Why Honeymoon in Taghazout
It offers a rare mix of easy luxury and laid-back surf culture. Few places let you sleep in a resort with a spa and walk to a village where people pad around barefoot with boards under their arms.
Surfing is the big draw and it suits couples of different abilities. Experienced surfers have famous point breaks, while beginners learn on gentler beaches nearby with patient instructors. Non-surfers have yoga, hammams, golf, horseback rides on the beach and long lunches.
The climate is a plus. The coast is mild year-round, rarely too hot thanks to the ocean breeze and the region sees many sunny days. It is also a calm contrast to Marrakech: no souks to navigate, little hassle and an easy rhythm based around the tides and the sunset.
When to Go
Taghazout is a year-round destination. The main surf season runs from about October to April, when Atlantic swells bring bigger, more consistent waves to the point breaks. This is the time for experienced surfers.
From May to September waves are smaller and better for beginners. Summer days are warm, often in the high 70s and low 80s Fahrenheit, with morning haze and fog that usually burns off by midday. July and August are busy with Moroccan and European holidaymakers.
Winter days are mild, often in the high 60s and low 70s, with cool nights and occasional rain. Spring and autumn are ideal for a mix of surfing and sunbathing. Ramadan shifts each year and during it some cafes open later and the village is quieter by day.
Where to Stay
Taghazout Bay, just south of the village, is the resort area. Large international hotels sit along the beach with pools, spas and golf. The Fairmont Taghazout Bay and the Radisson Blu Resort Taghazout Bay Surf Village are among the options, the latter offering surf lessons and yoga. These suit couples who want comfort, privacy and a pool with ocean views.
In the village itself, small guesthouses and boutique hotels perch on the hillside with rooftop terraces over the water. They are simpler but full of character and you can walk to surf spots and cafes.
Tamraght, the next village south, is quieter and more local, with surf houses and small hotels. Book well ahead for peak surf season and summer holidays.
Romantic Things to Do
Take a surf lesson together. Schools in the village and at the resorts run beginner sessions on gentle beaches, with boards and wetsuits included. If one of you already surfs, the other can learn while you paddle out at a point break.
Join a sunset yoga class on a rooftop or at your resort, with the ocean below.
Drive into the Atlas foothills to Paradise Valley, about an hour inland, where a river runs through a palm-filled gorge with rock pools for swimming. Go early in spring for full pools and fewer people.
Book a hammam and an argan oil massage. The region is home to argan trees and cooperatives nearby produce the oil. Ride horses or camels along the beach and end the day with grilled fish on a cliffside terrace.
Getting There and Around
Royal Air Maroc flies nonstop to Casablanca from several US cities, including New York JFK, Washington Dulles and Miami. From Casablanca, take a short domestic flight to Agadir Al Massira Airport (AGA). Many couples instead connect through a European hub straight to Agadir. Marrakech is about three hours away by road if you are combining the two.
From Agadir airport, a taxi or private transfer to Taghazout takes about 45 minutes to an hour. Most resorts arrange transfers.
The village is small and walkable, though steep. Petit taxis run along the coast to Taghazout Bay, Tamraght and Agadir. Rent a car or hire a driver for Paradise Valley, Imsouane or Essaouira, about three hours north.
Food and Drink
Fresh fish is everywhere. Village restaurants grill the day's catch, sardines, calamari and prawns, often served with salad and bread on terraces over the sea. Tagines and couscous are on every menu, with Friday couscous a Moroccan tradition.
Breakfast staples include msemen, a flaky square pancake and harcha, a semolina griddle bread, served with honey, olive oil and amlou, a spread of almonds, honey and argan oil.
Surf cafes serve smoothies, avocado toast and poke bowls for the international crowd. The resorts have restaurants with international and Moroccan menus.
Alcohol is mostly available in resorts and some hotels rather than village cafes. Mint tea is the default drink, served sweet and often.
Honeymoon Tips
Dress modestly in the village. Swimwear is fine on the beach and at resorts, but both of you should cover shoulders and knees when walking through town.
The Atlantic is powerful. Swim only where it is safe, take local advice about rip currents and surf within your ability with an instructor.
Bring a light jacket. Evenings can be cool, even in summer and the wind picks up in the afternoon.
Drink bottled or filtered water and carry cash for small cafes and taxis.
Morocco carries a Level 2 State Department advisory for terrorism. Taghazout is relaxed and generally safe, but use normal precautions with valuables. Entry and visa rules depend on your citizenship and can change at short notice, so check the official government website before you book.
