Morocco ยท North Africa
Each location is refreshed once every three hours. The hourly view, 7-day forecast, luck factor and packing notes come from the same stored update.
We compare the 7-day forecast with the version-matched historical observations available for the same time of year at Essaouira. The delta shows whether conditions look better, worse or about the same as a typical late July.
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Not much swell but keen eyes will find something to ride. Short-period chop. The waves lack any real push. Strong offshore, clean but tough to paddle into.
PeakWave scores are planning signals, not safety clearance. Check local authorities, official bulletins and on-site conditions before you go. Read our editorial policy.
Essaouira is a broad, highly sheltered beach break situated on the central coastline of Morocco, primarily known globally for strong trade winds. The bathymetry features an expansive, exceedingly flat gradient of compacted sand curving within a protected bay. The nearby -le de Mogador acts as a massive natural breakwater, heavily diffracting and filtering large north-westerly Atlantic swells before they reach the beach. A north-easterly wind provides the optimal offshore conditions, though the area frequently suffers from intense onshore gales. When conditions align, the waves within the bay are exceptionally soft, slow-rolling, and lack steepness, crumbling gently over the flat sand. These forgiving mechanics render Essaouira an ideal location for absolute beginner surfers. The lack of heavy impact zones or strong undertows provides a safe, low-consequence environment for novices to practice basic balance, pop-ups, and straightforward whitewater riding. It rarely offers the speed or wall required for advanced surfing manoeuvres.
Heads up: jellyfish: peak season, and rip risk elevated.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 59% cleaner than the average comparison city right now.
Noticeably cleaner air than a typical city. Good conditions for prolonged outdoor activity.
Not a pollutant. Ozone is naturally higher at altitude and near the coast, and lower in cities where traffic exhaust breaks it down. High readings here typically indicate clean air. Can cause short-term airway irritation during intense exercise but is not linked to the long-term health risks of particulate pollution.
Additive health score: each pollutant contributes points relative to its WHO 2021 guideline and long-term health impact (PM2.5 9, NOโ 5, Oโ 3, PM10 2, SOโ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 15:12
Reduced water clarity: ~2m visibility
Elevated phytoplankton detected, possible algal bloom
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Essaouira
Historical quality only. Safety is not reconstructed for this view.
Create a free profile and let employers in Essaouira find you.
Create Profile โPartly. The model uses stored spot geometry, swell ranges and tide preferences where configured. It cannot see changing banks, crowds, access, closures or everything visible on a local cam, so treat it as a starting point.
The best week for surf at Essaouira is the week of 16 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
This guide was generated from conditions data. Know this spot? Submit your own tips below.
Essaouira is a wind-swept coastal city in Morocco with a long, exposed beach facing west-northwest. The beach produces consistent waves and the city is famous for its trade winds (which are better for kitesurfing than surfing). When the wind drops, the beach break delivers fun, accessible waves. The walled medina and harbour are atmospheric. Surfing is best in the calmer months.
The beach picks up Atlantic swell year-round. An easterly wind is offshore but rare. The famous trade winds (north-easterly) are sideshore. The best surfing windows are early mornings before the wind builds, or during calm spells in winter. Works on all tides. The 2-5ft range is most surfable.
The main beach has multiple peaks. The section near the medina walls is most popular. Further south (towards Sidi Kaouki) the beach is wilder and less crowded. Sandy bottom throughout.
Wind is the main challenge. The trade winds can be fierce and make surfing impossible. Sandy bottom keeps consequences low. Currents on bigger days. The wind chill makes it colder than expected.
Park near the medina or along the beach road. Direct beach access. Full city facilities. Surf schools and hire available.
Moderate. Essaouira attracts surf tourists but the wind limits rideable days. When it is calm enough to surf, expect 15-20 people. Kitesurfers dominate on windier days.
Essaouira is best combined with trips to Sidi Kaouki (20 minutes south) which is slightly more sheltered. Early mornings (before 10am) offer the calmest conditions before the trade wind builds. The medina is a UNESCO site worth exploring. The seafood in the harbour is exceptional and cheap. Winter (December-February) offers the calmest winds.
Surf at Essaouira
Your score
Forecast feel
Score this window against what you actually found.
No scored surf reviews in the last 24 hours.
No recent check-ins. Be the first to report.
Log a day
Add Essaouira to your private Companion record without GPS.
Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
The timing score combines two signals: historical conditions quality (how good the skiing or surfing typically is in a given week, based on 5 years of weather data) and crowd pressure (how many of this destination's feeder markets have school holidays that week).
Crowd pressure is weighted by each feeder country's share of visitors. If 40% of a resort's visitors come from France and France is on holiday, that contributes 0.40 to the crowd pressure score. Crowds can reduce the timing score by up to 35%, ensuring conditions still matter most.
Scores: 5 = great conditions with low crowds (the sweet spot). 4 = great conditions with moderate crowds, or good conditions with low crowds. 3 = average. 2 = below average conditions or very crowded. 1 = poor conditions or peak holiday chaos.
Last 30 days of logged conditions.
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Essaouira tend to be best between 07:00 to 10:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 35/100
See timing scores, school holiday busyness, and lift pass pricing to find the best time to book.
View Best Time to Go โ