A very good trip is all about planning

Plan carefully your trip to avoid ending up snorkelling with your little cousins, kids or even auntie Bridget whose main duty was to babysit them all. No waves and you will be experiencing one of the surfer’s most dreadful nightmare : swimming besides fish. However nice a clown fish is this is not what you are looking for.

Combine the right surfing season with the right destination and you will have a blast. Friends and good local food & drinks will be the cherry on the cake.

You are a beginner, an occasional, experienced or even pro-surfer. You like to spin the globe and ramdomly pick a spot (obviously a controlled ramdom pick because ending up next to the Great Wall of China is not the same as the Great Barrier Reef). Or you prefer doing in-depht research before deciding on your next destination.
The good news is : there is a season and a nice little beach with big / little waves for all !The ultimate surf seasons guide infographic done byBookSurfCamps.comwill show you when and where you need to be !

Now that we have sorted out the «WHEN TO GO» issue. Let’s have a look at these places by surf level (beginner and advanced). Please note that this is a non-exhaustive list and that each spot – especially beach breaks can change according to seasons and swells.

AFRICA

Morocco

BeginnersThe small village of Taghazout is a centre for the Moroccan surf culture and a great place to learn. Likewise, the nearby Berber village of Tamraght.

South Africa

BeginnersUmzumbe Beach on the KwaZulu-Natal coast, Durban, Muizenberg.
AdvancedEland’s Bay, Dungeons (Hout Bay, Cape Town), Jeffrey’s Bay, Llandudno

ASIA OCEANIA

Indonesia

All level
BeginnersBali (Kuta, Canggu)
IntermediateBali (Uluwatu, Padang-Padang, Keramas), G-Land Southeast Java
AdvancedBali (Uluwatu, Padang-Padang, Keramas) Nias Island located North of Sumatra. Mentawai, Siberut and Sipora Islands.

Thailand

From beginners to advanced
BeginnersKamala, Nai Harn, Bang Tao and Kalim. Phuket is perfect for beginners
IntermediateSurin and Pansea
AdvancedNorth of Phuket

Sri Lanka

Frombeginnerstoadvanced
During high season (May-September) the most famous surf spot Hikkaduwa becomes a nice place to hang out with a great surf vibes community.
Pottuvil In the Ampara district is a hidden gem as not so touristy with surf spots not so crowded.

Australia

Advancedsurfers
Bells Beach, Margaret River, The Gold Coast’s Superbank, South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula

Philippines

Any level
BeginnersEast Coast (Luzon Island)
IntermediateSouth to North, La Union, Llokos Northe and Zumbales(Luzon Island)
AdvancedBuler and Duet spots(Luzon east coast), Cloud 9 (Siragao Island)

EUROPE

France

BeginnersBiarritz, Anglet Marinella,
IntermediateLa Torche (Brittany), Lacanau, Hossegor, Les Cavaliers (Anglet)
AdvancedHossegor, Biarritz, Guethary

Portugal

BeginnersEriceira. Foz do Lizandro, São Julião and Praia do Sul.

The UK

BeginnersSaint Ouen’s Bay (Jersey), Belhaven Bay (Scotland), Newgale (Wales)

Spain

Beginners San Sebastian in the Basque country

THE AMERICAS

California

BeginnersManhattan Beach, San Onofre State Beach
IntermediateLa Jolla Shores, Rincon Beach, Del Mar
AdvancedBlacks Beach San Diego, Trestles Beach

Brazil

BeginnerSanta Catarina, Barra de Lagoa, Itacaré, Engenhoca
IntermediateSanta Catarina, Geriba
AdvancedSanta Catarina, Fernando de Noronha, Engenhoca

Peru

BeginnerCerro Azul, Huanchaco
Intermediate: Cerro Azul, Huanchaco
Advanced : Mancora

Costa Rica

BeginnersTamarindo, Santa Teresa, Playa Carmen, Playa Hermosa, Playa Cocles
IntermediatePlaya Guiones
AdvancedWitch’s Rock, Playa Guiones, Pavones, Salsa Brava

Mexico

BeginnersPlaya Hermosa (Ensenada), Cuyutlán, Sayulita
AdvancedPuerto Escondido, San Miguel, Todos Santos, Playa Olas Altas (Mazatlán), Puerto Escondido, Troncones Point

Chile

BeginnersTotoralillo
IntermediateTotoralillo
AdvancedArica, Pichilemu, La Puntilla, Playa Infiernillo, Punta de Lobos

Nicaragua

All level
Popoyo