Short answer: December opens the Atlantic's biggest and most consistent swell window, which runs from December to February, and the famous point breaks around Taghazout work most often from now on. Days are about 20°C, nights about 8 to 10°C, and the water is about 17°C, which means a 4/3 wetsuit, included. The weeks before Christmas are quiet; the Christmas fortnight is the busiest of the winter. A week at The Pearl in December costs the same as any other week: from €420 (dorm) all-inclusive for surf, from €510 (dorm) with daily yoga. You can arrive on any day of the week.
We run two surf houses in Tamraght, a village a few minutes south of Taghazout, and December is the month the coast changes gear. Here is what to expect, and how the two halves of the month differ.
The three numbers
| December in Tamraght | |
|---|---|
| Air | about 20°C by day, about 8 to 10°C at night |
| Water | about 17°C, a 4/3 wetsuit is the right suit, wetsuits are included |
| Daylight | the sun goes around six and it is dark by seven; mornings are the session |
Averages for the Agadir coast, not a forecast. Plan for two climates: a T-shirt on the beach at midday, a proper jacket on the roof once the sun has gone.
The waves
December to February is when the biggest and most consistent Atlantic swells reach this coast, and December is where that window opens. The point breaks that put Taghazout on the map need this kind of swell, and from December they work more often than in any autumn month. For improvers and intermediates, this is the start of the long-wall season.
For beginners the method does not change. Coaching stays on the beach breaks around Tamraght, where the whitewater is long and forgiving, and when the swell is big the coach moves the group to the most sheltered corner rather than the most famous one. The spot is chosen each morning by size and tide. Two hours of coached surf and two hours of supervised free surf a day is the rhythm in every month, December included.
Two Decembers: before the holidays and during them
The month has two halves and they feel different.
Before the holidays, December is one of the quietest stretches of the winter: the autumn crowd has thinned, the school holidays have not started, and the swell has arrived. If you want working points with room in the line-up, the weeks before Christmas are the ones the regulars pick. About 70% of our guests arrive alone, and the long table at dinner does the rest.
Once the Christmas fortnight starts, it is the busiest two weeks of the winter, in the villages and in the water. At the house that means a morning surf on Christmas Day, a long dinner that evening, and New Year on the rooftop. Our Christmas and New Year guide covers those two weeks on their own, including how far ahead to book them. The short version: the holiday weeks fill first, and there is no holiday surcharge at The Pearl.
When to book a December week
The holiday weeks go first, so if Christmas or New Year is the plan, book early and read the Christmas guide. The weeks before the holidays are the easier ones to get, and the quieter ones in the water.
Either way the mechanics are the same and low-risk: a €100 deposit per guest holds your spot, the balance is paid on arrival in cash, and the deposit is refunded in full if you cancel 30 days or more before arrival. Date changes are free 30 or more days out, subject to availability. A plan made in October costs nothing to change until 30 days before you arrive.
There are no fixed start dates. Guests arrive on any day of the week, so you can build the trip around the flights that work.
What a week costs in December
There is no winter surcharge and no holiday surcharge. December costs what October costs.
| Week | Dorm | Twin | Double | Private |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Surf Reset, surf only, 7 days | €420 | €450 | €510 | €550 |
| The Full Reset, surf + daily sunset yoga, 7 days | €510 | €550 | €610 | €630 |
Included: your room, three meals a day, two hours of coaching and two hours of supervised surf daily, boards and wetsuits, and airport pickup from Agadir. Not included: flights, insurance and personal spending.
Short on days? The Quick Escape is 3 to 5 nights, from €225 (dorm); the airport transfer is not in that price, it is a €30 add-on one way.
Which winter month?
November is the warm-up, with the points starting to work and the water still about 18°C in a 3/2. December opens the big swell window, drops the water to about 17°C and the suit to a 4/3, and splits into a quiet half and a busy half. January is the same swell and the same temperatures, with the holiday crowd gone after the first week. February is the same again, with the half-term crowd for part of the month. For working points without the holiday crowd, early December and the second half of January are the picks.
What to pack for December
The 4/3 is on the house. Pack for two climates: the beach at midday and the roof after dark. A warm jacket or thick hoodie, long trousers, socks and closed shoes for the evenings, a beanie if you feel the cold, and sunscreen, because a 20°C December sun still burns. The full list is in the packing guide.
Getting here
The house is about 40 minutes from Agadir Al Massira airport, and on the week packages the pickup is part of the price. A week is 7 days, 6 nights, and you can arrive on any day. Details in the airport guide.
Quick answers
- Is December a good month to surf in Morocco?
- Yes, for anyone who wants swell. December opens the biggest and most consistent Atlantic swell window of the year, which runs to February, and the points around Taghazout work most often then. Beginners are coached on the beach breaks throughout.
- How cold is the water in Morocco in December?
- About 17°C. A 4/3 wetsuit is the right suit and it is included with the week, along with the board.
- Is December crowded?
- The Christmas fortnight is the busiest two weeks of the winter. The weeks before it are among the quietest of the season, with the swell already running.
- Do December weeks cost more?
- No. The price is the same in every month, including Christmas and New Year: from €420 (dorm) for The Surf Reset, from €510 (dorm) for The Full Reset. €100 holds a spot on the booking page; the cancellation terms are in the FAQ.
- Can a complete beginner come in December?
- Yes. The coach picks a sheltered beach break sized for the group each morning. Most of our guests are beginners or first-week improvers.
- Do I have to arrive on a fixed day?
- No. Guests arrive on any day of the week; there are no fixed start dates.