The dream is simple: surf at seven, laptop open by ten, back in the water for the evening session. Plenty of people live exactly like that here, and it works, as long as you sort out your internet before you arrive rather than after your first dropped video call.
The internet, honestly
Fibre exists in both villages, but it isn't everywhere. A lot of apartments still run on ADSL, which is fine for email and browsing and not so fine for video calls with a team. Before you book anywhere for a long stay, ask the host for a screenshot of a speed test. Any host who has fibre will be happy to send one.
Power and internet cuts do happen now and then. They're usually short, but they have a habit of arriving five minutes before an important meeting. Keep your phone topped up with data as a hotspot backup (see SIM cards and data), and keep a power bank charged.
Coworking in Taghazout
- SunDesk: the established coworking and coliving space in the village. You can stay there, with a room, breakfast and a desk in one price, or pay for coworking only. Fast fibre, and a crowd of people doing the same thing as you.
- Windy Bay: the big beachfront restaurant also sells day passes to work there.
- Teapot Café: on the main road, full of laptops most mornings. Buy food and drinks, or pay for a day.
Working in Tamraght
- Zen Den: a coworking space upstairs from Mish Mish, which does good coffee and brunch.
- Adam's Café: the classic café to work from. Order a smoothie and nobody will rush you. We wrote a whole piece about it.
- Hey Yallah: speciality coffee and a friendly crowd, better for a couple of hours than a full day.
Café etiquette: if you're taking a table for hours, keep ordering. Coffee, a juice, then lunch. It's how these places stay open.
Time zone
Morocco is normally on GMT+1, all year. The exception is Ramadan, when the clocks go back an hour to GMT for the month and then forward again afterwards. If you have regular meetings, put a reminder in your calendar around Ramadan, because this catches people out every year.
How to fit surf around work
- Surf early. The wind is usually lightest in the morning, and the waves are cleanest. Working through the windy middle of the day costs you almost nothing.
- Watch the tide, not the clock. A good tide at 5 pm beats a bad one at 9 am. The forecast page shows the best window for each spot.
- Stay close to your spot. Tamraght for the beaches, Taghazout for the points.
Long stays
Many nationalities can stay in Morocco for up to 90 days without a visa, but the rules depend on your passport. Check with your own government before you plan a long stay.