ESSENTIAL CONSIDERATIONS

VISAS
If you hold a full passport from North America, Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or the Scandinavian Countries, you require no visa to enter Morocco for up to ninety days. Among European nations, only Dutch, Belgian and Luxembourg citizens require visas - imposed in response to restrictions placed on visiting Moroccans. If your three months are up and you wish to extend your stay in Morocco, the easiest way to is to leave the country For a few days and re-enter through a different post. If your very unlucky, you may be turned back and asked to
obtain a re-entry visa prior to your return. If you would prefer to stay within the country, you can try applying officially    to the Bureau des étrangers (in the nearest main. town) for a residence permit, but it is a very complicated procedure. For more details on extending stays or applying for visas, contact your Moroccan Consulate abroad.
HEALTH
For minor health complaints, there is a pharmacy located on the South side of the main road running through
Taghazout, but if you need hospital treatment, the nearest hospital is in Agadir. The purchase of travel insurance is highly recommended for all travellers travelling to any destination.
IMMUNIZATIONS: There are no inoculations officially required for travellers to Morocco, but you should always be up-to-date with polio and tetanus immunizations. Some doctors also advise inoculation against typhoid and hepatitis A and B. Anti-bacterial medications are useful for diarrhoea, as well as typhoid prevention, particularly when travelling in the South. DIET: In order to avoid digestion problems, however, it is recommended that you watch your diet for at least the firs three days upon your arrival in a foreign country. This also concerns fresh fruits and vegetables.
WATER: Tap-water isn’t drinkable and is only used for dish-washing, bathing and laundry. Tap-water is precious, particularly in the more rural regions of Morocco (Taghazout being no exception), and should be used sparingly and conserved with care. Purified bottle water is inexpensive and sold everywhere. The brand with the most’ refreshing' taste is Sidi Ali, however, there are also other brands available such as Bahia and Sidi Harazem (the taste of which this author found particularly questionable). Note hat many of the river valleys and oasis in the South are said to be infected with bilharzias, so avoidance of all contact with slow-flowing rivers and oasis  water is a wise precaution
OTHER HEALTH HAZARDS: There are few natural hazards surrounding the more populated areas of Morocco (particularly the North), however, be wary of snakes, palm rats or scorpions if you choose to venture into the Sahara, as their bites can be very deadly. Heatstroke is also a common problem for travellers, so make sure you are adequately protected against the sun and drink lots of water.
CURRENCY AND BUDGETING
The local currency in Morocco is the dirham (abbrev. dh).Some current exchange rates go as follows:
1USD to 10,75dh1CDN to 6,91dh1EUR to 10,47dh 1HKD to 1,38dh 1YEN to 0,09dh
For other currency conversions, For most international visitors, Morocco is fairly inexpensive and, often, very good value in terms of food, accommodation and travel. By European and North American standards, costs are low, and if you stay in cheaper hotels (or camp out), eat local food, and share expenses with another person, you could get by on a shoestring budget of about $15-25USD per day. Budget even higher, and you will find yourself living quite comfortably. Note that there are no banks or ATM machines taghazout, so make sure you withdraw money before your arrival. If you run out or need some more, you can always head to Agadir.
************************PREPARING FOR THE TRIP******************************
CLIMATE CONSIDERATIONS:
BEST TIME TO GO
Between November and the beginning of April, the temperature is said to be the most pleasant, and the village only sees a handful of tourists. But note that during the winter season, the sea is known to be a little rough and parents are advised to watch their children during this time. From April onwards, as the summer sets in, so does the heat, and oftentimes, you may find yourself retreating indoors or taking frequent dips in the ocean to escape it. But if you happen to make a trip during the months of July or August, be prepared to see Taghazout invaded by Moroccan tourists on their summer vacations, crowding every square inch of beach. Good luck getting in and out of the village on weekends during this time, when hundreds line up to board a single bus, and bumper-to bumper traffic can be seen extending out of Taghazout asfar as the eye can see.
WHAT TO BRING
CLOTHING: in general, you can prepare to dress for relatively warm to hot weather. But it is recommended that you bring at least one sweater or jacket as the climate is dry, and temperatures may dip in the evenings.
WATER/BEACH GEAR: If you plan on doing any swimming, surfing or other water-related activities, you may bring your own gear. There is also gear available for rent if you do not have your own. Also, don't forget to bring sunscreen and / ora hat to protect yourself from the sun.
