Yes you read that right, living in a dreamy Moroccan surf town FOR FREE!!! and I’m going to tell you all about how I did it, why I did it, and how you can do it as well.
For starters, let me set the scene for you guys so you really understand where I was able to live for free, and the lifestyle I was able to have for a month.
So I lived in a small surf and fishing village called Awrir. It’s located just south of the infamous backpacker spot of Taghazout, and just about 20 minutes north of the major city of Agadir. It’s situated right next to the surf village of Tamraght which is another super iconic spot for travelers. Awrir is very nice if you are someone who is looking for access to the touristy surf spots, but being based in a village that’s a bit more local and laid back. Awrir for me was perfect. I loved Morocco but something I struggled with was the level of tourism all over the country, so I really appreciated Awrir for its local vibe and atmosphere
Now let me allow you to visualize the vibes. Awrir, also known as Banana Village, is a small village located right in front of the Atlantic coast, with some iconic surf breaks. The village goes back into the mountains surrounding it, and you can get some unreal views of both the ocean and surf breaks as well as the mountains and villages built up on the hills and peaks. You are closely located to many iconic spots such as Taghazout, Tamraght, Anza, Agadir and even only an hour and a half ride to Imsouane, or three hours to Marrakech.
Time moved slower in these Moroccan surf towns. They don’t have the chaos and noise of Moroccan destinations like Marrakech or Fes, but Awrir still gives you local culture and daily life instead of tourism thrown in your face. You can stroll down the main road in Awrir to shop like the locals do for fruits and vegetables. You’ll find fresh fish and meat markets and so much available just the way the locals purchase it. During my month here I made such good friends with all of the local vendors who I would go to every day.
From Awrir you can walk directly to Banana Point, K-11, Devils Rock and even Crocodile Beach for a different variety of surf breaks, and you can also get a car or shuttle to any of the other surrounding breaks to change it up. There are surf shops scattered around Awrir, and a few surf camps (which I’ll get into later). You can rent a board and a wetsuit and head into the water completely on your own. The area is super calm and I never felt scared to leave my stuff on the beach when surfing, as the culture of people here is all very welcoming and kind, all enjoying the outdoors. The locals are surfing, fishing, working in the markets and all enjoying the environment just as much as a tourist. I loved every night at sunset how the locals would all come to the beach and sit with friends or in chairs just enjoying the waves and the beautiful sunset every evening.
And the best part is all of the cuties running around the beach. If you are a dog person, you’ll find a little buddy here in Awrir. I had 100 adopted Moroccan dogs by the end of the month that I unfortunately couldn’t take with me. But the vibes here are just so laid back and chill, I would be lounging on the beach after a surf with the dogs for hours, with not a care in the world.
So by now, you are probably thinking how on earth could you live in a place like this for free. So let me explain.
In the travel world, spanning across almost every country in the world, there is something called a work exchange. There are two really popular websites to find work exchanges, Worldpackers (what I used) or Workaway. You can also find work exchanges organically in person or nowadays just on social media. But basically a work exchange is as simple as it sounds. For a few hours of work each day, you get things in exchange. For many of these types of work exchanges, you get free accommodation and often food and other things as well. Now the type of work you do and the things you get in exchange vary depending on where in the world you are, the type of establishment it is, and the person you are working for. I’ve done work exchanges where I did laundry and made beds in hostels, I’ve done teaching English in a village, I’ve done social media content for people, teaching yoga, and so much more. You can find anything. If you are an outdoor person and want to do farm work or sustainable work, if you are creative and want to paint or whatever, you’ll find it.
They literally have the most random and niche positions sometimes, you’re bound to find something that you could do.
In terms of the things you get for exchange, it is usually accommodation plus extras such as free food, free laundry, free yoga or fitness classes, free surfboard rental, free activities and events, free use of bikes, and so much more.
For this specific position I had in Awrir I worked at a local surf camp and I taught yoga, helped with check ins, and just set up breakfast and dinner tables. For a few hours of work a day I had free accommodation in a dorm room, free breakfast and dinner, free surfboard whenever I wanted, free use of the kitchen and yoga mats, free time to relax, surf, and explore. And I got to join many surf lessons and adventures with the guests and owner when I could. All I had to cover was my travel costs to the accommodation, and extra food or activities if I wished. During the entire month I probably spent around 40 USD on some extra food and random bits. Other than that, my stay was practically free for just a couple hours of simple tasks each day.
Now you may ask why would you do something like this. Not just for the budget aspect of it, but also for the experience. Working closely with locals, getting to live more stable and structured in a foreign city. For a month I felt like I was living rather than traveling. My days looked somewhat similar each day in regards to my routine. I knew when I needed to be working, when I had free time, and I knew the area. I didn’t need to explore every day, I could just live my day like I normally would in a place with this environment. I was able to go for a run, enjoy the surf, relax, and also do my own personal freelance work as well. So earning money and saving money at the same time. It was really an amazing setup to have, and I got to meet so many amazing locals during my time there, and also so many wonderful and unique travelers that came through the surf camp during my time there.
So if you are someone who wants to save money, find some structure and routine on the road, and have the chance to live in some pretty cool places doing some pretty cool things, then you should definitely look into work exchanges. If you are interested in Worldpackers, you can use the link here to create an account and pay for a subscription. For a year subscription you can apply and work at as many places as you want, and it’s a super good deal and they offer tons of support for you as a volunteer. You can message people who were there before you, and even message the hosts so you know exactly what you are getting yourself into.
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