Paradis Plage Surf Yoga & Spa

A family story over three generations

The name comes from a small seaside hotel, Paradis Plage, where a family spent its holidays in the 1960s. In 1975 the family invested in the Europa Hôtel, then branched out beyond hospitality. It came back in 2010, with the third generation, creating the current resort on the same site, at kilometre 26 on the Essaouira road, in Imi Ouaddar.

The idea of a hotel built around surfing, yoga and wellbeing came from that generation's passion and a partnership with François Payot, managing director of the surf brand Rip Curl. The estate covers 3 hectares of gardens alongside a 5 km beach.

A hotel that aims to be eco-responsible

The resort describes itself as Morocco's first eco-resort. The designer Sergio Castaneda Beltran used only local plants, and the building materials come from less than 30 km away. Since 2016 the hotel has held the Green Key label (an international environmental label for tourist accommodation), and its kitchens follow ISO 22000 (the international food-safety standard). It takes part in beach clean-ups with local associations, including Surfrider Foundation.

A day of surf and yoga

The day starts early in the shala, the beachfront yoga room, whose sliding glass doors open onto the garden and the Atlantic. There are three classes a day, at 200 Moroccan dirhams (MAD) each, local time:

• 7 am, Sunrise Yoga, a dynamic flow built around sun salutations;
• 8.30 am, Sense of Yoga, a workshop on posture alignment, with students choosing the focus;
• 5.30 pm, Sunset Yoga, slow, meditative yin yoga; on Wednesdays and Saturdays it gives way to a guided breathwork session (300 MAD).

Breakfast is at L'Océan, from 7 to 10.30 am, a buffet with vegan and gluten-free options.

Then the Surf House, the hotel's surf centre, run in partnership with Rip Curl, takes over. Lessons last 1 hour 30 a day, board included, with Rip Curl wetsuits available. Packages listed in October 2026: 665 MAD for 2 days, 1,575 MAD for 5 days. For experienced surfers, guided half-day trips to spots along the coast, transport included, cost 950 MAD for 2 days and 2,250 MAD for 5 days.

Beginners start on the gentle waves of K14 (Imourane) and Crocro, best from spring to autumn; Banana Point and Anza suit intermediates, and the points of Anchor Point, Killer Point or Dracula experienced surfers. The Surf House also organises sandboarding on the Tamri dunes, for groups of four or more.

Lunch is at Le Cabanon, on the beach by the Surf House (poke bowls, salads, grilled fish, 12.30 to 10.30 pm), or at Le Panorama, by the pool facing the ocean (Mediterranean cooking, 12.30 to 7 pm). In the evening, Le Palmier serves Moroccan, international and vegetarian dishes à la carte, from 7 to 10.30 pm. Weather permitting, the Surf House lights a campfire or sets up an open-air cinema.

The Paradise Eco Spa combines traditional Moroccan treatments with massages from other traditions; the gym is complemented by an outdoor training area. Surfing, yoga and spa are charged on top of the room, per session or as a package.

Which room to choose

All rooms are suites or standalone houses, from 62 to 150 m². For a couple, the Junior Suite is enough; the Premium Suite adds a separate living room facing the ocean. A family should choose the Prestige Suite, two bedrooms on the garden side, or a standalone bungalow, each named after a famous surf spot; the four villas, with three bedrooms and direct beach access, sleep up to seven.

With children

The kids' club takes 4- to 12-year-olds every day, 10.30 am to 12.30 pm and 2 to 7 pm: sandcastle and drawing contests, beach clean-ups, team games. A grass play area has a zip line, swings and a slide. Babysitting is charged.

Sabaro's view

Who it suits: couples and families who come to surf or learn, yoga lovers, travellers who want an active week without changing hotels.

Strengths: surf and yoga on site, on a fixed timetable; spacious suites from 62 m²; villas right on the sand; a family-run house, Green Key labelled since 2016; a Booking.com score of 8.7/10 from more than 1,300 reviews.

Good to know: the hotel is 7 km from Taghazout village and about 43 km from Agadir airport; surf lessons, yoga and treatments are extra; depending on sea conditions, a 100 MAD supplement may apply to surf lessons.