My Ultimate Digital Nomad Guide to Imsouane
Ever wondered what life in a tiny village on the Atlantic coast of Morocco is like?
Then welcome to Imsouane, habibi.
My name is Ester. I am a remote worker living in Imsouane. In this text, I will give you a bunch of useful information and tips about Imsouane, so you can enjoy a wonderful working stay, far away from home. Let's start.
This small fishing town is famous for being home to Northern Africa’s longest wave: an incredible 800-meter ride that longboarders from all over the world dream of catching and even travel across continents to experience. However, it’s not only the perfect place for surfing, but also for hiking, practising yoga and working remotely due to its peaceful lifestyle.
People here feel free to set up laptops on sunlit terraces, meet other remote workers, and immerse themselves in a peaceful lifestyle that feels a world away from busy city life. You’ll find freelancers coding from sunny balconies, designers editing videos between surf sessions, and expats holding team calls with sand still drying on their feet.
There are no big companies, no rush, no pressure…just present life. The whole village is essentially one open coworking canvas. It’s quiet, inspiring, warm, and communal. This is the reason why I packed my stuff and started my trip all the way to the chill, wonderful and unique town of Imsouane.
To be honest, Imsouane doesn’t have many coworking spaces, but that’s part of its charm. I have seen many remote workers here plugging in at hostels or surf camps with work-friendly setups, and quiet cafés such as Olo Surf & Nature, Imi Bay or Tasra, where you can grab a coffee and set up your laptop right by the waves.
If you ask me, I prefer to go to Tasra to work on my laptop, due to the different indoor and outdoor hideouts inside this huge place. Even if a formal coworking space isn’t available, the village itself is incredibly work-friendly. Many nomads chill on guesthouse terraces or in cafes overlooking the water while working on their laptops.
Some of us just work from our own flats but, for real, you’ll be missing the beauty of the world and a nice tan if you choose that option. I feel so lucky that my apartment has a beautiful garden and I can work from home! It wasn’t always like that, though.
Most of the people in this tiny village get to know each other thanks to the wonderful hostel vibes. I still have friends from the first hostel I stayed at in Imsouane in 2018.
Connections happen naturally here, mostly thanks to the classic hostel energy, small beach events, sunset jam circles, and post-surf mint tea meetups. You can feel free to join any open event such as small parties or flea markets. And, obviously, you can make a lot of friends in the water…the ocean itself builds friendships fast! With its smooth waves, the Magic Bay offers you the opportunity to chill on your board and have small talks with strangers.
Imsouane is a town small enough that you’ll start recognising faces after a single surf session. If you ever see me in the water, on the street or at a party, don’t be shy! It’s always a pleasure for me to know new people and help them if necessary. Furthermore, there is also a WhatsApp group for girls in Imsouane, where you can not only meet people from abroad, but also from Morocco. I can add you if you're staying for a long time or plan to come several times a year.
The nightlife is really quiet here, although you can often find music bands or just friends playing local instruments at some restaurant next to the beach for the sunset. It’s a magical moment, especially on the street at the Cathedral, where the sun sets while people skate or have Moroccan tea.
You can sometimes find a party on the rooftop of a hostel, but it will finish early because most of us love to surf in the early morning. Tasra offers party vibes at the weekends, where you can enjoy music and drinks until late.
Imsouane has two different sandy surf spots just within a few minutes' walk. The Bay, my favourite one, is perfect for longboarding, here you can just walk to the lineup…no need to paddle! And there are plenty of places for beginners as well, which also brings crowds, sadly, and can make your surf session a bit frustrating. I have even seen many accidents… but never serious ones.
Thanks to its immense distance there are a lot of waves to surf, and there are two main peaks: one directly at the breakwater, which will allow you to surf up to 800 meter in just one wave, and the other one in the middle of the ocean, where you should sadly but happily paddle out, called The Mystery. It’s totally worth the paddle because it’s usually less crowded, and the waves there get bigger and better.
At the Bay is where I learned longboarding, and now I am in love with it. At the other beach, Cathedral, there are different points (one of them ends up at the reef), where you can enjoy both your longboard and shortboard, and it’s also suitable for beginners.
If you don’t have your own board, you don’t need to worry. You can rent any type of board anywhere in town, and it is also really easy to find surf lessons, whether individual or in groups. The average price of renting softboards with a wetsuit included for a full day is between 8 to 10€, but if you prefer a hardboard, you can find them for around 10€-15€.
If you wonder if it’s possible to find second-hand boards, of course it is, mostly long ones though. Just walk around the surfshops, ask the people or check online. As tourists have to go back to their countries, they sometimes can’t take their surfboards with them, which is the reason why the board market is quite easy here.
