Essaouira · Month comparison

July vs May

May ranks #1 overall vs July at #11. Best all-round month — 21C, almost no rain, wind manageable till midday, riad rates not yet at summer peak.

July Essaouira kitesurfers and windsurfers in strong Alize wind

July

#11 of 12 months

Strong option

Peak Alizé wind season — 35-45 km/h afternoon trade winds make it kitesurfing world capital but blast the beach.

  • ↑Kitesurf world-cup-level conditions — Sidi Kaouki and Moulay Bouzerktoun packed with pros
  • ↑Cool 23C while inland Morocco bakes at 40C — Essaouira is the summer escape for Casablancans
May Essaouira ramparts overlooking Atlantic with surfers in distance

May

#1 of 12 months

Best match

Best all-round month — 21C, almost no rain, wind manageable till midday, riad rates not yet at summer peak.

  • ↑Sea temp climbing to 18C — surf possible in 3/2 wetsuit
  • ↑Morning calm allows breakfast on the ramparts and a beach walk before wind picks up
FactorJulyMay
Weather score
6
9
Value score
3
6
Crowd score
2
5
Events score
6
5
Atmosphere
8
9
Avg high temp23°C21°C
Monthly rain0mm7mm
Daily sunshine11hrs10hrs

July trade-offs

  • ↓Afternoon beach unusable — 40 km/h sandblast wind 14:00-19:00
  • ↓Domestic Moroccan vacation peak — medina restaurants need bookings
  • ↓Riad rates at year-peak — Heure Bleue from MAD 2,200 vs MAD 900 in February

May trade-offs

  • ↓Kitesurf schools busiest as Europeans descend for half-term break
  • ↓Boutique riad rates jumping 20-30% vs April
  • ↓Top riads (Heure Bleue, La Sultana) require 6-8 week lead time
See all 12 months for Essaouira →July in detail →May in detail →
Scores compare months within Essaouira. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →