Essaouira

About this spot

Essaouira's crescent bay is one of Morocco's classic windsport beaches — the trade winds funnel between the coast and the offshore island of Mogador, and from April to September the wind blows almost daily, often 18–30 kn by early afternoon. The bay is wide and sandy with the wind blowing side-shore from the north-east, and the southern end toward Diabat offers the cleanest conditions.

The working direction is the north-easterly trade wind: side-shore to slightly side-onshore. The water is choppy with a moderate shore-break, and a proper Atlantic swell wraps into the bay in winter. The Canary Current keeps the water at 17–20 °C even in summer — a 3/2 mm wetsuit is standard year-round. Mornings are often lighter and suit beginners; afternoons are for experienced riders when the wind cranks. Southerly and westerly winds are rare, gusty off the land and best avoided.

Essaouira itself is a UNESCO-listed port town with a stunning walled medina, fresh fish grills at the harbour and a relaxed, artsy atmosphere — one of the best kite-and-culture combinations anywhere. Kite schools and rental line the beach near the medina end, and camel and horse traffic shares the beach, so look around before launching. The airport is 15 minutes away; Marrakech is about 2.5 hours by road.