Zarautz
Gipuzkoa's big surf beach: almost 3 km of peaks and one of the liveliest surf scenes in the Basque Country.
Zarautz is a long, very consistent beach with peaks spread along almost three kilometres of sand. It works best from mid to high tide, with a north or north-west swell and a southerly wind.
It's a real surf town, with schools, shops and contests, and one of the best places in the Basque Country to learn and progress.
Spot facts
| Wave type | Beach break |
|---|---|
| Direction | Lefts and rights |
| Level | All levels |
| Best swell | NW, N |
| Best wind (offshore) | S |
| Tide | Mid to high |
| Size | 0.5–3 m |
| Best season | All year |
| Crowd | Heavy |
| 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
Longboard or funboard for learning and small days; fish or shortboard when the swell picks up. How many litres? Work out your volume with the volume calculator.
What to bring to surf Zarautz
The water is around 12 °C in winter and 20 °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
Lots of people but an open vibe: there's room for everyone if you move away from the surf-school areas.
Surfing style
For everyone: learning, longboarding and performance surfing.
Hazards
Crowds and, at the eastern end, poorer water quality after rain.
Map
Shapers near Zarautz
Order a board designed for these waves from a local shaper.
Other spots nearby
Zarautz / Getaria (Gipuzkoa)
A reef between Zarautz and Getaria: an excellent right and, on huge swells, a left for kamikazes.
Orio (Gipuzkoa)
Orio's small Antilla beach by the estuary: gentle waves and shelter from westerly winds.
Getaria (Gipuzkoa)
A small, punchy, uncrowded Getaria beach for when Zarautz is packed.
Deba (Gipuzkoa)
A modest beach with a big-wave right on the point that only works on storm swells.
All spots in the Basque Country (Spain) →
Indicative information gathered from surf guides and surfers' experience. Conditions change with the sandbanks: check the forecast and ask at the beach.