π²π¦ Morocco Β· Atlantic Ocean
The Wind City's wild Atlantic coast β epic tradewinds, world-class windsurfing, and empty sands stretching beyond the horizon.
Essaouira β nicknamed "the Wind City of Africa" β sits on a dramatic Atlantic promontory at the intersection of powerful Moroccan tradewinds and broad Atlantic swells. The city's remarkable 18th-century ramparts overlook a broad, wind-scoured beach that stretches for kilometres in each direction, and the consistent summer winds (blowing at Force 4β6 virtually every afternoon from June to September) have made this stretch of coastline one of the most important windsurfing and kitesurfing destinations in the world. The beaches here are immense, wild, and utterly unlike the resort sands of southern Morocco β vast, open, and dominated by the sound of wind and waves.
South of the city, the Cap Sim headland offers some of the most dramatic coastal scenery on Morocco's Atlantic coast, with raw sandy coves, sea arches, and a rugged emptiness that feels genuinely remote. North of the old medina, Moulay Bouzerktoun has become a globally renowned wind sports beach, drawing kitesurfers, windsurfers, and wave-riders from Europe and beyond. Whether you come for the wind sports, the wild landscapes, the UNESCO-listed medina, or simply the atmosphere of one of Morocco's most atmospheric coastal towns, Essaouira's beaches deliver an experience unlike anywhere else in North Africa.
Wild Atlantic beach at Cap Sim headland south of Essaouira with strong winds, empty sands, and raw surfing conditions.
World-class windsurfing and kitesurfing beach 20km north of Essaouira with epic Atlantic tradewinds.
| Beach | Best For | Water Temp | Sand Type | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cap Sim Beach | Wild surf, solitude, photography | 16β20Β°C | Coarse Atlantic sand | β β β β β |
| Moulay Bouzerktoun | Windsurfing, kitesurfing, surf | 16β20Β°C | Wide flat sand beach | β β β β β |