Yesterday a few of us Tamraght locals took a day off surfing to enjoy some pool, palm tree and pampering time by the beautiful pool at the nearby Hyatt Place in Taghazout Bay. Having been in Tamraght for a while, it was very different to experience the village, which is fast becoming a town, from a distance and in large hotel luxury.

To watch the sunsetting over the sandy streets and pink glow of Tamraght, to step back and to fully appreciate the changes that are coming with the hotel development along the beach in front of us at Azul Guesthouse.

Only a few years ago the 5km stretch of beach from Tamraght to Taghazout was wild. Pristine sand dunes, fields for farming crops, grazing camels and rustic fishing huts. Now, the fields, camels and fishing huts have mostly gone, in its place are several four and five star hotels, the first of which, Riu Palace Tikida Taghazout just opened this week.

With Puro Beach set to open their first African beach club this month too, and Fairmont, Marriott, Hilton, among other international hotels, all under construction, and due to open in 2020. Change is happening fast. So much change for a small village. How will this affect the villagers daily lives? How will the old fit alongside the new? Will the surfers still be able to access the waves? Hell yes!

Reading by the pool at the Hyatt, enjoying sounds from the Pool Bar, and snoozing in super comfy sunloungers, with a generic international cuisine menu and multiple languages being spoken around us, it felt like we were on a glitzy Dubai-style holiday in Tamraght. Maybe a taste of the future.

Rest assured we at Azul Guesthouse will continue to offer you a traditional and warm Moroccan family surfer’s home-from-home experience. As a traditional Berber family, we plan to retain our strong Berber roots, and continue to combine this with the open-mindedness we have learned through our connection to the ocean, through generations of fishing, and now surfing.

We aim to offer you all-round holiday experience in Taghazout Bay, and we know well how a little luxury feels, so for those days when the waves are too big, too small, too windy, or you just fancy a day of chilling by the pool in a 5 star hotel, we can be easily encouraged to spend a day with you up at the Hyatt Place!

Entry price to the Hyatt Place pools is from 200 dirhams per day for use of two outdoor pools (one heated, one not) and towel rental. On Sundays they have a BBQ, entry from 12h00, price from 300 dirhams per person, including BBQ.