Essaouira Area
The Arabic name derives from Souira meaning a photograph and it certainly lives up to its name.
The resort and port is about 2.5 hours from Marrakech, north of Agadir. It is a very 'laid back' sort of place with many tourists, mainly French, but some Spanish, German and English.
The small fish docks are very buisy providing excellent fresh seafood to the many restaurants. Try Chez Sam at the end of the dock past the boat. It can get busy so get there early, the sea food is worth it.
Wooden fishing vessels are still being built by hand in Essaouira, a craft that has continued here for over 2000 years and worth the trip to Morocco just to see this. The only power tool in use is an old band saw. Boats can be seen from the laying of the keel to completion. It's a real living working museum but go to see it soon, before the health and safety system kills it. |
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When walking away from the boat yard towards the old town, you will pass around 20 stalls that you may think are selling fish.
They have superb open displays of that day's catch. They are open air restaurants. The prices are regulated by the local council and are on a notice board at the road side. All the cafes have to charge the same price, so competition is by food and service. Pick the one you fancy best, and you will get superb quality seafood and shellfish at very reasonable prices.
The old town is full of narrow streets with many restaurants, surf shops, tourist and craft shops. A really atmospheric and great place, it should be visited before mass tourism based at Agadir finds it. There are the remains of the old seawalls (Portuguese) and fortifications with small shops in the arches. At Easter and during the main holiday season, the shop owners will not haggle much, so shopping is best done out of season or in Marrakech. Several shops sell good paintings, or if you have a bit of luck the artists themselves are sometimes to be found around the fish docks or on the seas walls; try to buy direct from them.
On the road to Essaouria from Marrakech there is a small Argane oil Co-operative.
Argane oil is made from the nuts of the Argane tree which is very common in this area. The oil is good for skin treatment and also in a more refined form for cooking when it is said to be good for diabetics. The local goats like eating these nuts and can be seen in the trees.
As soon as you stop to take a photo they will miraculously appear from nowhere. Shepherds will ask for a small amount of money to allow the goat to continue posing so keep some change handy. |
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The new area has several hotels, but is otherwise quite boring. A good beach is at the town end of a large safe bay and is good for children.
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