6 tips for visiting Morocco’s beautiful beaches

Morocco isn’t just bustling souks and ancient kasbahs. This North African country boasts a stunning coastline hemmed by the refreshing Atlantic Ocean and the tranquil warmth of the Mediterranean Sea. Along its long stretches of coastline you’ll find golden sand, dramatic cliffs, and charming beach towns worth exploring

Before you pack your swimsuit and hit the sand, here are six essential tips for your Moroccan beach escape.

What to wear at the beach in Morocco

Visiting a beach in Morocco is a bit different to visiting one in Europe or America because it’s a Muslim country, so you will find women wearing Burkinis or light tops and leggings. This is their choice and part of a cultural code over here to preserve modesty, but not all Moroccan women choose the Burkini route – many simply wear swim shorts and bikini tops or swimsuits, it depends on the person and their thoughts on the matter, though generally covering up a bit gains more respect.

For foreigners, however, there is an understanding that you are not from this culture, you can wear what you like really – a swimsuit or a bikini, but definitely do not go topless! If you want to be culturally empathetic then a crop top and surf-style girls swim shorts are a good option, maybe with a wrap or traditional Moroccan Gandoura over the top when you’re walking around.

For men shorts and trunks are fine, but speedos (as is generally the rule everywhere) can leave little to the imagination, so unless you’re Tom Daly we’d suggest leaving them at home. For surfers and kite surfers you can find wetsuits and rash vests locally to hire (along with surfboards and kite surfing kit) if you don’t want to lug yours through customs.

Design your ultimate Morocco trip with the help of our Morocco travel experts.

Things to do at Moroccan beaches

Camels and horses are often available for rides on the beaches of Morocco, as well as quad bikes and this can be a really fun thing to do.

If you choose to go for a horse ride, be clear to the guide how fast you want to go as the horses are great quality and if you want to, you can have a fantastic gallop. At some of the beachside stables, they will offer you all the right equipment but be mindful that those horses you can grab and go with on the beach don’t always come with a helmet – Moroccans are daredevils and don’t have the same health and safety concerns as us always.

If you fancy surfing or kite surfing, the local shops can hire you a board or kite surf and there are lots of qualified instructors and classes you can book. Epic can organise all of this for you in advance as part of our dedication to ensuring experiences booked with us are good and safe as they can be.

Read next… The Epic Hot List: The Must-Do Experiences in Morocco in 2024

Tips for beachside snacking or dining

It’s great to sample the local seafood when you’re near the beach – the sardine tagine is a must-try dish, cooked with cumin and spices. In many fishing ports you can get fresh fish straight off the boats and have it cooked for you in a local restaurant. Try the local ‘St Pierre’, Calamari, prawns, swordfish and even sea urchins for the more adventurous.

On the beach, you will be offered fresh fruit, freshly baked donuts (difficult to refuse), popcorn and cornet wraps of nuts. Generally, you can eat very well for around 50 dirhams.

Read next… Morocco’s Best Kept Secret – Top 8 Northern Beaches

Swimming safely

Please be aware that even though the water near the shore may look calm and safe, there is always the possibility of rip tides and strong currents as you go further out. Do not swim far out of your depth if you are alone and do not have good local information on that beach.

Beaches aren’t always guarded as well as they are in some other countries with flags and tide information freely available, it’s useful to have an inside track from a local which Epic will happily provide.

We never plan the same trip twice. Reach out to have Epic curate your custom Morocco itinerary at info@epic.travel

Protecting yourself from the sun

As always on a beach – take care to cover up when the sun gets at its hottest. The breeze here, especially on the windy Atlantic Coast, can be deceptive, so you should definitely take a hat or cap with you and make sure you have plenty of water and sunscreen on hand.

Read next… 17 Places You Have to Visit in Morocco

Keeping valuables safe

When you’re in the sea, as with most beaches these days, you’ll need to keep an eye on your valuables. There are sellers on the beach touting phone protectors with a zip, which can be hung around your neck and keeps your phone free from sand. Then when you go for a dip you can tip some of the local umbrella boys to keep an eye on your belongings for you – suffice to say don’t take your fortune to the beach!

There is so much to enjoy about the beaches of Morocco and many are rarely visited by foreigners, for more information on beaches check out our blogs on Northern and Southern beaches.

To book a beach holiday or a visit to Morocco where beaches are part of the attraction, please contact info@Epic.Travel or, get in touch with our team and we’ll design and curate your dream Morocco trip.

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