Spot guide
Surfing Crocro: everything you need to know
The wave at Crocro
Crocro, sometimes spelled Croco, is a surf spot on the stretch of coast between Tamraght and Taghazout. It is a mix of reef and sand, which gives it a very different character from the long open beach in front of the village. The reef holds the shape of the waves, while the sand around it moves with the seasons and the swells, so Crocro can look quite different from one week to the next.
The spot faces west-south-west and breaks as a series of peaks rather than one long line. Depending on where the sandbanks sit and how they line up with the reef, you can find both lefts and rights, some short and punchy, others with a bit more wall to work. On smaller days it is fun and manageable for confident intermediates. In its ideal range the waves have more power and the take-off gets steeper. As it approaches the upper end of its range it becomes heavy and less forgiving over the shallower sections.
The biggest factor at Crocro is the tide. It changes a lot as the water rises and drops, and it prefers mid to high tide, when there is more water over the reef.
Best conditions for surfing Crocro
| Condition | What Crocro likes |
|---|---|
| Swell direction | WSW to NNW |
| Wave size | Starts at about 0.6 m, best from 0.9 to 1.8 m, too big above 2.6 m |
| Period | 8 seconds or more |
| Wind | Light, or offshore from the ENE; exposed to the north wind |
| Tide | Mid to high tide |
| Best season | October to April |
Crocro likes a swell of eight seconds or more from the west-south-west round to the north-north-west, and a light wind or an offshore from the east-north-east. Unlike Banana Point, it has no shelter from the north wind, so it is really a morning spot on most days. The tide matters more here than at many other breaks. Because the sandbanks move, the best stage of the tide can shift a little from week to week, so always look at the live forecast above and ask someone who has surfed it recently.
Who should surf Crocro?
- Beginners: Crocro is not suitable for learning. The reef, the shifting peaks and the tide changes make it a poor choice for first sessions. Head to Tamraght beach or Devil's Rock instead.
- Improvers: if you can catch green waves consistently and are comfortable in a line-up, Crocro on a small, clean day with a guide can be a good introduction to surfing over reef.
- Intermediate and advanced: this is a great option when you want fun peaks with fewer people than the famous points around Taghazout.
Hazards and local tips
- Go with a guide the first time. Crocro needs local knowledge: where the reef sits, where to paddle out and where to come back in.
- Avoid low tide over the shallower reef sections. Falling onto reef in shallow water is how most injuries happen.
- Booties can help on the reef, and watch out for sea urchins in rocky areas.
- Always check the spot from the beach before paddling out; the peaks move with the sand and the tide.
- It is less crowded than the points, but still respect the people already in the water, wait your turn and do not drop in. See our surf etiquette guide.
How to get to Crocro
Crocro is about 5 minutes by car from our riad in Tamraght, heading north along the coast road towards Taghazout. It is close to the other breaks around the village, so if the tide is wrong or it is not working, there are plenty of alternatives within a few minutes' drive in either direction.
When to go
October to April is the best season, when North Atlantic swells are bigger and more consistent. In summer Crocro is often too small, so the beach breaks are a better option. In winter the water is around 17 to 18°C, and a 4/3 wetsuit is the right choice.
Timing matters. Because it is exposed to the north wind, early mornings are usually the cleanest, before the wind picks up in the afternoon. Try to line up a morning session with the mid to high tide window. On days when the tide is low in the morning, it can be worth waiting or choosing another spot. For more about planning around the seasons, see our guide to the best time to surf Morocco.
Surfing Crocro with Surf Chill Vibe
Crocro is one of the spots where local knowledge makes the biggest difference, and that is what our guides bring. We take intermediate guests there when the tide and swell line up, show them where to paddle out and which peaks are working that week, and keep the group small. Transport to the spots is included in our surf packages.
Coach's tip: Ask your coach which tide it wants that week, the sandbanks move.
