Whether surfing is your passion, or you’re just getting into the sport, get inspired to catch a wave with our roundup of some of the best places to surf around the world.
Bondi Beach, Sydney
Bondi Beach in Sydney is one of the top spots to surf in Australia, and also the most popular beach in the country. The beach is home to several surfing clubs, and is ideal for both experienced surfers and beginners.
Puerto Escondido, Mexico
This fishing village on Mexico’s Pacific coast is also known as the “Mexican pipeline” thanks to its large waves and strong current. It is loved by surfers, many of whom come to Puerto Escondido to surf, but end up staying to soak up the relaxed vibes of the area.
Playa Grande, Costa Rica
Located on Costa Rica’s North Pacific coast, Playa Grande is known as one of the best beaches for surfing in the country for a few reasons. The breaks and swells here are consistent, which makes for happy surfers, and the beach is quieter than some of Costa Rica’s other surfing spots.
Tofino, British Columbia
Tofino is Canada’s surfing capital. There are 35 kilometres of beach break to surf meaning there’s plenty of room for anyone who wants to catch a few waves. Chesterman beach is known as a good spot for beginners, and Long beach is Tofino’s most famous spot to surf.
El Salvador
The black sand beaches of El Salvador are the place to be for both beginner and experienced surfers. In particular, the laid back beach areas of El Zonte, El Sunzal, and El Tunco are among the favourites. There are also many budget-friendly accommodations to be found in and around El Salvador’s surfing spots.
Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
Jeffreys Bay continually finds itself on lists of the best places to surf in the world. There are opportunities here for beginners, as well as plenty of spots with big waves, ideal for advanced surfers.
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is often referred to as “Surf City” since there are so many places to hop on a board and hone your skills in the area. Whether you’re just starting out, or you’ve been surfing all your life, you’ll find a beach here that suits your surfing needs.
Oahu, Hawaii
Oahu can be considered the birthplace of big wave surfing and remains a mecca for surfers of all skill levels. There are more than 100 surf spots to choose from on the island. Take a surf lesson on iconic Waikiki beach, or watch the expert wave-catchers tackle the world famous Branzai Pipeline.
Bali, Indonesia
Avid surfers come to Bali for the beautiful beaches and the chance to catch waves in a premiere surfing spots. Both beginners and advanced surfers can enjoy the waves at Kuta beach, but Bukit Peninsula is where some of Bali’s best waves can be found.
Rincón, Puerto Rico
Known to have some of the best surfing in the Caribbean, Rincon, Puerto Rico is a haven for surfers of all skill levels. The area became a well-known surf when the 1968 Surfing Championships were held in Rincon. Some popular surfing spots include Sandy beach, Antonio’s, Tres Palmas, Maria’s and Pools beach.
Lead photo: Jean-Marc Astesana used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license
