I Lived in a Moroccan Surf Town for a Month for Free

Yes you read that right, living in a dreamy Moroccan surf town FOR FREE!!! and I’m going to tell you all about how I did it, why I did it, and how you can do it as well.

Let Me Set the Scene First

For starters, let me set the scene for you guys so you really understand where I was able to live for free, and the lifestyle I was able to have for a month.

So I lived in a small surf and fishing village called Awrir. It’s located just south of the infamous backpacker spot of Taghazout, and just about 20 minutes north of the major city of Agadir.

It’s situated right next to the surf village of Tamraght which is another super iconic spot for travelers. Awrir is very nice if you are someone who is looking for access to the touristy surf spots, but being based in a village that’s a bit more local and laid back. Awrir for me was perfect.

I loved Morocco but something I struggled with was the level of tourism all over the country, so I really appreciated Awrir for its local vibe and atmosphere

What Life in Awrir Actually Felt Like

Now let me allow you to visualize the vibes. Awrir, also known as Banana Village, is a small village located right in front of the Atlantic coast, with some iconic surf breaks.

The village goes back into the mountains surrounding it, and you can get some unreal views of both the ocean and surf breaks as well as the mountains and villages built up on the hills and peaks.

You are closely located to many iconic spots such as Taghazout, Tamraght, Anza, Agadir and even only an hour and a half ride to Imsouane, or three hours to Marrakech.

Slower Days, Local Routines, and No Tourist Overload

Time moved slower in these Moroccan surf towns. They don’t have the chaos and noise of Moroccan destinations like Marrakech or Fes, but Awrir still gives you local culture and daily life instead of tourism thrown in your face.

You can stroll down the main road in Awrir to shop like the locals do for fruits and vegetables. You’ll find fresh fish and meat markets and so much available just the way the locals purchase it.

During my month here I made such good friends with all of the local vendors who I would go to every day.

Surf Culture, Easy Access, and Feeling Totally Safe

From Awrir you can walk directly to Banana Point, K-11, Devils Rock and even Crocodile Beach for a different variety of surf breaks, and you can also get a car or shuttle to any of the other surrounding breaks to change it up.

There are surf shops scattered around Awrir, and a few surf camps (which I’ll get into later). You can rent a board and a wetsuit and head into the water completely on your own.

The area is super calm, and I never felt scared to leave my stuff on the beach when surfing, as the culture of people here is all very welcoming and kind, all enjoying the outdoors. The locals are surfing, fishing, working in the markets and all enjoying the environment just as much as a tourist.

I loved every night at sunset how the locals would all come to the beach and sit with friends or in chairs just enjoying the waves and the beautiful sunset every evening.