The short answer: fly into Agadir if you can. It's by far the closest airport, and you can be in the water the same afternoon. But flights to Marrakech are often cheaper and there are many more of them, and Essaouira has a handful of low-cost routes. Here's when the longer way round is worth it.
Agadir Al Massira (AGA)
- Distance: about 48 kilometres, roughly 45 minutes to an hour by car.
- Getting to the coast: a fixed-price taxi costs about 300 dirhams for the car to Taghazout, Tamraght or Aourir. Many surf camps include an airport pickup.
- Flights: plenty of direct flights from Europe, especially in winter, when the surf season and the sun-seekers overlap.
Everything you need to know about the airport run is in Agadir airport to Taghazout and Tamraght.
Marrakech Menara (RAK)
- Distance: about 270 kilometres, roughly three and a half to four hours.
- Getting to the coast: a private transfer at around 120 to 170 euros for the car, a surf shuttle at around 25 euros a seat, or a bus to Agadir and then a taxi.
- Flights: the busiest airport in the country, with dozens of airlines and lots of cheap direct routes.
Worth it if: the flight is much cheaper, you want a couple of days in Marrakech first, or there's simply no direct flight to Agadir from your city. For a short trip, the extra travel eats a day at each end.
Essaouira Mogador (ESU)
- Distance: about 150 kilometres, roughly three hours along the coast.
- Getting to the coast: there's no fixed airport taxi price to Taghazout, so agree it in advance or book a transfer. The Souk to Surf shuttle runs from Essaouira town.
- Flights: a small airport with a few routes, mostly low-cost and some only seasonal, from places like Paris, Brussels, London, Madrid and Barcelona.
Worth it if: there's a direct flight from near you and you'd like a night or two in Essaouira. It's a lovely town, and the drive down past Imsouane is beautiful.
How to decide
- Short trip, a week or less: Agadir. Every hour counts.
- Tight budget: compare the full cost. A cheap flight to Marrakech plus a 150-euro transfer can end up costing more than a pricier flight to Agadir. The shuttle and the bus make Marrakech much cheaper.
- Surfboards: the shorter the road trip, the happier your board. Check that your transfer or shuttle takes boards.
- Two-centre trip: fly into Marrakech and out of Agadir, or the other way round. It's often the best of both.
Getting from Marrakech or Essaouira by road is covered in detail in getting to Taghazout from Marrakech or Essaouira.