The average temperature of the ocean allows you to surf almost always with a 3/2mm wetsuit. I have only ever used 4/3mm a few times in winter. In summer I love surfing in my bikini or lycra swimsuit. And I’ll give you a useful tip…bring lots of wax and zinc! It’s sometimes hard to find, or just too expensive.
Surfing is obviously the most popular hobby here, not the only one though. Thanks to its location between the mountains, Imsouane has a wonderful setting for hiking and wandering. You can get lost among the stunning argan trees, native to southwest Morocco, where the world’s largest and most iconic argan forests are found.
Also, on these walks, you’ll almost certainly run into animals like camels, goats, or sheep grazing freely in the mountains along the coast, ready to turn your hike into a photo session. Beautiful, spontaneous shots with these charismatic creatures? Guaranteed.
Here you can see one of my latest pictures of a unique animal from this part of the world, the Northern Bald Ibis.
And of course, if staying fit is part of your lifestyle, don’t miss the chance to run along the mountain roads and trails without the stress of traffic or breathing polluted smoke. On the contrary, this is the perfect setting to enjoy running while inhaling pure, fresh air and moving through scenery that feels untouched. Here, every run comes with a side of clean wind and a very grateful pair of lungs. I can’t imagine living in a city again.
If you are looking to expand your body, mind, and soul, Imsouane is the perfect place to practice yoga, mindfulness, or breathwork. You can do it freely on your own, or find lessons in a peaceful, natural, open-air setting. Most sessions happen on sunny terraces at sunrise or sunset, but you can also roll out your mat straight on the beach, with the sound of the waves in the background, because here, the ocean is part of the practice too.
Imsouane is a budget-friendly surf village, although since the demolitions, prices of flats have increased. Local meals range from 2€ to 8€, and a cold beer or a glass of wine at Tasra Bar costs around 3€ to 6€. As I see it, it’s a bit difficult to find a good Cous-Cous in Imsouane, but Tagines, Rfissa or Msmen are delicious here.
Monthly rooms in low season average 250€ to 350€, and small apartments 400€ to 550€, while high season (June–August and winter surf months November–February) can be more expensive and even difficult to find a nice place to live in. If you want to stay for a couple of months, it’s better to ask around for an apartment rather than booking it online, considering that the prices will be way lower than on the popular websites.
For short to mid-term, or if you want to scope out Imsouane before committing to a longer stay, Coworksurf in Imsouane is a great option. This way, you'll get plugged into a community and have access to a workspace straight away. You can see pricing by clicking "check availability" at the top of the property page.
If you are looking for a life in the countryside, you can check some nice houses with gardens in the villages at the top of the mountain, like Tassila or Tagant, for a really low price. Staying in these villages, you will probably need a car, a motorbike or a bicycle, although you can also walk or find shared taxis for 0,50€ or free rides from locals or tourists.
Shared taxis from or to nearby cities like Tamanar or Tamri cost about 3€. I personally like to go to Tamanar on Sundays to do my weekly shopping since this is the time when they set up the street market, and it’s perfect for finding cheap vegetables and fruits.
To save money in your daily life, I totally recommend shopping at local markets, eating tagines with the community, splitting rentals with coworkers, and booking long stays early to secure nice monthly rates. Don’t forget that high season brings swell and crowds while low season brings sand bath and baby waves.
Have I already said that Imsouane is small? That doesn’t mean that you can’t find almost everything you need. You will find markets with food, clothes, souvenirs, Moroccan ceramics, board shapers, a bakery, a doctor clinic, a pharmacy, a massage room, ATM’s, money transfer services like Western Union and Cash Plus, a laundry coming soon and the ultimate latest hit…a gym. I would say there is everything in Imsouane but a hammam and a proper coworking space.
Although there is no such thing as a traditional Medina, the Port is a wonderful place with plenty of tiny restaurants, shops and the fish market. My favourite place for Msmen and Harira is right there. It’s the perfect place to have a great fish bbq while enjoying the views of the incredible, mesmerising waves of the Bay and the Mystery. I sometimes enjoy my meal there and at the same time observe other surfers or just ride the waves in my mind. I love the colourful boats and local life of that part of the town.
Imsouane is growing fast, so I bet they will open a bunch of new shops for every need, which also saddens me because, unfortunately, it will eventually probably become ‘just another village’ and will lose its magic.
Almost every apartment has a good Wi-Fi connection, although you will find yourself struggling on windy days, when the quality can be horrible, and it can be tricky to work remotely. That’s my worst nightmare, especially if I have to do a video call. Furthermore, there are a few days a year when the power is out, and Imsouane gets power cuts for hours, which can be problematic for remote workers.
