Plage de Legzira’s red sandstone arches near Sidi Ifni
Published on 08/19/2026 at 09:55 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
On Morocco’s Atlantic coast north of Sidi Ifni, Plage de Legzira sets red sandstone cliffs against a broad sweep of ocean beach, with natural arches carved straight out of the rock. The stretch of coast lies in the Guelmim-Oued Noun region and has become one of the most recognisable shorelines in southern Morocco for its deep red stone and sculpted forms.
Red sandstone, sea and arches
Plage de Legzira occupies a wild section of Atlantic shoreline between the towns of Mirleft and Sidi Ifni, where cliffs of red sandstone descend to a long strip of sand and surf.Legzira lies a few kilometres north of Sidi Ifni and roughly south of Agadir along the same coastal corridor.The beach is associated with the rural commune of Tioughza and forms part of a wider belt of Atlantic fishing towns and small resorts.
The sandstone at Plage de Legzira weathers into arches and buttresses, creating openings where the cliff line meets the sand. For years the beach was known for a pair of very large arches that appeared in countless photographs and travel features, standing like gateways over the tidal zone.One of these arches collapsed in September 2016, a reminder that soft rock exposed to waves and wind does not stand unchanged. Even so, a substantial arch remains in place, and the cliff face still shows smaller sculpted forms and recesses along the beach.
A beach shaped by tide and Atlantic swell
Legzira is not only the cliffs; it is also a long sandy foreshore exposed to Atlantic swell. The beach extends for several kilometres beneath the cliffs, with fine, pale sand underfoot and open views in both directions.Descriptions of the shoreline mention a length of around 3 km, but the visual impression is of a generous, uninterrupted strip between rock and water rather than a compact cove.
Tides shape how visitors experience Plage de Legzira, because the sea reaches right up to the base of the cliffs at high water and retreats to reveal a wide apron of sand at low tide.Guides emphasise that the arches and beach are best appreciated when the tide is out and the sand lies exposed. At that point the arch can be approached on foot from the main access and the reflections of the cliff line in the wet sand become part of the scene. When waves push higher up the shore, the focus shifts to the sound and reach of the surf against the red rock.
From remote strand to recognised coastal landmark
For many years Legzira remained a remote strand known mostly within the region, reached by those willing to leave the main Atlantic road and descend towards the sea. Over time it has taken on a clearer identity within Morocco’s tourism geography as the “red arches” beach near Sidi Ifni.Travel guides describe it as lying about 11 km north of Sidi Ifni and around 150 km south of Agadir, and local and national media have highlighted it as a distinctive coastal landscape.
Within the province of Sidi Ifni, Plage de Legzira now stands alongside the town’s other beaches as a named destination rather than an anonymous stretch of coast.Reports describe the beach as drawing travellers for its combination of red cliffs, sand and Atlantic views. Simple accommodation and small cafés have emerged close to the main access path, but the overall impression from accounts and images remains one of open shore backed by rock rather than a heavily built-up seafront.
Visiting Plage de Legzira: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Plage de Legzira lies on Morocco’s south-west Atlantic coast in the Guelmim-Oued Noun region, around north of Sidi Ifni and between that town and Mirleft on the coastal road.
- The approach from the road drops from a clifftop plateau down towards the beach; paths and tracks follow a slope of sand and loose ground rather than formal steps.
- The Atlantic setting brings regular waves and changing tides, and sections of sand near the cliffs can be covered when the tide comes in, so attention to sea conditions on arrival is important.
- The official language is Arabic and the currency is the Moroccan dirham.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Plage de Legzira
Where is Plage de Legzira in relation to Sidi Ifni?
Plage de Legzira lies on Morocco’s south-west Atlantic coast in the Guelmim-Oued Noun region, a short distance north of the town of Sidi Ifni along the coastal road.
What should visitors expect when they reach the beach?
Visitors find cliffs of red sandstone dropping to a wide ocean beach, with arches and rock formations at the meeting point between land and sea and Atlantic waves breaking across the sand.
What makes Plage de Legzira distinctive among Morocco’s beaches?
The deep red sandstone cliffs and the natural arch that still spans part of the shore give Plage de Legzira a striking profile, combining geology and ocean surf in a single, continuous coastal scene.
