December is Taghazout’s coolest month: 14-19°C days, 9-12°C evenings and 18°C water, with short showers between long clear spells. December has two distinct personalities in Taghazout. The first twenty days of the month are among the best of the year for experienced surfers - the Atlantic is fully active, the swell is consistent and powerful, and the village is quieter than at any point in the surf season. Then Christmas week arrives and everything changes: the village fills rapidly, accommodation prices spike, and the breaks become noticeably more competitive. Understanding which December you’re booking makes the month excellent or merely good.
Peak Point Break Season: December Swell Can Match or Beat February
December is full Atlantic swell season. North Atlantic low-pressure systems are generating swell regularly, and Morocco’s point breaks are running at their best. In terms of raw wave quality, December can match or exceed February - the difference is the winter crowd, which is more concentrated in January–February.
Swell: Average 2–4m, NW to NNW direction. Multiple swell events per week; flat spells of more than two days are uncommon in a good December.
Anchor Point fires on a near-weekly basis through December. Mysteries and Killers handle bigger swell well and are the go-to breaks for experienced surfers on the larger days. Hash Point is consistent and reliable throughout. Panoramas and Banana Point work on the smaller days for intermediate and beginner surfers.
Water temperature: 18°C - cold by summer standards. A 3/2mm wetsuit is the minimum; 4/3mm is recommended for extended morning sessions.
Wind: The offshore morning window is December’s characteristic surf condition - northeast winds from the land clean up the swell and produce the best conditions of the day, often between 7am and 11am.
Early December’s swell quality makes it one of the best-value windows for a surf package in Taghazout - peak-quality waves without the Christmas price premium that hits from December 20.
14–19°C Coolest Month: Evenings Drop to 9–12°C, Wetsuit Essential
December is the coolest month in Taghazout. Daytime temperatures average 14–19°C - not cold by northern European standards, but noticeably cooler than the warm surf season months. Evenings drop to 9–12°C, and the nights feel cold after a warm day’s surfing.
A camp of white tents under an orange desert sky.
December also sees the most rainfall of the year - brief showers between long clear spells. The argan landscape greens up after the first rains. Sunset is around 5:45pm, which means afternoon sessions end in fading light.
What to pack: 3/2mm or 4/3mm wetsuit, warm fleece, windproof layer, waterproof for rain days, layers.
The Christmas–New Year Window
The December 20–January 10 period is the most intense of Taghazout’s year. Surf camps sell out. Accommodation prices increase 30–50% above standard high-season rates. The breaks are busy - particularly Hash Point, which hosts the rooftop spectators as well as the surfers. The lineup at Anchor Point on a quality December 26 swell can have 40+ surfers.
The energy is festive and lively, and for those who plan around it, the experience is memorable. The downside is purely logistical: cost and competition for waves and beds.
Best approach for the Christmas period: Book months ahead. Decide in advance whether the Christmas atmosphere is worth the premium - for many, it is. For others, arriving on December 1–18 and leaving before the rush gives the same swell quality at a fraction of the cost.
Early December: Paradise Valley Hikes, Hammams, and Quiet Agadir
Paradise Valley: The pools are cold in December - more of a hike than a swim. But the gorge and the drive inland are genuinely beautiful after winter rain, with the argan trees and wadis showing their greenest.
Yoga and wellness: December is a popular month for yoga retreats - the combination of surf and meditation suits the winter energy of the village.
Agadir: The Agadir souk is particularly lively in December with pre-Eid and Christmas shopping. The beach is less appealing but the city is active.
Essaouira: Worth a December day trip - the walled medina has a distinctive winter atmosphere, and the fishing port is active. Cooler and windier than summer but genuinely atmospheric.
Who December Suits
Best for: Experienced surfers arriving December 1–18, who get peak swell quality with October-like crowd levels. Those who specifically want the Christmas surf-holiday experience and have booked months in advance.
Less ideal for: Surfers arriving December 20–January 5 without pre-booked accommodation; budget travellers (December 20–January 5 is expensive); beginners who need small, clean conditions - December swell is often powerful.
December at a Glance
| Swell | Excellent (2–4m NW) |
| Daytime temp | 14–19°C |
| Water temp | 18°C |
| Wetsuit | 3/2mm minimum, 4/3mm recommended |
| Crowds | Low–moderate Dec 1–18; very high Dec 20–Jan 5 |
| Accommodation | High season rates; peak premium Dec 20–Jan 5 |
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Where to Stay in December
Booking lead time matters more in December than any other month. Specific options to have on your radar:
Surf camps (structured weeks): Surf Maroc runs December coaching weeks at approximately £1,000+ per person all-in - the premium is justified by the quality of the waves and the video analysis programme, which benefits from December swell consistency. Surf Berbere runs December group weeks from approximately €520 per person in shared rooms. Both require booking 8-12 weeks ahead for Christmas week dates.
Boutique guesthouses: Auberge Taghazout and Dar Taghazout both fill by early October for the Christmas-New Year period. If you want a boutique guesthouse rather than a camp package, book before the end of October. The Tamraght-based options - Riad Tamraght and Endless Wave - tend to have slightly more availability at Christmas as the village is less central to the surf rush, and rates are 10-15% lower.
Budget: The hostel-style dormitory options in Taghazout village maintain lower prices than camp packages but also have lower availability in December. Expect to pay 150-250 MAD per night for a dorm bed in early December and 250-350 MAD in the Christmas-New Year window.
December Logistics: Early Month Value Window, Whale Season Opens
Early December (1–18) is one of the sharpest value windows in Taghazout’s surf calendar - peak swell, rates 15–20% below Christmas week, and manageable lineups. Whale watching season begins in December along the Souss-Massa coast: humpback and fin whales start appearing on Agadir’s offshore route, with January–February the statistical peak for cetacean sightings. For Christmas week (December 20–January 3), book four to six months ahead - the village fills completely. Tamraght, three kilometres south, runs 10–15% cheaper than central Taghazout over Christmas with identical access to the breaks. Pre-booked airport transfers to Taghazout are essential for Christmas arrivals. Surf lessons in Taghazout fill quickly in December - reserve before flying.
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