Kitesurfing in Morocco – windy beaches and long wetsuits
Morocco’s Atlantic coast is actually more famous for surfing than kitesurfing. Long ocean swells, endless beaches and small surf towns make it a dream destination for surfers. Juris even brought his surfboard along and often ended up surfing instead of kiting.
But when the wind picked up, the kite came out.
One thing you notice quickly: everyone in the water wears full wetsuits. Not boardshorts like in tropical destinations. The Atlantic here is cold almost all year round and the wind can be pretty strong, so long wetsuits are the norm whether people are surfing or kitesurfing.
During our trip we passed several well-known spots and Juris managed to kite in a few of them.
Sidi R’bat
This place felt wild and empty in the best possible way. A long beach, strong wind and very few people around. With a 4×4 you can drive directly onto the beach, which is perfect if you are travelling by van like we were. Juris kited here in quite strong wind and the spot definitely didn’t feel crowded.
Essaouira
Essaouira is one of the most famous kitesurfing spots in Morocco. As soon as you arrive you can see why – there are many kite schools and lots of beginners learning on the beach. The water can get quite busy, but the town itself has an amazing atmosphere and is worth visiting even if you’re not kiting.
Moulay Bouzerktoune
This is more of a wave spot. The wind here can be very strong and the conditions are usually better suited for more experienced riders. The Atlantic shows its power here with proper waves and steady wind.
Dakhla
Dakhla is almost legendary in the kitesurfing world thanks to its huge lagoon with flat water. We didn’t make it there on this trip, but Juris has been there before and says the conditions are truly perfect for kiting.
During our time on the coast the wind was mostly around 8–12 m/s, fairly steady. Juris mostly rode with a 9 m² kite. In many places the water was quite wavy, which is typical for the Atlantic unless you’re riding in a lagoon like Dakhla. Check the wind forecast on Windguru.
What surprised us was that outside the most famous spots – like Essaouira or Dakhla – there are actually very few kitesurfers. On some beaches Juris was almost alone in the water.
And when the wind wasn’t perfect for kiting, there was always the obvious backup plan in Morocco.
Surf.
