Top Surf Destinations In Spain And Why They Are Increasingly Popular
When one thinks of Spain, it’s mostly about food, culture, architecture, and great weather, However, Spain is an increasingly popular place for surfers and is an experience like no other. Many parts of this beautiful country offer some excellent waves and surfing opportunities, which may be why it’s one of the most popular activities for visitors from all over Europe! Here we’ll take a look at what makes each destination so great for surfing, from spots with constant waves to giant ones for the experienced surfers out there!
Spain is a beautiful country with stunning coastlines that are perfect for surfing. If you’re looking for some of the best surf spots in Spain, look no further – we’ve got you covered. Here are our top 10 picks!
A few details you Should know about Spain
Spain is well known for its beautiful architecture, stunning scenery, tasty food, and passionate culture. But there are also plenty of other cool things about Spain that often get overlooked. For example, Spain is one of the best places in the world to surf, with world-renowned waves at spots like Mundaka and Tarifa. And of course, the food in Spain is second to none, with a huge variety of Tapas dishes to try. Whether you're looking for breathtaking scenery, delicious food, or perfect waves, Spain has it all.
Language
There are five official languages in Spain: Castilian, Catalan, Galician, Basque and Aranese (which has only 2,800 native speakers). The most common language in Spain is Spanish which is currently spoken by 94% of the total population as their first or second language.
Airport Options
Bilbao - Malaga - Alicante - San Sebastian - Alicante - Cadiz
Best Seasons to Surf
All year round
Airport options
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1. Cantabria Region
Cantabria is a hidden gem in Spain. It’s green and beautiful, with vineyards dotting the hillsides as far as you can see! Not only that but it has some amazing beaches too-which makes for great weekend getaways from all those city lights down south
A region known mostly by its wine production or historic significance often goes unnoticed when compared to other parts of our country;
However, Cantabría (the Spanish word meaning “Canttle”) bucks this trend by sitting proudly upon both counts: producing excellent wines alongside being home to one its most pristine beach regions found anywhere along The North Sea Coastline.
When to surf in Cantabria
Fall (September-November)
Winter
Spring
Playa de Somo, Cantabria
The beach break at Playa de Somo is a sheltered spot with reliable surf that can be accessed year-round. Offshore winds are from the southeast, and clean groundswells prevail in this area as well. The ideal swell direction for your surfing trip? North Northwest!
When waves do come through here they offer lefts or rights depending on what kind of wave you’re looking to catch; good traction will ensure success no matter which way it goes because these waters haven’t seen any tourists yet (don’t worry though – there’s plenty more where those came From). If things get too crowded along, start keeping an eye out because it can get a bit dangerous.
Playa de los Locos
Playa de Meron
Playa de Meron is an exposed beach break that has fairly consistent surf, although summer tends to be mostly flat. The best wind direction is from the southeast. Light onshore winds ruin the qulaity of Windswells and groundswells in equal measure and the ideal swell angle is from the northwest. Waves at the beach are both lefts and rights. Even when there are waves, it’s not likely to be crowded.
El Sardinero (Santander)
Playa de Sardinero is a small and picturesque beach break in Cantabria. The surf here runs along the coast’s whole length, with fairly consistent waves available at all times of the year due to its sheltered location facing away from most wind directions (only southwest ones can blow). Offshore winds make this spot popular for surfing when they’re blowing strong enough.
The beach break provides left and right-handers. Surfable at all stages of the tide. It’s often crowded here. Take special care here if it gets very crowded.
Other Decent Surf Spots in Cantabria, Spain
- Beria
- Pajaro
- Playa De Cuberris
2. Basque Country
The proud locals of this region have their language, culinary traditions, and distinctive geographic landscape. They are referred to as Euskadi or País Vasco which means “the land where Basque speakers live” in Spanish. The people here communicate with each other using unusual Dialectos vascos ( dialects ).
When you’re done with all that rough treatment from the waves, take time out for some scenic driving. The journey will lead through a string of traditional fishing villages whose names are hard to pronounce- but don’t worry because they’ve been put on this map just so their residents can find themselves in an unfamiliar place without too much difficulty!
From tiny Elantxobe (which translates roughly into “The town where dreams come true”)to drop-dead gorgeous Lekeitio; Getaria is the home base of fashion designer Cristobal Balenciaga– Rich ammonia molecules here make it a perfect breeding ground when making raw silk threads used throughout Spain’s centuries-old history.
When to surf in Basque Country
Fall (September-November)
Autumn is the peak time for Mundaka. The NW swell channel starts around October and the summer easterlies switch south. Low tide sessions when those happen are surfing at its very best. The lineup will swell and things can get nasty in the water.
Winter
WInter is very unpredictable. Winds can howl around the estuary and really chop things up. NW swells come regularly, though, so there’s decent scope to catch it working. Line up tends to thin a little.
