Best Time to Surf in Essaouira — Month by Month Guide
When is the Best Time to Surf in Essaouira?
Essaouira is one of the few surf destinations in the world where you can surf every single month of the year. But not all months are equal — each season brings different wave sizes, wind conditions, and crowd levels. Here is our honest, local guide to every month of the year in Essaouira.
October to December — The Best Months for Surf
Autumn is without question the best time to surf in Essaouira. Atlantic swells begin building in October, bringing consistent waves of 1 to 2 metres — perfect for all levels. The trade winds that dominate summer start to ease off, making conditions cleaner and more enjoyable. Water temperature sits around 19 to 21 degrees, comfortable with a short wetsuit.
November is our personal favourite month. Crowds are minimal, prices are lower, and the waves are often the most consistent of the entire year. The weather remains warm and sunny with daytime temperatures around 22 to 25 degrees. If you can only visit once, make it November.
January to March — Winter Surf Season
Winter brings the biggest swells of the year to Essaouira, with waves regularly reaching 2 to 3 metres at exposed spots like Sidi Kaouki and Moulay Bouzerktoun. This is the season for experienced surfers looking for powerful, hollow waves.
Complete beginners should opt for the sheltered beach at Essaouira town, where waves remain manageable even during the biggest swells. Water temperature drops to around 16 to 18 degrees — a 4mm wetsuit is recommended. Rain is possible but rarely lasts more than a day.
April and May — Spring Surf — Ideal for Beginners
Spring is an excellent time for beginners and intermediate surfers. Swells mellow out to a consistent 1 to 1.5 metres, winds are gentle in the mornings, and the water starts warming up again. The landscape around Essaouira turns green after the winter rains, making this one of the most beautiful times to visit Morocco.
April and May are also the months when the kitesurf season starts building — wind speeds begin increasing, making it a great time to combine a surf and kitesurf trip.
June to September — Kitesurf Season, Windy Surf Conditions
Summer is Essaouira's famous kitesurf season. The Alizé trade winds blow strongly and consistently from June through August, reaching 25 to 35 knots on most days. This is incredible for kitesurfing — Essaouira is regularly ranked among the top 10 kitesurf destinations in the world.
For traditional surfing, summer is more challenging. The strong winds create choppy, difficult conditions at most spots. However, early mornings before the wind picks up (usually around 11am) often offer 1 to 2 hours of clean, surfable waves. Experienced surfers who time it right can score excellent sessions.
Water temperature reaches its warmest in August at around 20 to 22 degrees — just a shorty or boardshorts needed.
Month by Month Summary
January: Big swells, experienced surfers only at exposed spots. Beginners use town beach.
February: Same as January. Winter storms possible.
March: Swells easing. Good mix of sizes for all levels.
April: Excellent for beginners. Warm weather, moderate waves.
May: One of the best months overall. Wind building for kitesurf season.
June: Kitesurf season starts. Morning surf windows available.
July: Peak kitesurf. Early morning surf before winds arrive.
August: Same as July. Busiest tourist month.
September: Wind easing. Surf improving. Excellent transition month.
October: Excellent surf returns. One of the top months of the year.
November: The best month for surf. Consistent, clean, uncrowded.
December: Great surf continues. Quieter than October.
Our Recommendation
If you are a complete beginner, visit between April and June or in September and October. You will get gentle, learnable waves, warm weather and plenty of sunshine.
If you are an intermediate or advanced surfer, October through December gives you the best combination of wave quality, consistency and uncrowded lineups.
If you want to combine surf and kitesurf, May or September are perfect — you get decent surf in the mornings and building kite winds in the afternoons.
Whatever time of year you visit, the team at Surf Twins Essaouira will be here to guide you to the best conditions for your level. Book your surf lesson in Essaouira today and let us show you our ocean.
Sidi Kaouki vs Essaouira Beach: Your Surfing Questions Answered
Sidi Kaouki is generally better for surfing, with longer, cleaner, and more consistent waves thanks to direct Atlantic swells. Essaouira Beach is more sheltered, offering smaller waves that are ideal for beginners but often affected by wind.
Both spots are suitable for beginners, depending on conditions. Essaouira Beach is perfect for your first lesson with smaller, softer waves. Sidi Kaouki is also beginner-friendly, with a sandy bottom and multiple surf peaks that allow instructors to find the best waves for your level.
The best time for surfing is from September to April, when Atlantic swells are more consistent. During summer, Essaouira becomes very windy, which is great for kitesurfing but less ideal for surfing. Sidi Kaouki often still offers good surf conditions even when Essaouira is windy.
Most surfers choose to stay in Essaouira and surf in Sidi Kaouki. Essaouira offers more accommodation, restaurants, and cultural experiences, while Sidi Kaouki provides better and more consistent surf conditions. Many surf schools offer day trips between the two.
