. Walk up and watch from the rocks; it is free and on a good day it is a show.
- Killer Point: a powerful right-hand point north of the village that breaks over rock.
- La Source and Boilers: shallow reefs that break fast and hard. Advanced surfers only.
- Tamri: a beach break north of Taghazout that picks up much more swell than anything else around, with strong currents. Sand does not make it safe.
How I choose the beach each morning
There is no single best beginner beach in Taghazout. There is a best beach today. Every morning I check three things before I tell students where to meet:
- Swell size. Big north-west swells in winter make Panoramas too strong for a first lesson, so we go to the more protected Banana Beach. Small summer swells make almost every sandy beach work.
- Tide. Some beaches only have a good, gentle wave at certain stages of the tide. The same beach can be perfect at 11am and too steep at 3pm.
- Wind. The ocean is usually smoothest in the morning, before the afternoon wind arrives. That is why most lessons start in the morning.
This is the honest reason to learn with someone local: not that the instructor is a better surfer, but that they know which of these beaches is working on the day you are here. If no beach is safe for your level, I tell you and we move the lesson.
Want to know when each type of wave is at its best? See my month-by-month guide to the best time to surf in Taghazout, and the guide to the 11 best surf spots in Morocco for the full coast.
Three rules on any beach
- One person per wave. The surfer closest to where the wave is breaking has priority. Do not take off in front of someone already riding.
- Hold on to your board. A loose soft-top in a busy line-up is the most common way beginners hurt someone. Keep it beside you, never between you and an incoming wave.
- Know the rip. If the water is carrying you out, do not fight it. Paddle sideways, parallel to the beach, then come in. More on this in is surfing in Morocco safe?
Frequently asked questions
What is the best surf spot in Taghazout for beginners?
Panoramas Beach and Banana Beach in Aourir. Both have a sandy bottom, gentle whitewater and shallow water where you can stand. Which one is better depends on the swell that day: on big winter days Banana Beach is usually the safer choice.
Can beginners surf Anchor Point?
No. Anchor Point breaks over rock, the waves get big and powerful in winter, and the line-up is crowded with experienced surfers. It is a great wave to watch from the rocks, and a goal for later.
Is Hash Point good for beginners?
Not for a first lesson. It is one of the gentler points on small days, but it breaks over rock. It suits improvers who can already ride green waves.
Where should beginners surf in Taghazout in winter?
On the protected sandy beaches, mainly Banana Beach and Panoramas on the smaller days. The big winter swells light up the points, but the beginner beaches stay usable most days, and an instructor picks the right one each morning.
Do I need a car to reach the surf spots?
No, if you take lessons. Transport to whichever beach we are surfing is included, and Taghazout and Tamraght are small enough to walk or take a cheap taxi. A car only helps if you want to explore further, like Imsouane.
Surf the right beach from day one
Lessons start at €25 with the board, wetsuit and water included, in groups of 4 to 5 per instructor. Tell me your dates and level, and I will tell you which beach we will surf. Book a surf lesson or message me on WhatsApp.
