Surf & Tagine in Tamraght & Taghazout: A Guide for Digital Nomads

You will always remember your “firsts,” which is why I’ll never forget our month-long stay working remotely and living locally in Tamraght as digital nomads.

Maybe it was because it was my first time in Morocco, and everything felt new, exciting, and different: my first delicate, succulent prune and almond beef tajine, my first witness to the artful pour of the classic sugary mint tea, and the fact that I was finally on the African continent—a “bucket list” endeavor I had had for years.

But as exciting as it was, we would discover that Tamraght and Taghazout were not the “paradise” or “ultimate digital nomad destination” that others promote them as. For some, yes, but at least not for us.

Tamraght and Taghazout have massive potential to grow into strong digital nomad hubs, not that they need to be digital nomad bases.

While the culture is there, the current conveniences of nomad life (cafes with Wi-Fi, coliving/surfing groups, activities, housing, etc.) could be improved greatly to benefit the locals in the two communities.

A lot of what’s there doesn’t feel like it integrates and only focuses on internationally owned businesses. Where were the locally-led cultural experiences beyond surfing? Where were the language exchanges, community events, local fitness gyms, light-filled cafes (with reliable WiFi), and healthy Moroccan-fusion food options?

In this guide, I’ll share a realistic look into what it was like to spend a month in Tamraght/Taghazout, working remotely as digital nomads and splitting the day between early morning surfing, sunset hikes, sipping coffee in cafes, and exploring the local streets.

While we were based in Tamraght—the quieter, smaller of the two surf towns—I’ll include a few details about digital nomad life in Taghazout as well, so you can decide which vibe and setup would work best for you.

Pros & Cons of Tamraght & Taghazout for Digital Nomads

First, let’s talk about what you’ll (probably) love about being a nomad in Tamraght or Taghazout.

I include my honest thoughts in each blurb below, which might read more like a “con,” but remember, this is just from my personal experience! I still think these places are great!

Slow Living

Without trying, both towns exude a slow, surf travel lifestyle, which is right up our alley.

But if you’re not that into surfing, you’ll feel a little removed from that community.

The surfing is great here—and again, I’m no expert here—but it’s freaking cold. Coming from digital nomad life in Mexico and Oaxaca, I’m more of a girl who likes to surf in her swimsuit, not a wetsuit.

Otherwise, as you’ll see, no one really rushes around here.

You wake up slowly or with the call to prayer, swing by your nearest cafe for coffee or local Moroccan bread, work a bit, then maybe surf, work some more, then maybe hang out at the skate park for sunset.

Cost of Living

From memory, our expenses were quite average in Tamraght, except for accommodation, which felt like a robbery.

Overall, Tamraght wasn’t as inexpensive as we thought, especially when you add the cost of eating out or working in a cafe or coworking space each day and the taxi fares to travel between Tamraght and Taghazout.

Accommodation was by far our most significant expense, though, because we had a private apartment.

We also stayed with a “surf coliving” during our first week, which wasn’t the best decision for cost/value—it was overpriced for what it was. Not to say there aren’t good surf house options out there.

With limited housing options, expect higher prices, but don’t fall for overpriced accommodations like we did.

Search local housing groups before checking Airbnb or surf/coliving.

• Private apartment: 2 weeks, $600 (can be cheaper with private rooms in shared houses, like this)
• Taxi fare from Tamraght to Taghazout (one-way): $5-10
• Cafes/coworking spaces: $10/day

Of course, you can make your lifestyle cheaper by not eating out daily as we did. However, we would often work at home in the morning and then work in a cafe in the afternoon, so we’d fold lunch into that.

Getting Around

That said, once you take a taxi from Agadir to Tamraght or Taghazout and settle in, everywhere you go will likely be on foot, except if you travel between the two towns. We walked via the strip of beach that connects the two, and it took over an hour.

So, you’ll definitely need taxi transport, especially if you’re in Tamraght and want to work in Taghazout’s cafes for the day.

Taghzout is a bit more “built up,” so there are more opportunities to find a place to work on your laptop without disturbing anyone.

Challenges of Working Remotely Here

You can sometimes experience WiFi and electricity outages, but it shouldn’t last more than a day. That’s when it’s a good idea to have a backup local SIM or Morocco eSIM to hotspot from. Or, just take the day off to go surfing! 😂

Local infrastructure is not the most solid, and you’ll be strapped for cash most of the time. Both villages are very cash-only heavy.

Otherwise, despite a few outages, keeping up with local life here is pretty easy. We didn’t see many health clinics, but I made sure to renew my monthly digital nomad insurance in case of accidents (especially with surfing, eek!).

The most annoying thing for us was always negotiating overpriced taxi fares.

You also have to be careful not to flag down and get in the car of a fake taxi driver—they’ll pretend they’re taxis to earn extra cash, but if caught, you could end up with a fee, and your passport could be in trouble.

Where to Stay as a Digital Nomad — Tamraght or Taghazout?

Tamraght VS Taghazout

The first thing to decide is which town you’ll base in. As I mentioned a bit above, the two might be close on a map, but in reality, you’ll need to take a 10-minute taxi ride that will cost maybe $15-20 round-trip—so yeah, it adds up!

Which one you choose is where you’ll spend most of your time. I was glad to be based in Tamraght. It’s more local. It’s quieter, arguably cuter.

