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The essentials in three lines

  • Agadir – Legzira is about 155 km: the expressway to Tiznit, then regional road 104 via Mirleft. Allow 2 hr 45 to 3 hr without stops, on tarmac all the way.
  • Of Legzira's two great arches, one collapsed on 23 September 2016; the second, larger one is still standing, further south along the beach. You can only get close to it at low tide.
  • At Carsalis, mileage is unlimited: the 310 km or so of the round trip make no difference to your bill. Set off early and drive back in daylight, or stay the night there.

You are staying in Agadir and you have seen photos of Legzira: a beach at the foot of red cliffs, with a stone arch opening onto the ocean. In a hire car, it makes a full day out. What you still need to know is which way to go, how long you will be driving, whether there really is still an arch, and above all what time to arrive, because here the tide decides.

The route and journey time

From Agadir, take national road 1 towards Tiznit. Between Agadir and Tiznit, it has been built as an expressway, in other words a dual-carriageway road: the Ministry of Equipment lists it among the expressways in service, over 90 km. At Tiznit, follow the signs for Mirleft and Sidi Ifni: you join regional road 104, paved, with one lane in each direction, which runs down towards the coast. Mirleft is around forty kilometres from Tiznit, and Legzira about twenty kilometres further on.

The OSRM route planner gives about 156 km and 2 hr 45 between central Agadir and the beach; Le Routard states about 150 km. Work on about 155 km and 2 hr 45 to 3 hr without stops, which means a little over 300 km and 5 hr 30 to 6 hr of driving for the round trip. These times do not include breaks.

Outside built-up areas, the limit is 100 km/h unless a sign shows a lower one, which is often the case on the R104. If your GPS suggests cutting inland after Tiznit, stay on the R104. See also our article on driving in Morocco.

Stage Distance Time to allow Via
Central Agadir → Tiznit About 90 km About 1 hr 30 N1 expressway
Tiznit → Mirleft About 42 km 45 min to 1 hr R104
Mirleft → Legzira beach About 20 km About 30 min R104, then a small paved road
Legzira → Sidi Ifni (optional) About 12 km 15 to 20 min R104
Central Agadir → Legzira About 155 km 2 h 45 à 3 h Expressway, then R104
Al Massira airport → Legzira About 160 km 2 h 50 à 3 h 15 Same route

The arches: the one that fell, the one still standing

Legzira, or Lagzira, is a beach between Mirleft and Sidi Ifni, at the foot of red cliffs, known for its two great natural arches. One of them collapsed on the afternoon of Friday 23 September 2016, leaving a heap of red boulders on the sand. A large crack had appeared in March. The cause has not been established; erosion and the sea are the explanations put forward. No injuries were reported.

The second, larger arch is still standing, further south along the beach. The rock keeps wearing away: do not settle down at the foot of the cliffs, and avoid walking under the arch, especially when the tide is coming in.

Tides: the time that decides your day

To walk along the beach to the arch, you need to come at low tide: at high tide, the walk is no longer possible. Do not linger when the water comes back in.

The day before, check the tide times for Sidi Ifni, the nearest town, and plan your departure around them: the time of low tide changes every day. Ideally, arrive a little before low tide and leave before the sea comes back up.

From the car park to the beach: the car stays at the top

From the R104, a small paved road of about 800 metres leads to a car park above the beach. From there, steps lead down to the sand: the visit is on foot. At the bottom of the steps, a few cafés and guesthouses face the ocean. The remaining arch is about a kilometre's walk south along the beach.

Near the car park, an unpaved track carries on further down. Do not take it: our rental conditions prohibit unpaved tracks, unless the vehicle is expressly suited to them. Leave the car in the car park with nothing visible inside, and bring good shoes and water.

A typical day, with Mirleft and Sidi Ifni

8 am, leave Agadir. Check the fuel gauge before you set off: the car is returned with the same fuel level as at delivery (see our article on fuel when hiring a car).

Around 10:30 am, Mirleft. This village between the Anti-Atlas and the ocean, about 130 km from Agadir, has a string of beaches and coves: a coffee, then Imin Turga beach or Aftas beach.

Around 11:30 am, Legzira. Walk to the arch, then lunch at the bottom of the steps. Adjust the timing to the tide.

Early afternoon, optional: Sidi Ifni, about a dozen kilometres further south. A former Spanish enclave handed back to Morocco in 1969, the town has kept an Art Deco centre with white and blue façades.

Around 3:30 pm, head back. We recommend leaving the coast in mid-afternoon so that you drive the R104 in daylight. If you want the sunset, stay the night in Mirleft or Sidi Ifni instead.

Which car, and what your rental includes

The whole journey is on tarmac, right up to the car park. A city car or a saloon is fine: no need for a 4×4 to get to Legzira. The categories are listed on our cars page.

Mileage is unlimited and assistance is available 24/7. Rental is counted in 24-hour blocks, and being more than 2 hours late without our agreement means a full day is charged: if your day runs long, let us know on WhatsApp. The details are in our rental conditions.

In your booking request, state the car, your dates and times, and the pick-up location: in Agadir, delivery is free to the airport, your hotel or the city centre.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to drive from Agadir to Legzira?

Allow 2 hr 45 to 3 hr for about 155 km, via the expressway to Tiznit and then the R104 through Mirleft.

Is there still an arch at Legzira?

Yes. One of the two great arches collapsed in September 2016; the second, larger one is still standing. Come at low tide and keep your distance from the cliffs.

Do you need a 4×4 to get to Legzira?

No. The road is paved all the way to the car park above the beach, and a city car is fine. Unpaved tracks are prohibited by our rental conditions, unless the vehicle is expressly suited to them.

Sources

Written by the Carsalis team, in Agadir. We have been hiring out cars from our office at 4 Bis rue Moulay Driss since 2008. What you are reading here comes from our own rental conditions and from what our customers ask us every week on WhatsApp.

A question about your rental in Agadir? Write to us on WhatsApp at +212 648 291 116, or use our booking request. We usually reply within the minute, and we tell you straight whether the car is free or not.

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