FOLLOW A COASTLINE

The surf atlas.

A world of possibilities, one pin at a time. Orange pins are destinations with full guides. Zoom in for dark pins marking the world's famous breaks.

Loading the atlas… The destination guides are available below.

Pins show approximate locations, not entry points or navigational advice. The same places are listed below for anyone not using the map. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Ericeira's whitewashed town above Praia do Algodio and the rocky Atlantic shoreEurope
Portugal

Ericeira

Atlantic days. Village nights.

◷ Sep–NovIntermediate · Advanced
Surfers riding the reef waves at UluwatuAsia
Bali, Indonesia

Uluwatu

Famous reefs. Golden cliffs.

◷ Apr–OctAdvanced
Taghazout village and bay beneath the Atlas foothillsAfrica
Morocco

Taghazout

Right-hand points. Winter sun.

◷ Oct–MarBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Aerial view of the palm-lined beach and fishing boats at Arugam BayAsia
Sri Lanka

Arugam Bay

East-coast points. Slow days.

◷ Apr–OctBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
A quiet curve of beach backed by forest near Nosara, Costa RicaAmericas
Costa Rica

Nosara

Jungle roads. Consistent peaks.

◷ Dec–AprBeginner · Intermediate
Surfers among the rocks of the Cape Byron marine protected areaOceania
Australia

Byron Bay

Point-break mornings. Easy afternoons.

◷ Jun–AugBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
A surfer on the rocks watching lines of swell wrap into Manu Bay, RaglanOceania
New Zealand

Raglan

Long lefts. Black-sand beaches.

◷ Mar–MayIntermediate · Advanced
A bicycle with a surfboard rack under palm trees above Swami's, EncinitasAmericas
California, USA

Encinitas

Reef points. Beach-town rhythm.

◷ Sep–NovBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Surf rolling into Tullan Strand beside Bundoran under a big Donegal skyEurope
Ireland

Bundoran

Cold water. Warm welcome.

◷ Sep–NovBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Aerial view of Praia dos Supertubos curving towards PenicheEurope
Portugal

Peniche

Find your side of the peninsula.

◷ Sep–NovBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Weligama Bay and its small island on Sri Lanka's south coastAsia
Sri Lanka

Weligama

A gentle bay. A tropical coast.

◷ Nov–AprBeginner · Intermediate
Boats among the golden rock arches of Ponta da Piedade, LagosEurope
Portugal

Lagos

Two coasts. One sunny base.

◷ Oct–AprBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Waves rolling into Praia do Tonel below the cliffs of SagresEurope
Portugal

Sagres

The end of the world. Waves in every wind.

◷ Sep–MayBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Aerial view of surfers on a turquoise wave off the coast of FuerteventuraEurope
Canary Islands, Spain

Fuerteventura

Volcanic reefs. Year-round sun.

◷ Oct–MarBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Famara beach curving below the Famara cliffs, LanzaroteEurope
Canary Islands, Spain

Lanzarote

Lava reefs. Famara's long beach.

◷ Oct–MarBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Waves washing around the temple rock at Batu Bolong, CangguAsia
Bali, Indonesia

Canggu

Rice fields, cafés and a wave for everyone.

◷ Apr–OctBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
A long wave peeling through the bay at Imsouane below the desert hillsAfrica
Morocco

Imsouane

One of Africa's longest rides.

◷ Oct–MarBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
A surfer launching off the lip at the Quiksilver Pro France in HossegorEurope
France

Hossegor

Europe's beach-break capital.

◷ Sep–NovBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
The Côte des Basques beach and promenade in BiarritzEurope
France

Biarritz

Where European surfing began.

◷ Sep–NovBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Fishermen on the rocks at sunset, Playa Santa Teresa, Costa RicaAmericas
Costa Rica

Santa Teresa

Jungle, sunsets and consistent peaks.

◷ Dec–AprBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Aerial view of Playa Tamarindo and its river mouth, GuanacasteAmericas
Costa Rica

Tamarindo

Learn here. Then explore Guanacaste.

