Is Morocco good for beach lovers?

People rarely come to Morocco purely for the beach, and yet beach lovers who add a coastal stretch almost always thank me for it. The country has two very different coastlines: a long, wild Atlantic shore facing the open ocean, and a calmer Mediterranean coast in the north. The Atlantic is the headline — Essaouira and Taghazout are wonderful, but they are breezy, surf-driven beaches rather than still-water swimming, and that wind is exactly why they are special.

For sun-and-sand relaxation, Agadir is the purpose-built resort city: a long sheltered bay, reliable sunshine almost year-round, promenade cafés and easy swimming. Just up the coast, Taghazout has become Morocco's surf capital, with mellow point breaks like Anchor Point that suit beginners and intermediates, yoga-and-surf camps, and a laid-back village feel. Essaouira, with its fortified medina right on the sand, is the windsurf and kitesurf hub — and one of my favourite places anywhere to eat grilled fish straight off the boats.

The Mediterranean north is the quiet secret. Around Al Hoceima and the Cala Iris coves the water is clearer and calmer than the Atlantic, the beaches more intimate, and the vibe far less touristy. Tangier and the Cap Spartel area, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, make an easy add-on to a northern trip, and the chic little town of Asilah has lovely nearby beaches plus that famous painted medina.

Let me be straight about expectations. This is not the Caribbean — the Atlantic is bracing, often windy, and the water is cool even in summer thanks to the Canary current. What you get instead is dramatic, uncrowded coastline, world-class surf and kitesurf, superb seafood and golden light. I usually treat the coast as a relaxing two- or three-night decompression at the end of a desert-and-cities trip rather than the whole holiday, and that balance works beautifully.