You don't need a car to stay in Taghazout or Tamraght. You can walk to the beach, buses and taxis cover the coast road, and parking in the villages is difficult. But if you want to chase swell up to Boilers and Imsouane, or visit Paradise Valley on your own schedule, a car or scooter for a few days changes everything.
Renting a car
- Where: The easiest pick-up is Agadir airport. Many local companies also deliver to the airport or to your guesthouse. See car rental in Taghazout and Tamraght for local agencies.
- Price: A small economy car usually costs about 220 to 440 dirhams (€20–40) a day from local companies. Booking sites sometimes show less if you book early or rent for a week. Winter and school holidays cost more. Ask for the total price per day with insurance included.
- Insurance: Check what is actually included. Basic cover often comes with a large deductible, and paying a bit more to reduce it is usually worth it.
- Deposit: Some companies ask for a card deposit, and the amount depends on the insurance you choose. Others rent without one, so ask before you book.
- Before you drive off: Walk around the car with the agent and photograph every scratch, the tires and the fuel gauge. Ten minutes now can save a long argument later.
Your license
Rental companies usually accept a valid driver's license from your home country. You normally need to be at least 21 and to have held your license for a couple of years. Ask when you book. If your license is not in the Latin alphabet, you need an International Driving Permit. Even if it is, carrying one is the safest choice, because the rules are not always applied the same way at every checkpoint.
Driving the coast road
The N1 runs along the coast from Agadir through Aourir, Tamraght and Taghazout, and on toward Tamri and Essaouira. It is beautiful, and it is busy.
- Expect everything: Slow trucks, overtaking on blind bends, grand taxis stopping without warning, people crossing the road, and the occasional goat.
- Checkpoints are normal. Police stop cars at the entrances to towns. Slow down, be polite, and have your passport, license, rental contract and insurance ready.
- Speed cameras are at town entrances and exits and on long straight roads. Keep to the speed limits.
- Take extra care at night. Some stretches of road and the village lanes are poorly lit, and pedestrians, scooters and animals can be hard to see.
- Fuel: Prices change often, so check the price at the pump. Gas stations are easy to find near Agadir and Aourir, and much less common farther north, so fill up before you head for Imsouane.
Parking
The lanes in both villages are narrow, steep and made for people, not cars. Park on or near the main road and walk in. You will often see a man in a high-visibility vest who looks after the cars. Give him a few dirhams when you leave. At the surf spots, do not leave anything visible in the car.
Scooters
A scooter is a popular way to get between the villages and the surf spots. Daily rentals usually cost 150 to 250 dirhams (€14–23).
- Wear a helmet, always, even for a five-minute ride. Make sure the rental includes one that fits.
- Deposit: Avoid leaving your passport. Offer a cash deposit and ask for a receipt. A copy of your passport is a safer option than the original.
- Check that your license allows you to ride the scooter you rent.
- Carrying a surfboard on a scooter is common here, and it is also how many accidents happen. With a big board, a big swell or a crosswind, take a taxi.
- Check the brakes and tires before you go, and ask what happens if the scooter breaks down.
- Check that your travel insurance covers scooters. Some policies do not.
Do you need to rent a car or scooter?
For a week of lessons in Tamraght: no. For a surf trip where you want to follow the best spot each day, or if you are traveling as a group: probably yes. Split between four people, a car can cost less than taxis. A scooter is the cheapest option for short trips if you are a confident rider. For everything in between, grand taxis and the coast buses do the job. See also getting around without a car.