BOOKS: If you're a beach bum but not much of a surfer, it’s a good idea to bring your own books as the selection in Taghazout is very limited - think the drugstore shelf variety of yesteryear. Sometimes, people do leave behind books which are then collected and sold at the campsite. So if one of your titles happens to go missing, you may very well be able to buy it back at a reasonable price. Trades can also be negotiated. Special Note for
WOMEN TRAVELLERS: Asa special note for female travellers, you may want to consider bringing a good pair of sunglasses and extra loose-fitting, long sleeved garments if you intend on travelling further in Morocco, particularly to smaller, rural areas where women in general dress more modestly. You will find that you will not be such a target of (sometimes overly persistent) attention. In Taghazout, large modern cities (such as Rabat and Casablanca - except in high tourist areas such as souks) and in other areas of Southern Morocco, this does not seem to be as much of a problem as in Northern Morocco since the atmosphere is generally more relaxed, and the younger generations, modern, open minded and accustomed to tourists. For more information about what female travellers should expect when travelling Morocco, please visit the link page or keep an eye out for our upcoming feature article.
ELECTRICITY
If you happen to be bringing electrically-powered items, be sure that they are compliant with 220V.
LANGUAGE PREPARATION
The main language spoken in Taghazout is Tachelhit, dialect of the Berber language. Moroccan Arabic and French are also fluently spoken and understood, and many also speak some English as well, particularly in the restaurants and other places servicing tourists. However, learning at least a little bit of Berber is a good idea and will be well received by the locals and seen as an effort to reach out and understand their culture.
GETTING TO TAGHAZOUT
From THE AIRPORT: To get from the Airport to Agadir, you can catch a Grand Taxi from the airport into central Agadir for a standard fare of 150dh. If you would like to share the fare to cut costs(the taxis can hold six people), arrange this inside the terminal and be prepared to wait, since the taxi will not leave until it is full. A cheaper alternative would be to walkout to the road in front of the airport and catch the white  bus (every 40 minutes) for 3dh/person to the suburb of Inezgane, a major transport hub (and not much else). Then from Inezgane, you can take either the frequent local #5 or #6 buses to Agadir. Unfortunately, there is no direct bus from the airport to central Agadir.
From AGADIRT :  wo bus companies service the route in between Agadir and Taghazout. From Agadir, you can catch the local bus 12 or 61 to Taghazout from either Place Salam or Boulevard Mohammed V. If there are no buses, you can take a taxi, but expect to pay a much higher rate in the evenings than during the daytime.
WHEN IN TAGHAZOUT
GENERAL ORIENTATION
When taking the bus into Taghazout from Agadir, first you will pass a small, thin village known as Banana village.
Then, not long afterwards, you will turn onto a road lined with flagpoles displaying the Moroccan flag, a bold, fireenginered flag with a dark green five-pointed star in the centre. This main road is the only main road running through Taghazout and it basically divides the town into half, with the road running through it from North to South. Along this main road is a long line-up of restaurants and general supply stores, as well as a large square surrounded by little stalls selling crafts and groceries. Shooting off from this square are roads leading down (or Westward) towards the ocean. This is where most of the tourists automatically
head and, thus, where the inns are, as well as a few beachside cafés.
Anything East of the main road (up the hill) is basically local, residential neighbourhood, though beyond Taghazout lies a vast terrain of rolling hills which can make for some beautiful excursions into the countryside, as well as to neighbouring Berber villages.
FOOD, DRINK AND EATING OUT
If one thing is abundant in Taghazout it is "good eats". The first thing one notices when they enter the village is all the restaurants lined up along the main road. The funny thingis, they pretty much all serve the same typical French-
Moroccan fare   butter and baguettes, orange juice, salads, soups, omelettes, couscous and tagines. The quality, service and prices do vary a little from one to the next, but generally, they are all fairly similar. It is more the atmosphere - such as the seating arrangement and music selection - that will most likely determine which place will become your dine-in of choice. Most notably, the Restaurant Florida, located on the far left-hand side of the 'lineup', somehow manages to pull off a more refined atmosphere and boasts a damn good tagine to boot. Also, be sure to check out the more casual beach-side cafes such as Auberge, which has a nice, long outdoor patio perfect for people watching, Cafe  d 'Aftas, which has a
more funky, laidback Rasta feel - Bob Marley guaranteed -not to mention the best vegetarian salad, and the Panorama which, holding true to its name, faces a spectacular view of the beach to the South which stretches as far as the eye can see. For the most part, vegetarians are safe as long as you stick to salads (which, fortunately, are as fresh as they come) and request the vegetarian equivalent of the usual fare: sandwiches, soups, tagines and couscous. If you eat eggs, you can also request vegetarian omelettes. There are also a few little stall-like cafes on the Southern end of the road that offer lentils. A note about beverages, the classic beverage, for which Morocco is well-known, is mint tea - a concoction ofboiling water, sprigs of mint and lots of sugar. While it mayat first taste like 'tea-gone-wrong', there is good reason why tea-drinking is a classic, communal past-time among Moroccans, and after a few glasses, it will no doubt become yours too. It is both a charming ritual and abonding experience, but we'll just let you try it out for yourself. In addition to tea, Morocco is also blessed with having ubiquitous freshly-squeezed orange juice. A must try.
