Imsouane is not a nearby alternative to Taghazout: it is an hour and a half north, and a different trip. The question is not "which is better" but "what do you want to bring back from the week".
Two waves that do not mean the same surfer
| Taghazout | Imsouane | |
|---|---|---|
| Reference break | Anchor Point | La Baie |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.4 |
| Level | advanced to expert | beginner to advanced |
| Tide | mid | any |
| Crowd | 5 / 5 | 4 / 5 |
The figure that counts is not the rating, it is the level range. Anchor Point starts at "advanced". La Baie starts at "beginner" and runs to "advanced", which is to say it takes everybody on the same wave.
A wave that accepts four levels at once barely exists anywhere. That is the reason Imsouane exists, and it is worth the detour.
What "any tide" means in practice
Anchor Point works at mid tide. That gives you two windows a day, and you organise around them.
La Baie works on every tide. You surf when you want, you extend a session that is going well, and you do not lose a morning because the tide was wrong. Over seven days the difference in time spent in the water is considerable.
What you give up in Imsouane
- Intensity. 4.4 against 4.9: the wave is long and generous, it is not powerful. An advanced surfer looking for hollow will be bored.
- The village. Imsouane is small and remote. That is restful or it is long, depending on what you want in the evening.
- The logistics. An extra hour and a half from the airport, and far less choice of camps.
What you gain
Mileage. It is the longest right in the region, and on a single wave you will do what three waves in Taghazout will not give you. For an intermediate building their stance, it is the best training ground in Morocco.
Frequently asked
Can I do both in a week?
Yes, by splitting: four nights one side, three the other. Plenty of camps run the day trip to Imsouane from Taghazout, but a day does not do the break justice.
Is Imsouane really suitable for beginners?
The entry level is low, yes. It remains a point, with current and with people on it: coached, it is excellent; alone on a first trip, no.
Which season for Imsouane?
The same as the rest of the coast: autumn and winter for swell, April and May for quiet. The seasons guide sets out the twelve months.
