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| Welcome to Sidi Ifni |
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| The Official Website of Sidi Ifni |
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History of Sidi Ifni |
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How to Find Sidi Ifni |
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Places to Stay |
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What the Locals Say |
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News and pictures |
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| Sidi Ifni |
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| This sleepy coastal town is the undiscovered gem of southern Morocco. Situated just two hours south of Agadir, Sidi Ifni is an unlikely mixture of Spanish Art-Deco architecture, European surfer-culture and pure Moroccan hospitality. Even though hundreds of tourists return year after year, Ifni maintains an unhurried, hassle-free atmosphere which is a breath of fresh ocean air to the weary traveler. Walking the palm-lined streets is a journey into its glorious past as part of the former Spanish Sahara. In its period as a Spanish enclave, the city was once home to a casino, a small airport, a zoo and even a discotheque. Nowadays during the daylight hours, ghosts are all that stroll the balustraded walkways while guitar-totting locals reminisce, strumming Roberto Carlos tunes in the cafes. The beaches are often deserted, offering visitors the opportunity to take a romantic stroll along the coast. In the evenings the locals take to the streets for the nightly promenade before mealtime, another remnant of the Spanish occupation. On foggy nights, they still fire up the old lighthouse to guide fishermen to the small port at the south end of town. Near the old airport, there's a busy fish market with a tempting variety of fresh seafood. Although the two main languages here are Moroccan Arabic and Tajalheit (the local Berber dialect), French is also widely spoken. Most of the older natives will happily converse with you in Spanish. If you get in a jam, you may even find an English speaker in the crowd. |
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The old Spanish Consulate; the view from Boulaalame |
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The Lay of the Land |
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In the center of town is the beautifully maintained Plaza de Espana. This well-manicured garden should not be missed not only for the greenery but for the cool Art-Deco pavillions. Just west of the plaza you'll find the area known to the locals as la Barandilla, Spanish for the railing. This historic balustrade runs along the beach and offers a spectacular view of the ocean. But while you're busy gazing at the Atlantic, don't forget to do an about face and check out Ifni's other natural wonder, the Atlas Mountains.
Ifni was built on that small piece of land between the edge of the Atlas mountains and the Atlantic. One of the largest mountains, Boulaalame, is also the name of the small district at the foot of the mountain on the town's east side. If the urge to do a little rock climbing takes you over, head for Boulaalame and go straight up. After reaching the summit, head south, you'll soon come across a huge rock formation that looks like it's got two eyes and a mouth ready to swallow you whole. The natives call it the Cannibal Rock. It's a great place to stop for a nip of mint tea and to catch a spectacular view of town. |
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The Beaches |
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The beach at Lagzeera |
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The beaches in Ifni are quite beautiful and many surfers claim they've stumbled onto some of the best waves on the planet. Even if you're not daring enough to venture out on a boogie board, you'll enjoy laying out in this calm relaxing atmosphere. In fact, many times during the year you may find you've got it all to yourself. You'll never forgive yourself for forgetting your camera if you head to the beach at Lagzeera, Arabic for the Island. The small village, built on a tiny peninsula is a short 8 kilometers north of Ifni. It has some of the most breathtaking caves and rock formations to be seen in all of Morocco. If you drive into town from the North, the beautiful beach in Miraleft will undoubtedly catch your eye. It's about 30k away. And some of the best swimming can be found in Sidi Ouarsik about 18 kilometers to the south. |
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| What's that Thing? |
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One of the first things visitors notice when they come here is the strange object that seems to be floating in the waters near the port. At first glance it appears to be a ship or perhaps an oil rig. It is actually an old conveyor originally constructed by the Spanish. Before the port was completed in the 1960's, the conveyor was used to transport cargo from the ships into the mountains. This conveyor is just one of many interesting remnants left from Ifni's fascinating history |
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