Essaouira Webcam – Watch Morocco’s Windy Atlantic Beach

The Essaouira Webcam looks west from the Ocean Vagabond beach center on Boulevard Mohamed V, across the broad town beach to the Atlantic and Mogador Island on the horizon. Camels rest on the sand to the left of the frame, walkers cross the beach below, and on windy afternoons kites and sails fill the water beyond the shore break. The roof and white railing of the center itself fill the foreground. Because the camera belongs to a kite and surf school, it works as a conditions check as much as a view: the width of the white water, the number of kites out and the haze over the island give a quick read on the day. Skaping hosts the camera, and its player shows the latest short video clip rather than a continuous stream.

About Essaouira

Essaouira sits on Morocco’s Atlantic coast in the Marrakesh-Safi region, and until the 1960s the town was known as Mogador. Its walled medina was laid out from 1760 under Sultan Mohammed III and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. The 2024 census counted 82,962 inhabitants. The beach in this view starts just outside the town walls and runs south in a long curve of pale sand, with Boulevard Mohamed V along the back of it.

The low islands on the horizon are the Iles Purpuraires, the largest of which is Mogador Island. They partly shelter the bay from Atlantic swell, so the waves in front of the camera tend to arrive as small, slow rollers with long gaps between sets. That sheltered water, together with a wind that blows for much of the year, has made Essaouira a popular place to learn kitesurfing and windsurfing. Ocean Vagabond runs kitesurf, surf, windsurf and stand up paddle lessons and rentals from the building in the foreground, with a restaurant on the same site.

From the camera’s spot on the beachfront, the frame takes in the middle of the bay. Mogador Island sits left of center on the horizon with a smaller islet to its right, and the surf line runs unbroken across the picture. Palms and a thick hedge screen the right edge, while on the left the beach camels often gather on the sand. The camera records around the clock, so the player always has a recent clip to show.

Weather and Climate in Essaouira

Essaouira has very little difference between winter and summer. January afternoons average about 18 C (65 F), with nights around 11 C (52 F). August, the warmest month, averages a high of only 22 C (72 F) and a low near 18 C (65 F). October is almost as warm, at 22 C (72 F) by day and 17 C (63 F) at night, and April sits in between at about 20 C (67 F) and 14 C (57 F). Rain totals roughly 300 millimeters (11.8 inches) a year, so the camera shows dry, bright sand on most days.

The wind shapes the view more than the temperature does. North-east trade winds cross the bay for much of the year, which is why Essaouira is called the city of the wind. Ocean Vagabond describes powerful winds sweeping the bay from April to October, and July to September is usually the windiest stretch, when gusts can pass 30 knots (56 km/h, 35 mph). Those are the weeks when kites are most likely to be out on the water in front of the camera. Sea haze is common as well: on some mornings it hides Mogador Island completely and turns the sky and sea the same flat grey, and on clear afternoons the islands stand out sharply against a deep blue sky.

Things to Do Near Essaouira

The walled medina stands at the north end of the beach, and its sea ramparts, the Skala de la Ville, are one of the town’s best known sights. The Gnaoua World Music Festival takes over the town each June, normally in the last week of the month. On the beach itself, the Ocean Vagabond center in the foreground of this camera rents boards and teaches kitesurfing, windsurfing, surfing and stand up paddling, with beginner lessons on the sheltered water of the bay.

Following the beach south leads to Diabat, a calmer stretch with small waves that suit surfing and kitesurfing. Near it stand the ruins of Borj El Berod, an old fortress and pavilion now partly buried in sand. Kiters often ride downwind from the town beach to Diabat and come back by quad bike or camel. For a smaller beach, Ocean Vagabond runs daily trips to Sidi Kaouki, a fishing village 22 kilometers (13.7 miles) south with a reputation for an easygoing atmosphere and good water sports.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

More cameras from Morocco and from wind and beach spots on nearby coasts:

• Rabat Zoo Webcam
• Maspalomas Webcam
• El Gouna Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Essaouira located?

Essaouira is on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, in the Marrakesh-Safi region. The camera stands on Boulevard Mohamed V at the Ocean Vagabond beach center, on the main town beach south of the walled medina.

What can you see on the Essaouira Webcam?

The camera faces west over the town beach to the Atlantic, with Mogador Island and a smaller islet on the horizon. Camels resting on the sand, walkers, kites and windsurf sails on the bay, and the roof of the Ocean Vagabond center in the foreground all appear in the frame.

What is the weather like in Essaouira?

Mild all year. Average highs run from about 18 C (65 F) in January to 22 C (72 F) in August, nights stay between 11 and 18 C (52 and 65 F), and annual rain is only around 300 millimeters (11.8 inches). Wind and morning sea haze change the view far more than the temperature.

When is the best time to kitesurf in Essaouira?

April to October brings the most reliable wind, and July to September is usually the strongest, with gusts that can pass 30 knots (56 km/h, 35 mph). The bay is sheltered by the islands, so the small, slow waves suit beginners, while stronger riders often head downwind to Diabat.

What is the island off Essaouira?

It is Mogador Island, the largest of the Iles Purpuraires. The islands lie just offshore and partly shelter the bay from Atlantic swell, which keeps the waves in front of the camera small.

Why is Essaouira called the city of the wind?

North-east trade winds blow across the bay for much of the year and are usually strongest from July to September. That steady wind is what draws kitesurfers and windsurfers to the town beach.

Why does the Essaouira Webcam play a short clip instead of a live stream?

The camera runs on Skaping, which records short video clips at regular intervals through the day and night instead of streaming continuously. The player loads the most recent clip, so the view is never more than a short while old.

Source: Ocean Vagabond Essaouira on Skaping