◷ Dec–AprBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Sunrise behind a palm over Blue Beach Island at Nilwella, near HiriketiyaAsia
Sri Lanka

Hiriketiya

A horseshoe bay in the palms.

◷ Nov–AprBeginner · Intermediate
The Cloud 9 boardwalk at dusk, SiargaoAsia
Philippines

Siargao

Cloud 9 and island time.

◷ Aug–NovBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Morning light over the waves and rocks at Fistral Beach, NewquayEurope
Cornwall, UK

Newquay

Britain's surf capital.

◷ Sep–NovBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Lifeguard tower on the sand at Playa Zicatela, Puerto EscondidoAmericas
Oaxaca, Mexico

Puerto Escondido

The Mexican Pipeline, and a gentle point next door.

◷ Apr–OctBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Aerial view of Sayulita beach and town on the Riviera NayaritAmericas
Nayarit, Mexico

Sayulita

Colourful streets. Friendly waves.

◷ Nov–AprBeginner · Intermediate
A green wave breaking at Lobitos with an offshore oil platform behindAmericas
Piura, Peru

Lobitos

Desert lefts and oil-town charm.

◷ Apr–OctBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
A surfer driving a powerful cutback on a Jeffreys Bay right-handerAfrica
South Africa

Jeffreys Bay

One of the world's great right-hand points.

◷ Apr–SepBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
A surfer in front of a heavy, hollow wave at Teahupoo, TahitiOceania
French Polynesia

Tahiti

Heavy reef passes and black-sand beaches.

◷ Apr–OctBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
A surfer on a giant wave at Praia do Norte as spectators watch from the Nazaré headlandEurope
Portugal

Nazaré

Home of the biggest waves ever surfed.

◷ Oct–MarBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
A surfer carrying a yellow board along the waterline at ZarautzEurope
Basque Country, Spain

Zarautz

The Basque Country's longest beach.

◷ Sep–NovBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
The Mundaka river mouth and sandbars of the Urdaibai estuaryEurope
Basque Country, Spain

Mundaka

Europe's most famous left, when it breaks.

◷ Oct–JanBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
A surfer carving through spray during the Lacanau ProEurope
France

Lacanau

Bordeaux's beach, between the ocean and a lake.

◷ Sep–NovBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Waves peeling along Lahinch Strand in County ClareEurope
Ireland

Lahinch

A surf town between the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher.

◷ Sep–NovBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Fishing boats on the white sand at Selong Belanak, near Kuta LombokAsia
Lombok, Indonesia

Kuta Lombok

Boat-access reefs and empty bays, east of Bali.

◷ Apr–OctBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
A palm-fringed white-sand beach in the Mentawai IslandsAsia
West Sumatra, Indonesia

Mentawai Islands

The benchmark for perfect tropical reef waves.

◷ Mar–OctIntermediate · Advanced
A surfer riding a wave in La Union, the surfing capital of northern LuzonAsia
Luzon, Philippines

La Union

The surf capital of northern Luzon.

◷ Oct–MarBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Looking along the waves and sand of Kirra Beach from Kirra Point on the Gold CoastOceania
Queensland, Australia

Gold Coast

Right-hand points and a city built on surf.

◷ Feb–JunBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Hell's Gates headland in Noosa National ParkOceania
Queensland, Australia

Noosa

Longboard points in a national park.

◷ Feb–MayBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
A rider escaping a heavy wave at the Banzai Pipeline, North ShoreAmericas
Oahu, Hawaii, USA

North Shore, Oahu

Seven miles of the world's most famous waves.

◷ Nov–FebBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Surfers on gentle waves at Waikiki with hotels and Diamond Head behindAmericas
Oahu, Hawaii, USA

Waikiki

Where Duke Kahanamoku taught the world to surf.

◷ Apr–SepBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
The dunes behind Praia da Joaquina, Florianópolis, with the coast beyondAmericas
Santa Catarina, Brazil

Florianópolis

An island of forty beaches.

