Morocco

Anchor Point is Morocco's most legendary wave. It's a long right point that runs along a rock shelf, with hollow sections and lots of room for high-performance surfing. It's easy location in the town of Taghazout and its consistency in the winter months make it the center of surfing in the region, although there are at least four world-class breaks within driving distance, so the crowd spreads out and epic sessions abound. Anchor Point can hold any size swell up to triple-overhead and beyond, making it the go-to spot when the swell is macking.The wave itself peaks on the outside in front of a rock-shelf point with a small takeoff zone. As it rolls down the line it offers several sections that pitch and barrel at different tides. The paddle-out can be daunting, necessitating a timed jump off slippery rocks, and the inexperienced hesitate and can be doomed. But the paddle-in is worse when a big swell is running, as the whitewash batters the same rocks and makes luck and timing essential. As with most spots in Morocco, low tide is a must. Even a solid swell can go inconsistent and mushy at high tide. The lower tide, the better, and more hollow.

Previously a semi-secret Moroccan gem, Safi has gotten a healthy dose of attention over the past few years as pros and barrel-hounds have chased and documented a handful of notable swells recently. One of the best barreling sand points in Morocco (if not the world), but also fickle/rare and extremely heavy.

The powerful, consistent right-hander previously known as the Money Wave has all but disappeared off the traveling surfers' list of Moroccan surf spots in the past decade. While its appalling location in front of a huge, noisy factory is largely to blame, the waves are as good as ever.Follow the coast south from Safi until you come to the huge factory. Pull up in the dirt lot in front and you'll find a long reef of right-handers that picks up a lot of swell. There are barrels and big faces for lots of turns, challenging enough for the best surfers.Staying in Safi is the best option, which allows you to check the coast and other spots on the drive down. The factory is depressing and noisy and makes the water quality dubious, although it looks clean and green enough it's still not an ideal place for your girl to sunbathe. But if you're looking to get some solid peaks and pull into a few, here's the place.The locals surf it and are happy to share when they're around, and if you make friends with them they might lead you to some of their more secret reefs down the coast south of the factory, where the landscape is beautiful and the road winds along the hillside.

A consistent, long, user-friendly (mellow, actually) right-hand point, "The Bay" at Imsouane is the prototypical beginner/surf school spot in Morocco. That being said, it is also a blast on a log or fish, even for experienced surfers (just try to get there before the surf schools). Arguably the longest wave in Morocco. There are also left and right reefs, beachbreaks, and points around the corner, on the "Cathedral" side.

The first spot heading south as you round the headland of Cap Ghair is a zippy right-hander visible in the distance from the road. The prevailing winter winds blow offshore, making the area the capital of Moroccan surfing with several world-class waves within an hour's drive of each other, all centered around the town of Taghazout.The right pointbreak called The Boiler is named for the rusty hull of a ship that sits just underwater at the top of the point. Its boiler is visible and gurgling at low tide. The wave is a quick runner that breaks along the urchin-covered rocks with a lot of speed and punch. Lower tides are best as they give it more zip but be careful at the paddle-out as the rocks are covered with sea urchins.The place works from waist high to double-overhead and bigger, and when the swell is solid and the crowds spread out over the region's various waves. The Boiler can offer a dream session of offshore winds and overhead sets that will have you hooting your friends as you paddle back up the point.Located on the far west end of the cape, it picks up more swell than the famed Anchor Point and is a good option if the swell is small. Camping in the dirt on the cliff will have you out at dawn, but there's nothing out there at night but stars.

One of the main point breaks in Taghazout and the most open to swell, Killers lies at the centre of Moroccan surfing, and unsurprisingly gets quite crowded. It is a long, powerful right point that can handle the biggest swells, and can be more challenging than Anchors' more groomed lines. A long paddle from the sharp, rocky beach and the current on big swells can make it a chore to get out there. Better surfers and more serious ones will make the paddle to avoid the crowds at Anchors and challenge themselves in the bomb sets. On a good day, barrels can be had in the big, shifty lineup, with long walls and rippable sections.