Taghazout: a small place with a big heart
Taghazout is one of those places that doesn’t look like much at first, just a few streets, a handful of cafés, some surf shops, but once you spend a little time there, you realise there’s so much to take in. Time moves differently there and even the simplest moments feel full.
This trip came at a time when I really needed a break, and somehow, this little Moroccan surf town felt like the perfect medicine.
Everything works, even when it doesn’t
Taghazout isn’t a perfectly polished tourist town, and that’s part of the charm. Things don’t always function in the way you’d expect, but somehow, everything works just fine. A café might take a little longer to bring your food, a shop might open and close whenever the owner feels like it, but none of it really matters. Time moves differently here, and you learn to just go with it.
And once you do, you realise how good it feels to not have everything scheduled. You start to notice the little things - the way the sun hits the water in the late afternoon, the rhythm of the waves, the sound of laughter spilling out of a tiny restaurant.
The surf
The energy along Taghazout’s long beaches is something else. Mornings are calm, with only the sound of waves and a few early surfers paddling out. By midday, the shore fills with boards, sun-soaked wetsuits, and the hum of people coming and going. There’s no rush, just an easy rhythm of catching waves, resting in the sand, and heading back out again. As the sun sets, everything slows down. Surfers walk barefoot through town, salt still on their skin, ready to do it all again tomorrow.
The skatepark
Then there’s the skatepark. A different kind of movement, but just as full of life. It’s a place of talent, creativity, and different ways of doing art. Kids skating barefoot, travelers swapping tricks, walls covered in color. It’s raw and real and full of energy, just like the rest of the town.
It’s a lovely spot to give your brain a rest, to simply sit and watch - locals, travelers, skaters (surfskateland >>>). Everything else stops for a while.
The people
I loved every local I met. They weren’t just friendly; but genuine, funny, caring, kind and full of life. There’s a way people connect in Taghazout that feels rare - like no one is in a rush, and there’s always time for a conversation, a joke, or a shared meal. It’s a place where you feel welcome, whether you’ve been there for a day or a month.
Thanks to everyone I met, but a special thanks to:
Zak, for teaching me that a cup of tea can fix everything. You are the funniest tea maker I have ever met.
M and the rest of the group, for the sweetest crêpes - you made my nights.
Jessi, for being my partner in crime.
Zak, for being the best host.
Jacob, for your incredible talent in making the kind of jewelry I always wish to wear.
More than just a surf town
There’s something about the long stretches of beach, the endless waves, and the mix of colors - bright doors, blue fishing boats, golden sand - that just feels good.
People come to Taghazout for the waves, but they end up staying for everything else. It’s not just a surf town; it’s a place that slows you down, makes you appreciate the simple things, and fills you up with something you didn’t even know you needed.
For me, it was exactly that: a reset, a reminder that even after a rough period, there are places in the world that can make you feel light again. And Taghazout? It’s one of them.