But no worries, there is always a solution. Grab a shared taxi for 1€ to the main road and Tamanar. Here you will find a wonderful local café called `Tinskh´ where electricity and Wi-Fi connection will always be available.
Furthermore, I recently saw that Tasra Café has a generator to power electrical appliances, which can save your workday if you don't care about the noise. You can also find many different SIM card companies upon your arrival at any airport in Morocco. I find it particularly interesting that you can get unlimited use of Whatsapp, Ig, Fb and Spotify for just 3€ monthly with Orange or Inwi.
You don’t have a car? No worries! There are many options for transportation here, from taxi (share or private) to bus or even rental cars, and many people also hitch-hike to get where they want. In daily life, you will just move on foot with your board under your arm. It doesn’t take more than 20 minutes to walk around the whole town.
Due to its location, you can feel isolated from time to time in Imsouane, so you might need a ride to spend a day or two in some beautiful places nearby, such as Timlaline, Taghazout, Tafedna, Sidi Kaouki or the big cities like Agadir or Essaouira. I personally need to go away from Imsouane once every week or two. After my trips, my battery is reloaded, and I am ready to come back running out from the crowds. People always come back because yes…Imsouane hits differently.
The inhabitants of this part of Morocco are Amazigh, and the local language is way different from Darija, although they speak both of them perfectly. The word Imsouane means ‘the mouth that drinks', referring to the shape of the bay opening towards the ocean. This ancient folk is rich in many ways. They love Amazigh music, whose main instrument is the banjo, but they also clap their hands and dance when gnawa music hits at live concerts.
As a Spaniard, I totally connected with this ancient music style from the very first time I listened to it. Because they originally are nomads, they love travelling and meeting new people. Art is their language. They love painting their houses, restaurants and boats with beautiful colours. And they also make art from surfing. They will always welcome you with their traditional Moroccan tea, though the real Amazigh one is not with mint, but with a plant called shiba.
Then welcome to Imsouane, habibi.
My name is Ester. I am a remote worker living in Imsouane. In this text, I will give you a bunch of useful information and tips about Imsouane, so you can enjoy a wonderful working stay, far away from home. Let's start.
Imsouane from a Remote Working Surfers' Perspective
This small fishing town is famous for being home to Northern Africa’s longest wave: an incredible 800-meter ride that longboarders from all over the world dream of catching and even travel across continents to experience. However, it’s not only the perfect place for surfing, but also for hiking, practising yoga and working remotely due to its peaceful lifestyle.
People here feel free to set up laptops on sunlit terraces, meet other remote workers, and immerse themselves in a peaceful lifestyle that feels a world away from busy city life. You’ll find freelancers coding from sunny balconies, designers editing videos between surf sessions, and expats holding team calls with sand still drying on their feet.
There are no big companies, no rush, no pressure…just present life. The whole village is essentially one open coworking canvas. It’s quiet, inspiring, warm, and communal. This is the reason why I packed my stuff and started my trip all the way to the chill, wonderful and unique town of Imsouane.
Coworking Places
To be honest, Imsouane doesn’t have many coworking spaces, but that’s part of its charm. I have seen many remote workers here plugging in at hostels or surf camps with work-friendly setups, and quiet cafés such as Olo Surf & Nature, Imi Bay or Tasra, where you can grab a coffee and set up your laptop right by the waves.
If you ask me, I prefer to go to Tasra to work on my laptop, due to the different indoor and outdoor hideouts inside this huge place. Even if a formal coworking space isn’t available, the village itself is incredibly work-friendly. Many nomads chill on guesthouse terraces or in cafes overlooking the water while working on their laptops.
Some of us just work from our own flats but, for real, you’ll be missing the beauty of the world and a nice tan if you choose that option. I feel so lucky that my apartment has a beautiful garden and I can work from home! It wasn’t always like that, though.
Community
Most of the people in this tiny village get to know each other thanks to the wonderful hostel vibes. I still have friends from the first hostel I stayed at in Imsouane in 2018.
Connections happen naturally here, mostly thanks to the classic hostel energy, small beach events, sunset jam circles, and post-surf mint tea meetups. You can feel free to join any open event such as small parties or flea markets. And, obviously, you can make a lot of friends in the water…the ocean itself builds friendships fast! With its smooth waves, the Magic Bay offers you the opportunity to chill on your board and have small talks with strangers.