SHOPPING
For groceries and general needs, there are many little convenience stores around, particularly around the main
street leading from the square down towards the beach. The day of the Souk for the Berber community is Wednesday and it is held at Banana Village, which is about 12km from Agadir. For a more all-out shopping experience, there is a Grand Souk in Agadir which is open 7am to 7pm (19.00)daily except Monday.
PUBLIC WASHROOMS AND HAMMAMS
If you are staying in budget accommodation such as one of the inns in Taghazout, chances are you will only have
access to a cold shower. If you require more elaborate bathing arrangements, you may visit the public bath known
as the hammam.
ACCOMMODATION
As of this writing, there are no big five-star hotels in Taghazout, nor will there be any in the near future to crimp the village's small-town style. So for accommodation, youcan expect to either rent a room from one of the inns (orl auberge, as it is known in French), or find a room in a
local residence. There are many beautiful apartments available for rent at negotiable prices and to suit a variety of needs - such as close to the beach, far from the beach, close to the hammam, far from the hammam. All it takes isa little legwork - or you can also take a look at our Listing of Apartments Available for Rent.
ACTIVITIES
Water-gear, such as surfboards, is available in little stores along the main road. Camels and horses (and their friendly riders) are also available if you're too tired to make the trek from one side of the beach to the other, on the South side of Taghazout. See What to Bring for information on Books.
TOURIST INFORMATION
The nearest tourist office is the ONMT located in Agadir on the balcony level of Immeuble A, entered off Av. Sidi Mohamed along the raised walkway opposite the post office. There is also a Syndicat d'Initiative on Bd.
Mohammed V (tel: 08/84-03-07), opposite the campsite. On the whole, if you need to go to a bank, visit an
embassy or consulate office, or are in need of medical service, it is recommended that you go to Agadir. Refer to the Agadir Directory for details.
COMMUNICATION
POSTAL OFFICE: A small postal office is located in the centre of the village. Stamps can be bought in thelittle
store next to the Gendarmerie which is located on theSouth side of the village heading towards the Panorama restaurant.
INTERNET: As of this writing, the only Internet Cafe in Taghazout just recently closed down and is not expected tore-open, therefore, one must go to Agadir to access the internet. However, hopefully, a new internet cafe will open in the near future(at which time, this site will surely post an announcement).When there is an Internet Cafe in town, the connection is normally slow and sometimes problematic, causing the Internet Cafe to shutdown for a day or two.
TELEPHONE: There are two Teleboutiques, one located on the Northern end of the main road, and one located just offthe main road on a side street in the center of town. Both are open from 9am to 10pm (22.00). The teleboutiques basically consist of a row of phone booths. An attendant is present to exchange your larger bills for change, which you will need a lot of if you planning on having phone conversations more than 30 seconds long.
RELIGION
The main religion among the Berbers here is Islam. Five times a day, the call for prayer "Allah Akbar" can be heard dividing the day into five periods of worship: daybreak, noon, afternoon, the closing of the day, and night time. The mosque, located in the center of the village, is open to al Muslims.
POLICE
The Office for the Gendarmerie (police) is located on the road leading from the bottom of the square towards the
South of Agadir, on the way to the Panorama restaurant. The office is open for emergency service 24/7.
DRUGS AND THE LAW
While Morocco has been known to be a bit more relaxed about the (discreet) use of hashish (or kif as it is known there), it is, by law, illegal. Possession of hard narcotics (ecstasy, cocaine, etc.) is a serious offence. In Taghazout in particular, the Gendarmerie (police) presence is hard to miss. So just be sure that your stay in Taghazout does not end up being a stay in prison!
********************** We hope you enjoy your stay in Taghazout!*************************