◷ Apr–SepBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
A surfer riding a green wave on the Kujukuri coast of ChibaAsia
Chiba, Japan

Ichinomiya

Tokyo's surf town and an Olympic beach.

◷ Aug–OctBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
A surfer on a wave at Popoyo, NicaraguaAmericas
Rivas, Nicaragua

Popoyo

Offshore winds and a reef that rarely sleeps.

◷ Mar–NovBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
A surfer silhouetted on a wave at sunset in TofinoAmericas
British Columbia, Canada

Tofino

Rainforest, storms and cold-water surf.

◷ Oct–MarBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Waves and spectators at Surfers Point, Margaret RiverOceania
Western Australia

Margaret River

Raw Indian Ocean power and world-class wine.

◷ Mar–SepBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Montaña Roja rising behind La Tejita beach near El Médano, TenerifeEurope
Canary Islands, Spain

Tenerife

Two coasts, one volcano and waves all year.

◷ Oct–MarBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
The cliffs and bay at Praia da Arrifana with the Pedra da AgulhaEurope
Portugal

Arrifana

A cliff-ringed bay on Portugal's wild west coast.

◷ Sep–MayBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
The sun setting behind the El Tunco rock on the beach at La LibertadAmericas
La Libertad, El Salvador

El Tunco

Surf, sunsets and the rock that named a town.

◷ Mar–OctBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Aerial view of the bay and point at Santa Catalina, PanamaAmericas
Veraguas, Panama

Santa Catalina

A powerful right and the gateway to Coiba.

◷ Apr–OctBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Aerial view of Ngor and its bay at the western tip of DakarAfrica
Senegal

Dakar

City surf at the westernmost tip of Africa.

◷ Oct–AprBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Wai'ao Beach and Wushi Harbour on the Yilan coast, with Guishan Island offshoreAsia
Yilan, Taiwan

Wai'ao

A black-sand beach with a station on the sand.

◷ Oct–MarBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
The giant coral boulders in the surf at Bathsheba, BarbadosAmericas
Barbados

Bathsheba

The Soup Bowl on Barbados's wild Atlantic coast.

◷ Nov–MarIntermediate · Advanced
Bells Beach and its cliffs on the Great Ocean Road, VictoriaOceania
Victoria, Australia

Bells Beach

Australia's most famous reef and the start of the Great Ocean Road.

◷ Mar–SepBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Palm trees and golden sand on Hikkaduwa beach, Sri LankaAsia
Sri Lanka

Hikkaduwa

Sri Lanka's original surf town.

◷ Nov–AprBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Baler Bay and the Sierra Madre foothills seen from above the townAsia
Aurora, Philippines

Baler

The birthplace of Philippine surfing.

◷ Oct–FebBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
The northern side of Croyde Bay, North DevonEurope
Devon, UK

Croyde

North Devon's punchy beach break.

◷ Sep–NovBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Rocky headland looking along the coast towards Jacó beachAmericas
Costa Rica

Jacó

The Central Pacific's closest surf to San José.

◷ Apr–OctBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Palm-fringed beach and rainforest on the Golfo Dulce near Golfito, the gateway to PavonesAmericas
Costa Rica

Pavones

One of the longest lefts in the world.

◷ Apr–OctIntermediate · Advanced
A cyclist under palm trees on the sand at Playa Cocles near Puerto ViejoAmericas
Limón, Costa Rica

Puerto Viejo

Caribbean reefs, reggae and rainforest.

◷ Dec–MarBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Clean lines of Atlantic swell rolling in at Strandhill, County SligoEurope
Ireland

Strandhill

Sligo's surf village below Knocknarea.

◷ Sep–NovBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Caballitos de totora reed boats standing on the beach at Huanchaco at sunsetAmericas
La Libertad, Peru

Huanchaco

Reed boats, long lefts and ancient ruins.

◷ Apr–OctBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
A surfer throwing spray off the top of a wave at MáncoraAmericas
Piura, Peru

Máncora

Warm water and a lively beach town in Peru's north.

