Red sandstone arches rising from the Atlantic, a crumbling Spanish Art Deco colonial town, and one of the most dramatic seascapes in Morocco — genuinely one of Africa's great beaches.
Sidi Ifni is one of Morocco's most fascinatingly peculiar towns — a former Spanish enclave that wasn't returned to Morocco until 1969, it retains an eerie collection of Art Deco and Modernist buildings from the 1930s–50s, now faded and crumbling in extraordinary ways. The town sits dramatically on a clifftop above a rocky Atlantic coast. Ten kilometres to the north, Legzira Beach was until 2016 home to two enormous red sandstone arches spanning the beach — a natural wonder of the world. One collapsed in September 2016, though the surviving arch remains one of Morocco's most photogenic natural landmarks. The beach itself is remote and beautiful, accessible only at low tide by scrambling under the headland cliffs.
Sidi Ifni is 130km south of Tiznit, best reached by car. CTM runs one bus daily from Agadir (3 hrs). Legzira Beach is 10km north of town — a taxi from Sidi Ifni to the beach costs around 50 MAD. Check tide times before visiting; the beach is only fully accessible at low tide.
Year-round — the dramatic cliffs and arch are spectacular in any season. Summer (June–September) is warmest with calmer seas. Winter storms create powerful wave spectacles but access can be dangerous. Always check the tide before descending to the beach level — high tide cuts off the arch entirely.
Explore Sidi Ifni's eerie Spanish Art Deco architecture — the old Consulate, courthouse, and former parador are remarkable even in decay. The small guesthouse scene is charming. Mirleft (20km north) makes a good base combining both areas in one trip.
