IMSOUANE AND AROUND
The small village of Imsouane is located on the coast of Morocco. The Berber name of the village literally means “the drinking mouth”, the Bay drinking in the swell from the wild Atlantic Ocean. It is home to the longest wave in Africa, but long before surfers discovered the place it was a quiet fishing village, much smaller than it is today. You can still see the quaint old houses of “L’Oued”, meaning “the river”, that were built into the rocks at Cathedral Beach many years ago by generations of Berber families. Around 20 years ago, people started coming to Imsouane to surf these dreamy long waves. In the beginning it was mostly campers passing through, until slowly little hostels and private apartments were built for the growing tourist community.
Now, there is still a lively community of fishermen who sell fresh fish every morning in the harbour. They live in good spirits with the local shop-owners and people who run guesthouses and apartments. For the past few years, tourists from all over the world have been coming to Imsouane, mostly during the surf season which lasts from September to May. For many of them it’s not their first time here in Imsouane; after falling in love with the peaceful, friendly and welcoming atmosphere, a lot of people find themselves coming back to this special place year after year...
The beautiful bay and the mysterious mountains that surround the village give this place a unique energy, something which you have to experience for yourself. You’ll feel the outside world melt away with every wave as you sink into the slow pace of life here in Imsouane. Time passes differently here. Somehow the days fly by and you find yourself suddenly at the end of your stay – but in between time stands still as well. You might say that time doesn’t exist here - we like to say, it’s like living in a beautiful bubble…
The nearest cities are Agadir (85 km south) and Essaouira (100 km north), with several other small villages along the way. This region is where the native argan tree grows, and you can visit many women's cooperatives where local women produce argan oil, soaps, skin treatments and amlou (a kind of almond butter). It’s always worth going for a day-trip to Essaouira to explore the beautiful Medina with its friendly sellers, vibrant art and music scene and exciting selection of cafés and restaurants. Every summer they even host the famous Gnaoua World Music Festival.
If you’re interested in visiting a big souk where you can find really everything possible, head to the Sunday Souk El Had in Agadir. Here you’ll find everything from fresh local fruits, vegetables and meat, herbs and spices to clothes, shoes, textiles and handicrafts, even medicines and homeware. Even if you’re only looking for a bag of cumin, it’s a real authentic experience to walk through and take in all the smells, colours and noises of a souk this size!
About one hour from Imsouane is Taghazout, another fishing village turned surfers paradise, now famous for its world-class waves. If you’re on the hunt for perfect point breaks this region will not disappoint, with many different surf spots for all levels dotted along the whole coastline.
In summer, the landscape around Imsouane is rough, dusty and rocky, with its own kind of dry beauty. The weather in the summer months can be quite hot and even the nights stay warm. Temperatures are never too high though, as the ocean breeze will always keep the air more fresh than in the countryside further inland. With summer also comes the wind season, and on many afternoons we have strong winds coming in from the North. In the winter, even after just a few days of rain, the hills suddenly burst with greenery and plants of all kinds thrive off the dry earth. Our winters are mostly warm and sunny, with only a few days of rain between November and March. The evenings and nights can get a bit chilly but they are never too cold - a cosy jumper will keep you warm.
YOU SHOULD KNOW…..
There is no ATM and gas station in Imsouane. The closest ATM and gas stations are in Tamri or Tamanar which are both approximately a 30 minute drive from Imsouane.
In Imsouane, there are little shops selling seasonal fruits and veggies, snacks and other basic items. For more extensive and diverse shopping, we recommend getting groceries at the supermarkets in Agadir or Essaouira.
Imsouane is a small walkable village- you can get everywhere by foot. There are some fish restaurants by the port, and also a few restaurants for tajine, pizza, and tacos.
There is a pharmacy with wide range of medicines and beauty products.
You can pay for all your Olo expenses on all major credit cards.