Imsouane is a town small enough that you’ll start recognising faces after a single surf session. If you ever see me in the water, on the street or at a party, don’t be shy! It’s always a pleasure for me to know new people and help them if necessary. Furthermore, there is also a WhatsApp group for girls in Imsouane, where you can not only meet people from abroad, but also from Morocco. I can add you if you're staying for a long time or plan to come several times a year.
Nightlife
The nightlife is really quiet here, although you can often find music bands or just friends playing local instruments at some restaurant next to the beach for the sunset. It’s a magical moment, especially on the street at the Cathedral, where the sun sets while people skate or have Moroccan tea.
You can sometimes find a party on the rooftop of a hostel, but it will finish early because most of us love to surf in the early morning. Tasra offers party vibes at the weekends, where you can enjoy music and drinks until late.
Surf
Imsouane has two different sandy surf spots just within a few minutes' walk. The Bay, my favourite one, is perfect for longboarding, here you can just walk to the lineup…no need to paddle! And there are plenty of places for beginners as well, which also brings crowds, sadly, and can make your surf session a bit frustrating. I have even seen many accidents… but never serious ones.
Thanks to its immense distance there are a lot of waves to surf, and there are two main peaks: one directly at the breakwater, which will allow you to surf up to 800 meter in just one wave, and the other one in the middle of the ocean, where you should sadly but happily paddle out, called The Mystery. It’s totally worth the paddle because it’s usually less crowded, and the waves there get bigger and better.
At the Bay is where I learned longboarding, and now I am in love with it. At the other beach, Cathedral, there are different points (one of them ends up at the reef), where you can enjoy both your longboard and shortboard, and it’s also suitable for beginners.
If you don’t have your own board, you don’t need to worry. You can rent any type of board anywhere in town, and it is also really easy to find surf lessons, whether individual or in groups. The average price of renting softboards with a wetsuit included for a full day is between 8 to 10€, but if you prefer a hardboard, you can find them for around 10€-15€.
If you wonder if it’s possible to find second-hand boards, of course it is, mostly long ones though. Just walk around the surfshops, ask the people or check online. As tourists have to go back to their countries, they sometimes can’t take their surfboards with them, which is the reason why the board market is quite easy here.
The average temperature of the ocean allows you to surf almost always with a 3/2mm wetsuit. I have only ever used 4/3mm a few times in winter. In summer I love surfing in my bikini or lycra swimsuit. And I’ll give you a useful tip…bring lots of wax and zinc! It’s sometimes hard to find, or just too expensive.
Recommended for Remote Working Surfers
A few things we at Coworksurf rely on as remote working surfers.
SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
Flexible travel insurance designed for digital nomads and long-term travelers. Reliable, affordable, and built for remote lifestyles.
Get covered →The Basis Paddle Trainer
Get your paddle power up when you’re away from the ocean. A compact, portable way to stay in surf shape between trips or get surf-fit before your next trip.
Improve your paddling anywhere →Just a heads up — the links above are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you decide to try them — at no extra cost to you, and it helps keep our surf coffee fund going.
Things to do
Surfing is obviously the most popular hobby here, not the only one though. Thanks to its location between the mountains, Imsouane has a wonderful setting for hiking and wandering. You can get lost among the stunning argan trees, native to southwest Morocco, where the world’s largest and most iconic argan forests are found.
Also, on these walks, you’ll almost certainly run into animals like camels, goats, or sheep grazing freely in the mountains along the coast, ready to turn your hike into a photo session. Beautiful, spontaneous shots with these charismatic creatures? Guaranteed.
Here you can see one of my latest pictures of a unique animal from this part of the world, the Northern Bald Ibis.
And of course, if staying fit is part of your lifestyle, don’t miss the chance to run along the mountain roads and trails without the stress of traffic or breathing polluted smoke. On the contrary, this is the perfect setting to enjoy running while inhaling pure, fresh air and moving through scenery that feels untouched. Here, every run comes with a side of clean wind and a very grateful pair of lungs. I can’t imagine living in a city again.
If you are looking to expand your body, mind, and soul, Imsouane is the perfect place to practice yoga, mindfulness, or breathwork. You can do it freely on your own, or find lessons in a peaceful, natural, open-air setting. Most sessions happen on sunny terraces at sunrise or sunset, but you can also roll out your mat straight on the beach, with the sound of the waves in the background, because here, the ocean is part of the practice too.
Cost of Living
Imsouane is a budget-friendly surf village, although since the demolitions, prices of flats have increased. Local meals range from 2€ to 8€, and a cold beer or a glass of wine at Tasra Bar costs around 3€ to 6€. As I see it, it’s a bit difficult to find a good Cous-Cous in Imsouane, but Tagines, Rfissa or Msmen are delicious here.
