Lège-Cap-Ferret
Beach breakAll levels
The ocean beaches of the Cap Ferret peninsula, facing the Arcachon Bay.
As in Landes, the coast faces west: west or north-west swell and an easterly wind, which usually blows in the morning. The sandbanks change with every storm and almost every beach has strong currents, especially in big swell, when they close out. As a curiosity, on the Dordogne river you can surf the mascaret, a tidal bore that travels upriver on the biggest tides.
Map
Lège-Cap-Ferret
Beach breakIntermediate
Powerful sandbanks in the middle of nature, with hollow rights at low tide.
Lège-Cap-Ferret
Beach breakAll levels
A dune beach that's busy in summer and almost empty in winter, with banks by the bunkers.
Le Porge
Beach breakAll levels
A wild beach between Lacanau and Cap Ferret, with far fewer people.
Lacanau
Beach breakAll levels
Gironde's surf capital, with peaks in front of the town and an international contest every summer.
Lacanau
Beach breakAll levels
The southern end of Lacanau: the same banks with fewer people.
Carcans
Beach breakAll levels
A small beach village north of Lacanau, with quality banks.
Hourtin
Beach breakIntermediate
Low-tide barrels on one of the quietest beaches in the Médoc.
Vendays-Montalivet
Beach breakAll levels
A quiet Médoc beach that works well when Lacanau closes out.
Grayan-et-l'Hôpital
Beach breakIntermediate
The best option in the northern Médoc in big swell: long, powerful waves by the bunkers.
Soulac-sur-Mer
Beach breakExpert
At the mouth of the Gironde: very hollow barrels only when everything else is closing out.
Saint-Pardon (Vayres)
RivermouthAll levels
A tidal bore that travels up the Dordogne river: you can ride it for hundreds of metres.
Conditions at a glance
| Spot | Wave type | Level | Best swell | Best wind (offshore) | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cap Ferret | Beach break | All levels | W, NW | E, SE, NE | Low to mid |
| Le Truc Vert | Beach break | Intermediate | W, NW | E, SE | Low |
| Le Grand Crohot | Beach break | All levels | W, NW, SW | E, SE, NE | All tides |
| Le Porge | Beach break | All levels | W, NW | E, SE, NE | Mid |
| Lacanau Océan | Beach break | All levels | W, NW, SW | E, SE, NE | All tides |
| Lacanau Super Sud | Beach break | All levels | W, SW, NW | E, SE | All tides |
| Carcans Plage | Beach break | All levels | W, NW, SW | E, SE, NE | All tides |
| Hourtin Plage | Beach break | Intermediate | W, NW | E, SE, NE | Low |
| Montalivet | Beach break | All levels | W, NW, SW | E, SE, NE | Low to mid |
| Le Gurp | Beach break | Intermediate | W, NW, SW | E, SE, S, NE | All tides |
| Soulac-sur-Mer | Beach break | Expert | W, NW | S, SE, E | Low to mid |
| Mascaret de Saint-Pardon | Rivermouth | All levels | — | — | Big spring tides, about 2 h after low tide on the coast |
Indicative information gathered from surf guides and surfers' experience. Conditions change with the sandbanks: check the forecast and ask at the beach.
Which wetsuit to bring
The water is around 12 °C in winter and 20 °C in late summer.
4/3 wetsuit
The autumn-to-spring suit for water at 12–16 °C.
View on Amazon
5 mm booties
Warm feet in winter and protection on rocks.
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.
Shapers in Gironde
Order a board designed for these waves from a local shaper.