Taghazout, a Blue Village in Morocco

Morocco is best known for its pink and honey Sahara shades, but the North African country also has its blue side. In some regions the tradition is to paint houses blue, and the Atlantic coast that has blue fishing villages. One of them is Taghazout north of Agadir.

This post will show you Taghazout, a Moroccan secret discovered by the hippies after which came the surfers.

The blue village of Taghazout, Morocco

Now it’s our turn to rediscover this seaside village that has drawn so many different kinds of people. They all affected the village that became like no other. They made Taghazout is a top place to visit from Agadir.

Taghazout is located only 20 km north of Agadir which makes it easy to reach with local buses. So to go and explore the village you don’t need any expensive bus tours.

A Blue Moroccan Fishing Village

Taghazout is one of the three blue fishing villages I’ve been to in Morocco. The other two are Essaouira 100 km north and Asilah south of Tangier.

The village clings to steep cliffs, opening to the sea like an amfitheater. The theater scene below is a crescent like beach – full of blue fishing boats.

The village beach is both for fishing and bathing and the famous Taghazout surfing beach is a bit south. That one is 7 km long and gets huge ocean waves. Taghazout village bay instead is a sheltered cove which makes it a natural fishing port.

Blue fishing boats of Morocco

Every morning Taghazout fishermen get up early and pull out their wooden boats. In the afternoon the boats are back on the pebbles, laid in neat rows, and the fishermen keep processing what the sea gave them.

This all looks like a small scale activity but is a part of Morocco’s fishing industry that contributes a lot to the country’s national income.

Blue fishing boats of the Moroccan Atlantic coastline

So that was a brief introduction, but now, how do you get to Taghazout?

How to Get from Agadir to Taghazout

You can choose between a taxi and a local bus.

As Morocco’s local buses are a travel experience in themselves I would recommend trying one. There are two buses that go this direction, the ALSA buses 32 and 33.

Moroccan women waiting for the bus

So to get to Taghazout you will have know where in Agadir the buses 32 and 33 leave.

They drive along Avenue Mohammed V which is the main thoroughfare of the city and only two blocks up from the beach. Bus stops exist all the way along Mohamed V, you just have to look for stops that have the right numbers 32 and 33. We used the Theatre de Verdure stop that was the closest walk from our hotel.

Bus from Agadir to Taghazout

The Agadir to Taghazout Itinerary on the Map

Bus route Agadir to Taghazout on the map

There are buses running each 30 min or so and the journey takes about half an hour to an hour, depending on the traffic. You pay the driver in coins and get some coins back. The low fair is delighting, as is the whole bumpy, noisy bus journey.

Bus ride Agadir to Taghazout

The bus first goes to Aourir where the Paradise Valley road turns off and then follows the 7 km Taghazout surfing beach to Taghazout Village bus stop where you will have to jump off.

It’s this square with a lot of activity and a blue mosque:

Taghazout Village bus stop and main square

So now we have arrived in the blue Moroccan village we wanted to see.

Diving into the Labyrinth

The blue and white fishing village of Taghazout

Now we will wander through the old village and end up to the beach.

Dive into the labyrinth, no chance of getting lost, it’s just a few blocs. Yet they are amazing blocks, being so blue! And very different from what Agadir streets are like. This is what the original, old Morocco was like, that the earthquakes didn’t tear down.

There are different stories about what the blue color comes from. It may be religious or to bring peace of mind, or maybe the blue is there to scare insects?

Anyway, in Taghazout the houses, doors, windows, gates and even dust bins and flower pots can be painted in blue. From these colors, fish smell and seagull screeching you can tell this is a seaside village.

Blue and white are dominant but not the only colors, in Morocco they just have to add some pink.

The blue and white fishing village, with a touch of Moroccan pink

Taghazout: the Hippie Village

The blue and white fishing village of Taghazout

So the hippies came in the 1970’s, and stayed as they just loved this place. They transformed the village and made it look more like themselves. And they shared the beach with the local community.

The hippies renamed places around Taghazout, the next valley they gave the name Paradise Valley, for the paradise like streams that were Jimi Hendrix’ favorites. And a small cove nearby got the name Banana Beach which is also a good name as bananas grow in the area.

Taghazout, the Moroccan hippie village:

Art in the Moroccan hippie village

The hippie artwork leads our way to the beach.

Beach Living in Hostels and Cafes

As all Taghazout hostels are individual you won’t find any standard accommodation here.

Yet many of these small hostel rooms have stunning sea views and there’s more room outside in the eateries and cafes. By the way, unlike Agadir, Taghazout is an alcohol-free zone so be prepared for no beer and wine with food.

Ocean shore of the Moroccan hippie village

Taghazout, the Fishing Village

Walking between Moroccan blue fishing boats

I already told about fishing and the blue fishing boats that I really think are beautiful. Even when old they are so well-kept. ButI really don’t like the beach, Agadir’s is a lot better.

More photos of Moroccan fishing boats

All children today are exactly the same and share the same interests, those who grow up in busy cities and the boys who are going to sail the seas on blue boats, maybe.

Moroccan boys busy with their phones

Camel riding for tourists

Taghazout Sunset

If you can choose, make an evening trip to Taghazout. Here the last sun rays paint the village in golden colors, and even hide away the Moroccan blue color we came for.

Take your table and a cup of mint tea, sit down, relax – and enjoy!