And while it doesn’t have as many options as in Taghazout, you only need a few good spots to circle through.

Guesthouses, Airbnb, Colivings

Again, beware of overpriced colivings. Make sure you know what you’re getting and how the “surf house” is really set up. Marketing can be deceiving.

• Budget-friendly, small dorms: Atlantic Vibes Surf Hostel ($196/2 weeks, 1 adult in 4-person dorm)
• Double room in shared house: Arima Surf House ($326/2 weeks, 2 adults, double room with garden)
• Private apartment: SurfAppart ($600/2 weeks, 2 adults in spacious apartment)

Tamraght village and its accommodation options are set off behind the main road. Avoid staying right on the edge of town, as road traffic can be noisy on the outskirts.

There are guesthouse options, cheap hostels, and newly renovated Airbnb listings higher up in the town. If you’re seeking a longer stay, search listings on Facebook first!

If I were to go back and book accommodation again, I would search for a private room in a social setting like Arima Surf House. This way, I could decide if I wanted to be involved with the community instead of being coerced into a small “let’s do everything together” coliving arrangement.

I wouldn’t personally return to stay in Taghazout, but there are potentially more options near town where you’ll have easier access to the beach, cafés, and restaurants.

Cafés with WiFi & Coworking Spaces

For working in cafés, both Tamraght and Taghazout have options.

In Tamraght, our favorite go-to spots were:

• Let’s Be Healing — Healthy, fun food with a few small, round tables inside for quiet work hours. Too loud to take calls here!
• Adam’s Cafe — Located right next door to Let’s Be Healing. More tables with a few outlets here and there.
• Hey Yallah — Just a great coffee + community spot, not ideal for working (although we did see some people awkwardly sat with their laptops).

Another you might try is Manzili Coffee & Workspace, a coworking space and cafe hybrid. You pay for your cowork hours or a minimum spend limit on food and drinks. The vibe is cute, and the WiFi is okay. The enormous flies prevented me from working in peace, however, so we never went back (lol).

For Taghazout, the cafes with WiFi we’d circle through were Teapot and World of Waves (cool ocean view), and that’s about it!

Otherwise, Taghazout town felt much more ‘touristy’ than Tamraght, so we would only visit for the day.

Daily Life in Tamraght & Community Vibe

I can’t speak for the daily feeling of being in Taghazout, as we were there only occasionally.

But Tamraght feels like the sweet spot, if you’re looking for a slower, more local pace.

Le Petit Kawa for lunch or dinner is a great local hangout, and we fell in love with the friendly guys at Tonirt who make the best Moroccan food, homemade tajines, couscous, and harira soups.

Our apartment was located on the same street as Tonirt, and it was such a quaint, quirky local neighborhood filled with call to prayer, weekend markets, and lots and lots of cats.

But after a couple of weeks in Tamraght, we started to cycle through all of our favorite spots more than a few times.

That’s when we knew Tamraght felt a bit too small for us. After two months as nomads in Morocco, we lingered the longest (and loved most) digital nomad life in Essouira.

The community of Tamraght, though, is super welcoming. Friendly locals. A small, but growing, international community. Quaint coffee shops with lots more potential.

We also enjoyed a striking sunset hike and fire-cooked tajine evening behind the hills of Tamraght. It was a special addition to our stay.

Things to Do in Tamraght/Taghazout When You’re Not Working

Besides surfing, there are a few more things to experience. As I mentioned a bit above, you can:

If you want to explore further beyond Tamraght and Taghazout, don’t overlook Agadir! While most fly in and go straight up the coast, there’s much to discover in the city, including the Coco Polizzi Medina and historic Kasbah Oufella.

How to Get to Tamraght & Taghazout

We flew in from Lyon, France, directly to Agadir. It was an easy ride, and immigration was smooth.

The luggage carriers, however, did lose my backpack, so be mindful of checking in your luggage. I rarely do, and the one time I decide to give my shoulders a break… 😂

Once in Agadir, you can get a taxi for about $25-30 to Tamraght.

From Marrakesh, you can easily take a bus via 12Go. Or from Tamraght/Taghazout you can also get a shuttle van/bus to Essaouira.

Read next: Essaouira for Digital Nomads

Getting between the towns and cities is pretty simple. Just make sure to book a bit in advance, as surfers from the inner cities will load up and fill the slots quickly.

Taghazout and Tamraght are popular surf towns among locals, not just international digital nomads, so transfer options are frequent.

Final Thoughts: Is Taghazout or Tamraght Right for You?

I think surfer-nomads and young backpackers craving an offbeat digital nomad destination would enjoy Tamraght and Taghazout.

That said, if I went back, I’d probably stick to the off-season but go during warmer weather (we visited from late October to November to December).

While it’s not your Mexico or Indonesia nomad hotspots, that’s precisely the point.

These two surfing villages offer a more chilled, laid-back digital nomad lifestyle in one of North Africa’s most diverse and liberal countries.

If you want simple, slow living, with good food, and the opportunity to immerse yourself in a beautiful, cultural, and active community, then I think you’d enjoy it here!

I hope this guide gives you a better idea of what it’s REALLY like to be a digital nomad in Tamraght and Taghazout! 💻

If you have any questions, feel free to comment below or read my Morocco Digital Nomad guide for more insight.