Morocco surf guide
Surfing Safi
Home of Le Jardin, one of the best rights in Africa
- Spots2
- LevelsAdvanced, Beginner, Intermediate, Pro
- Best seasonOct-Mar
- RegionSafi & Oualidia
The waves at Safi
Safi (Le Jardin) · Lalla Fatna
Safi (Le Jardin)
- Right Point
- Advanced / Pro
- 4-15 ft
- Oct-Mar
- Crowd 3/5
Safi's main wave, known as Le Jardin after the public garden on the cliff above, is a long, hollow right that breaks over a rocky shelf just north of the town. On a big winter swell it's one of the best barrels in Africa.
It needs a solid north-west to west swell and offshore wind, which usually means winter mornings. The takeoff is steep and the reef is shallow, so it's for expert surfers only. At bigger sizes it becomes a big-wave spot.
Safi is an industrial port town and not a pretty place to stay, but surfers come for this wave alone.
32.32, -9.26 · Big NW-W swell, E-SE wind
Lalla Fatna
- Beach Break
- Beginner / Intermediate
- 1-5 ft
- Year-round
- Crowd 3/5
Lalla Fatna is a beach below high cliffs north of Safi, with waves breaking both ways along the sand. The tide doesn't change it much, and it works year-round.
It's a good place for improvers when Safi's point is too big, and on good days it gets busy with surfers from Safi. The steep road down to the beach is part of the trip.
32.405, -9.24 · NW swell, SE wind, all tides
Beyond the surf
- Safi medina and Ksar el Bahr: Old medina and the Portuguese sea fortress above the port.
Getting to Safi and around Safi & Oualidia
Marrakech (RAK) is about 2.5 hours from Safi by road. Casablanca (CMN) is about 2.5 hours from Oualidia.
- Rental car ($25-40/day): The easiest way to move between Safi, Lalla Fatna and Oualidia. Roads are good, but drive carefully at night.
- CTM bus ($8-12): Regular intercity buses to Safi and El Jadida. Ask about board fees at the counter.
- Grand taxi ($3-20): Shared taxis run between the towns. Lalla Fatna is down a steep road; a taxi or car is easier.
Before you go
Booking: Oualidia gets busy with Moroccan families in July and August and on weekends.
Money: Carry cash; card payments are rare outside bigger hotels.
Health: Safi's point is a heavy, shallow wave for experts. Lalla Fatna and Oualidia are the places for everyone else.
Avoid: Don't paddle out at Safi on a big day unless you have serious experience in hollow waves over rock.
Best time to surf Safi
Safi works best around Oct-Mar. See the full month-by-month breakdown for Morocco.
In season: January · February · November · December
A week here costs from about $292 with flights from Europe, or around $874 travelling comfortably. See other surf trips under $500 →
Safi: common questions
When is the best time to surf Safi?
Safi works best from October to March. By spot: Safi (Le Jardin), October to March; Lalla Fatna, year-round.
Is Safi good for beginners?
Partly. Lalla Fatna suits beginners; the other spots are better for intermediate and advanced surfers.
What kind of waves are there at Safi?
We map 2 spots at Safi: right point (1), beach break (1).
How do you get to Safi?
Marrakech (RAK) is about 2.5 hours from Safi by road. Casablanca (CMN) is about 2.5 hours from Oualidia.
Do I need cash in Safi?
Carry cash; card payments are rare outside bigger hotels.
Last updated October 2026. Seasons, costs and conditions change, so check the details before you book.
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