Anglet
Beach breakIntermediate
The beach by the Adour jetty, legendary in the sixties and still good in big swell.
The coast faces west and north-west: it works with a west or north-west swell and a south-east or easterly wind, common in the mornings. The Anglet and Biarritz beaches get extremely busy, especially in summer and at weekends; the reefs further south, from Bidart to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, demand more skill and respect. Water is 12–13 °C in winter and around 21 °C at the end of summer.
Map
Anglet
Beach breakIntermediate
Anglet's most powerful wave: hollow barrels and a channel by the jetty.
Anglet
Beach breakAll levels
The surf heart of Anglet, by the Chambre d'Amour: peaks between groynes for everyone.
Biarritz
Beach breakAll levels
Biarritz's city beach, in front of the casino and the Hôtel du Palais.
Biarritz
Beach breakBeginner
The birthplace of French surfing: soft, long waves, perfect for longboarding.
Biarritz
Beach breakIntermediate
South of Côte des Basques, under the cliff: more power and fewer people.
Bidart / Biarritz
ReefIntermediate
A rock bottom below Ilbarritz castle: it doesn't work often, but when it does it's quiet.
Bidart
Beach breakAll levels
A Bidart beach at the foot of the cliff, with sand peaks and some rock.
Guéthary
ReefExpert
Guéthary's great reef right, one of France's classic big waves.
Guéthary
ReefExpert
A big-wave left next to Guéthary, even more radical than Parlementia.
Guéthary
ReefIntermediate
A hidden reef bay between Guéthary and Lafitenia, best in small, clean swell.
Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Point breakIntermediate
A long, perfect right, one of Europe's classics.
Urrugne / Saint-Jean-de-Luz
ReefExpert
One of the world's most famous big waves: a reef 2 km offshore that only wakes up with giant swell.
Hendaye
Beach breakBeginner
A long, sheltered bay on the border: small, soft waves for learning.
Conditions at a glance
| Spot | Wave type | Level | Best swell | Best wind (offshore) | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Barre | Beach break | Intermediate | NW, W | SE, E, S | Low |
| Les Cavaliers | Beach break | Intermediate | W, NW | E, SE | Low to mid |
| Les Sables d'Or | Beach break | All levels | W, NW, SW | SE, E | All tides |
| Grande Plage | Beach break | All levels | NW, W | SE, E, S | Low to mid |
| Côte des Basques | Beach break | Beginner | W, NW, SW | E, SE, S | Low to mid (the beach almost disappears at high tide) |
| Marbella | Beach break | Intermediate | W, NW, SW | E, SE | Low to mid |
| Ilbarritz | Reef | Intermediate | NW, W | SE, E | Low to mid |
| Erretegia | Beach break | All levels | NW, W | SE, E | Mid |
| Guéthary (Parlementia) | Reef | Expert | NW, W | SE, E | All tides, depending on size |
| Avalanche | Reef | Expert | NW, W | SE, E | Low to mid |
| Cenitz | Reef | Intermediate | NW, W, SW | SE, E | High |
| Lafitenia | Point break | Intermediate | NW, W | SE, E, S | All tides |
| Belharra | Reef | Expert | NW, W | SE, E | Depends on the swell; breaks more than 2 km offshore |
| Hendaye | Beach break | Beginner | NW, W | S, SE, E | All tides |
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 21 °C in late summer.
4/3 wetsuit
The autumn-to-spring suit for water at 12–16 °C.
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5 mm booties
Warm feet in winter and protection on rocks.
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Shapers in the French Basque Country
Order a board designed for these waves from a local shaper.