Monthly rooms in low season average 250€ to 350€, and small apartments 400€ to 550€, while high season (June–August and winter surf months November–February) can be more expensive and even difficult to find a nice place to live in. If you want to stay for a couple of months, it’s better to ask around for an apartment rather than booking it online, considering that the prices will be way lower than on the popular websites.
For short to mid-term, or if you want to scope out Imsouane before committing to a longer stay, Coworksurf in Imsouane is a great option. This way, you'll get plugged into a community and have access to a workspace straight away. You can see pricing by clicking "check availability" at the top of the property page.
If you are looking for a life in the countryside, you can check some nice houses with gardens in the villages at the top of the mountain, like Tassila or Tagant, for a really low price. Staying in these villages, you will probably need a car, a motorbike or a bicycle, although you can also walk or find shared taxis for 0,50€ or free rides from locals or tourists.
Shared taxis from or to nearby cities like Tamanar or Tamri cost about 3€. I personally like to go to Tamanar on Sundays to do my weekly shopping since this is the time when they set up the street market, and it’s perfect for finding cheap vegetables and fruits.
To save money in your daily life, I totally recommend shopping at local markets, eating tagines with the community, splitting rentals with coworkers, and booking long stays early to secure nice monthly rates. Don’t forget that high season brings swell and crowds while low season brings sand bath and baby waves.
Facilities
Have I already said that Imsouane is small? That doesn’t mean that you can’t find almost everything you need. You will find markets with food, clothes, souvenirs, Moroccan ceramics, board shapers, a bakery, a doctor clinic, a pharmacy, a massage room, ATM’s, money transfer services like Western Union and Cash Plus, a laundry coming soon and the ultimate latest hit…a gym. I would say there is everything in Imsouane but a hammam and a proper coworking space.
Although there is no such thing as a traditional Medina, the Port is a wonderful place with plenty of tiny restaurants, shops and the fish market. My favourite place for Msmen and Harira is right there. It’s the perfect place to have a great fish bbq while enjoying the views of the incredible, mesmerising waves of the Bay and the Mystery. I sometimes enjoy my meal there and at the same time observe other surfers or just ride the waves in my mind. I love the colourful boats and local life of that part of the town.
Imsouane is growing fast, so I bet they will open a bunch of new shops for every need, which also saddens me because, unfortunately, it will eventually probably become ‘just another village’ and will lose its magic.
Connectivity
Almost every apartment has a good Wi-Fi connection, although you will find yourself struggling on windy days, when the quality can be horrible, and it can be tricky to work remotely. That’s my worst nightmare, especially if I have to do a video call. Furthermore, there are a few days a year when the power is out, and Imsouane gets power cuts for hours, which can be problematic for remote workers.
But no worries, there is always a solution. Grab a shared taxi for 1€ to the main road and Tamanar. Here you will find a wonderful local café called `Tinskh´ where electricity and Wi-Fi connection will always be available.
Furthermore, I recently saw that Tasra Café has a generator to power electrical appliances, which can save your workday if you don't care about the noise. You can also find many different SIM card companies upon your arrival at any airport in Morocco. I find it particularly interesting that you can get unlimited use of Whatsapp, Ig, Fb and Spotify for just 3€ monthly with Orange or Inwi.
Getting around
You don’t have a car? No worries! There are many options for transportation here, from taxi (share or private) to bus or even rental cars, and many people also hitch-hike to get where they want. In daily life, you will just move on foot with your board under your arm. It doesn’t take more than 20 minutes to walk around the whole town.
Due to its location, you can feel isolated from time to time in Imsouane, so you might need a ride to spend a day or two in some beautiful places nearby, such as Timlaline, Taghazout, Tafedna, Sidi Kaouki or the big cities like Agadir or Essaouira. I personally need to go away from Imsouane once every week or two. After my trips, my battery is reloaded, and I am ready to come back running out from the crowds. People always come back because yes…Imsouane hits differently.
Moroccan culture
The inhabitants of this part of Morocco are Amazigh, and the local language is way different from Darija, although they speak both of them perfectly. The word Imsouane means ‘the mouth that drinks', referring to the shape of the bay opening towards the ocean. This ancient folk is rich in many ways. They love Amazigh music, whose main instrument is the banjo, but they also clap their hands and dance when gnawa music hits at live concerts.
As a Spaniard, I totally connected with this ancient music style from the very first time I listened to it. Because they originally are nomads, they love travelling and meeting new people. Art is their language. They love painting their houses, restaurants and boats with beautiful colours. And they also make art from surfing. They will always welcome you with their traditional Moroccan tea, though the real Amazigh one is not with mint, but with a plant called shiba.
N
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