Dar El Pirata

Dar El Pirata is a guest house and surf school in one, set some fifteen metres from Briech beach, 8 km from Asilah and about thirty from Tangier. The project claims to be more than a place to sleep: a space to create, share and learn, run by a team of four who also work with local associations on non-formal education projects for the children of the area.

The water-sports side is called Pirates Surf. Manuel and Juan, who between them claim over twenty years of experience, run lessons adapted to every level and bespoke surf trips. Briech beach, where the Grifa river meets the sea, is the home ground: kilometres of empty sand-bottom waves, and a maze of channels in the river mouth that is ideal for kayaking and paddleboarding. Two further spots complete the programme: the Palomas cave 15 km to the south, a wild beach ringed by cliffs, and Camels Beach towards Tangier, surrounded by rocky hills and wild pine forest.

The house builds its stays to order — transport, accommodation and breakfast, special dinners, surf lessons or surfaris, kayaking and paddleboarding on the Grifa river, excursions, travel insurance — and also hosts workshops, retreats and artist residencies, drawing on the facilities of the Asilah museum of contemporary art next door. Boards, wetsuits and bicycles are available on site.

The property publishes no season and no opening hours. Stays, lessons and retreats are arranged on request, by contacting the house directly.