Spring (April & May)
Spring resembles autumn a little. Look out for NW swells that will match with those low tides and Mundaka’s worth a look. As things quieten towards May, you can turn your attention to the nearby beach break of Bakio, which is a bit more of a swell magnet than Mundaka itself.
Menakoz
Meñakoz Beach is the ideal place for those who seek lonely and quiet places. The wild beach belongs to Barrika. Despite being a little remote from the urban center, it is close to the road to Sopelana.
Meñakoz is one of the most famous big-wave spots in all of Spain. It’s only available to experience, high-level surfers. It is a right-hander that is surfable up to 15 or 18 ft., extremely powerful, and with tube sections. but it offers incredible power and dangerous rock sections that make up its right-hander break where you can go for walks along scenic cliffs while being surrounded by beauty!
La Zurriola
There’s something about Zurriola Beach that just can’t be matched by any other San Sebastián beach. It’s one of the most vibrant and alive stretches you’ll find, with people ranging from surfers to sunbathers alike spending their day here at this gorgeous location! The sand here has been renovated, so it’s much smoother than before; this makes riding waves even more exhilarating.
Barinatxe / Sopelana
Sopelana is a small, exposed beach break that has dependable surf. There will be periods when no one else wants any part of their day spent at sea due to a lackluster tide but luckily this doesn’t happen very often so make sure to take advantage while it’s high tide because you might catch something special. The best wind direction is from the southeast. The beach break provides left and right-handers. It’s sometimes crowded here. It can even get crowded enough to be dangerous.
“Zurri ” as the locals call it is also a place where you can meet friends, enjoy the beach and move your body. It’s also home to many surf competitions as well daily classes for those who want more than just reading books in their downtime!
Other Decent Surf Spots in Basque Country, Spain
- Zarautz
- Pajaro
- Playa De Cuberris
3. Andalucia
Andalucía is a region with an intriguing history. For eight centuries, it sat on the volatile frontier between Christianity and Islam; Hence Andalucía underwent a cultural enrichment that created an extremely interesting mix: ancient mosques transformed into churches; vast palaces replete with stucco work; a cuisine enriched with North African spices; hammams and teahouses from the Moorish lifestyle; and a chain of lofty white towns that dominates the craggy landscape, from Granada’s Albayzín to the hilltop settlements of Cádiz province.
During the summer period, some of these Cádiz beaches only permit surfing outside bathing times. Summer is also when the waves are suitable for beginners. Perfect waves for experienced surfers usually occur in winter.
When to surf in Andalucia
Fall (September-November)
September is the official start of the season for surfing in Andalucia. However, October is the time when the waves start building and break well almost every day. It is when the swell channels to the south start going in earnest then, giving around 50% rideable days in the more consistent spots of Barbate and on the El Palmar surf. Look for a stay in the south of the Costa de la Luz, where everything’s more exposed.
Winter
Winter is the best season when it comes to surfing in the south of Spain.
Spring
The Spring season is short in Andalusia, but there are years when some decent S-SW swell hangs around until the end of May. You will find more reliable waves and weather the further south you go towards Tarifa, as Atlantic storms push northwards progressively.
Zahora (Barbate)
About an hour’s drive south of Cadiz, Playa de Zahora, is a real paradise of wild and unspoiled nature, is a 5.05km stretch of sand located in Barbate. It’s an ideal and safe place for both adults and children to visit in the summer and for surfers alike of course.
It has clear water, friendly locals, easy access, and good 3G+ coverage.
EL Palmar Beach, Vejer
The waves at El Palmar Surf are some of the best in Southern Spain. The beach has an ideal west-facing setting with a southern bend that allows it to get strong winter swells when they’re onshore, which means you won’t have any trouble finding good surf here!
No matter what your level or age group you are, there will always be something waiting just around the corner from where ever stand up first thing every morning. The beach is long and sandy-sounding there won’t be any problems from localism either!
La Yerbabuena is probablu the best right-hand point of the whole Costa de la Luz. Stronger southerly and even westerly swells can come into this part of the coast to the south of Cadiz. The video below shows the types of waves you can catch and what to expect once you put your board in the water.
Other Decent Surf Spots in Andalucia, Spain
- Guardiaro
- Conil de la frontera
- Los Caños de Meca
- Las Redes
- Playa de la Victoria
Our Winning Surf Spots in Spain
- Playa de Somo
- Menakoz
- Sopelana
- Mundaka
Closing thoughts about Surfing in Spain and the Perfect Spots
Ready to ride superb waves in Spain? With some of the best beaches and surfing in Europe, you will find the beach break you crave in this warm and welcoming country. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced surfer, there is something for everyone. Spain is underrated when it comes to surfing and a lot of professional wave riders are saying is on par with Portugal.
Both the South and North coast offer a great variety of handers as well as a solid surfing community and very decent surf camps. Depending on the seasons, you will be able to find perfect spots to board in Spain, no doubt about it.
We hope you have enjoyed our rundown of some of the best surfing spots in North and South Spain – get packing!