Carnota
About 7 km of sand facing Mount Pindo: peaks to choose from depending on the wind.
Carnota, often cited as the longest beach in Galicia, faces west and has peaks all along the sand. Its strength is variety: the south end handles a south-west wind better, and the north end a northerly.
It gets a little less swell than the most exposed beaches, but there's almost always room and few people.
Spot facts
| Wave type | Beach break |
|---|---|
| Direction | Lefts and rights |
| Level | All levels |
| Best swell | W, NW, SW |
| Best wind (offshore) | E, NE |
| Tide | All tides |
| Size | 0.5–2.5 m |
| Best season | Autumn to spring |
| Crowd | Light |
| Localism | Low |
Surf forecast
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Hour-by-hour forecast for 14 days, with stars for your board and level, and the whole site without ads.
Model forecast for open water a few kilometres offshore: it can't see sandbanks or the shelter of headlands and jetties. The rating (0–5) is worked out from this spot's ideal swell and wind. Use it as a guide and check the sea before paddling out. Data: Open-Meteo (DWD, ECMWF; CC BY 4.0)
Which board to bring
A funboard or longboard in small swell; a shortboard or fish when the swell picks up. How many litres? Work out your volume with the volume calculator.
What to bring to surf Carnota
The water is around 12 °C in winter and 17 °C in late summer. This is what we'd bring for this spot's water, level and boards.
The autumn-to-spring suit for water at 12–16 °C.
View on AmazonWarm feet in winter and protection on rocks.
View on AmazonThe safest, easiest board to learn on here.
View on AmazonKeeps your board from drifting off or hitting someone.
View on AmazonThe classic fish fins: speed in soft waves.
View on AmazonHold and smooth turns for a single fin.
View on AmazonAmazon affiliate links: if you buy through them, Shapers Europe earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Localism and vibe
A very quiet vibe: there's plenty of space.
Surfing style
Varied beach break.
Hazards
Currents and few lifeguarded areas outside summer.
Map
Other spots nearby
Muxía
A wild Costa da Morte beach, with lefts by the river mouth.
Sanxenxo / O Grove
The big beach of the Rías Baixas, between Sanxenxo and O Grove, which wakes up with a westerly swell.
Sanxenxo
Sanxenxo's surf beach: sand and rock peaks when the Rías Baixas get swell.
Malpica de Bergantiños
The beach by Malpica's harbour: it works with a south-west wind, when almost everything else is blown out.
Indicative information gathered from surf guides and surfers' experience. Conditions change with the sandbanks: check the forecast and ask at the beach.