Mundaka (Bizkaia)
RivermouthExpert
Europe's most famous river-mouth left: long barrels over a sandbank in the Urdaibai estuary.
The whole coast faces north: the best days come with a north-west swell and a southerly wind. Beaches near Bilbao and San Sebastián get crowded at weekends, and the big-wave reefs only wake up with autumn and winter storms. Water is 12–14 °C in winter: bring a 4/3 or 5/4.
Map
Ibarrangelu (Bizkaia)
Beach breakAll levels
A beautiful beach below Cape Ogoño, across the estuary from Mundaka.
Bakio (Bizkaia)
Beach breakAll levels
A fast, hollow beach break, with a long right by Peña Roja.
Plentzia (Bizkaia)
Beach breakAll levels
Plentzia's sheltered bay: the plan B when the rest of Bizkaia is maxed out.
Sopelana / Barrika (Bizkaia)
ReefExpert
Bizkaia's big-wave right, breaking over a rock slab.
Sopela (Bizkaia)
Beach breakAll levels
Bilbao's surf beach: Arrietara and Atxabiribil, with peaks for every level.
Getxo / Sopela (Bizkaia)
Beach breakIntermediate
A punchy beach break between Getxo and Sopela, with La Triangular, a classic rock right.
Donostia / San Sebastián
Beach breakAll levels
San Sebastián's surf beach in the Gros district: consistent, urban and always busy.
Zarautz (Gipuzkoa)
Beach breakAll levels
Gipuzkoa's big surf beach: almost 3 km of peaks and one of the liveliest surf scenes in the Basque Country.
Zarautz / Getaria (Gipuzkoa)
ReefExpert
A reef between Zarautz and Getaria: an excellent right and, on huge swells, a left for kamikazes.
Getaria (Gipuzkoa)
Beach breakIntermediate
A small, punchy, uncrowded Getaria beach for when Zarautz is packed.
Orio (Gipuzkoa)
Beach breakBeginner
Orio's small Antilla beach by the estuary: gentle waves and shelter from westerly winds.
Deba (Gipuzkoa)
ReefExpert
A modest beach with a big-wave right on the point that only works on storm swells.
Mutriku (Gipuzkoa)
ReefExpert
A fast, high-quality reef left that only works a few days a year.
Conditions at a glance
| Spot | Wave type | Level | Best swell | Best wind (offshore) | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mundaka | Rivermouth | Expert | NW, W | S, SW, SE | Low to mid, best on the dropping tide |
| Laga | Beach break | All levels | NW | S, SE | Low to mid |
| Bakio | Beach break | All levels | NW, N | S | All; best low to mid on the rising tide |
| Plentzia / Gorliz | Beach break | All levels | NW, N | S, SW | Low |
| Meñakoz | Reef | Expert | NW, N | S, SE | High, rising |
| Sopelana | Beach break | All levels | NW, N | S, SE, SW | All tides |
| La Salvaje (Barinatxe) | Beach break | Intermediate | NW, N | S, SE | All tides |
| La Zurriola | Beach break | All levels | N, NW | S, SE | All; breakwater left at low tide |
| Zarautz | Beach break | All levels | NW, N | S | Mid to high |
| Roca Puta (Orrua) | Reef | Expert | NW | SE, S | Low to mid, rising |
| Gaztetape | Beach break | Intermediate | NW, N | S | Mid |
| Orio (Antilla) | Beach break | Beginner | NW | S | Low |
| Deba | Reef | Expert | NW, N, W | S, SE | Depends on the peak |
| Mutriku | Reef | Expert | NW | S, SW, SE | Low |
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.
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5 mm booties
Warm feet in winter and protection on rocks.
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Shapers in the Basque Country (Spain)
Order a board designed for these waves from a local shaper.