◷ Nov–MarBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Palm trees leaning over the rocks and blue sea at Mirissa on Sri Lanka's south coastAsia
Sri Lanka

Mirissa

A reef break, blue whales and a palm-fringed bay.

◷ Nov–AprBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
View along the south-west coast of Madeira from Paul do Mar towards Jardim do MarEurope
Portugal

Madeira

Boulder rights under green cliffs.

◷ Oct–MarIntermediate · Advanced
Aerial view of Playa de Somo, Cantabria, with waves breaking on the sandEurope
Spain

Somo

Spain's schoolroom by the bay.

◷ Sep–AprBeginner · Intermediate
Playa de Las Canteras in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with waves and the city behindEurope
Spain

Gran Canaria

A city beach and a reef wave.

◷ Oct–MarBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Dunnet Bay and Dunnet Head near Thurso, CaithnessEurope
United Kingdom

Thurso

The far north, and a famous reef.

◷ Sep–MarIntermediate · Advanced
Torre di Capo Mannu on the Sinis coast of Sardinia above the seaEurope
Italy

Sardinia

Mediterranean surf, on its terms.

◷ Oct–AprBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Haukland Beach in Lofoten with turquoise water and mountainsEurope
Norway

Lofoten

Surfing above the Arctic Circle.

◷ Oct–MarBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Aerial view of the Durban beachfront and Golden Mile with surf along the sandAfrica
South Africa

Durban

Warm water. Pier peaks.

◷ Mar–Sep (swell), year-round (warm)Beginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Surf washing onto the long sandy beach at Praia do Tofo, MozambiqueAfrica
Mozambique

Tofo

Sand tracks. Whale-shark winters.

◷ May–SepBeginner · Intermediate
Waves breaking over a rocky shelf on a beach near Santa Maria, Sal, Cape VerdeAfrica
Cape Verde

Sal

Salt flats. Trade-wind reefs.

◷ Nov–MarBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Palm trees and sea at Busua beach, GhanaAfrica
Ghana

Busua

Fishing village. Easy lefts.

◷ Varies; ask locally (see guide)Beginner · Intermediate
Palm trees shading Sorake Beach on Nias with blue sea beyondAsia
Indonesia

Nias

One long right, a long way from anywhere.

◷ May–OctIntermediate · Advanced
A reef wave breaking off the Lakey beach in Dompu, Sumbawa, with an outrigger boat in the foregroundAsia
Indonesia

Lakey Peak

A tight A-frame and a crowd of friendly regulars.

◷ May–OctIntermediate · Advanced
Waves rolling onto the beach at Batu Karas, West JavaAsia
Indonesia

Batu Karas

Java's friendly right, with a village behind it.

◷ Apr–SepBeginner · Intermediate
Aerial view of surf breaking on the reef along the coast of Nusa LembonganAsia
Indonesia

Nusa Lembongan

Three reefs, one small island, half an hour from Bali.

◷ Apr–SepIntermediate · Advanced
Kata Beach on Phuket with rocks in the shallows and a blue skyAsia
Thailand

Phuket

Small, soft monsoon waves on a big tourist island.

◷ May–OctBeginner · Intermediate
Waves breaking on the beach below the red cliffs of Varkala, KeralaAsia
India

Varkala

Soft beach waves under red laterite cliffs.

◷ Oct–AprBeginner · Intermediate
Surf washing onto a sandy beach at Da Nang with the city skyline beyondAsia
Vietnam

Da Nang

A city beach with a seasonal winter swell.

◷ Sep–MarBeginner · Intermediate
Beach fales on Lalomanu Beach, Upolu, with Nuutele island offshoreOceania
Samoa

Upolu

Reef passes, village fees and a boat to the lineup.

◷ May–OctIntermediate · Advanced
Manly Beach in Sydney on a sunny summer day with swimmers and surfersOceania
Australia

Sydney

A harbour city with surf on the doorstep.

◷ Mar–AugBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Lion Rock rising from the black sand of North Piha beach under a blue skyOceania
New Zealand

Piha

Black sand, a lion in the surf.

◷ Feb–MayIntermediate · Advanced
Midway Beach at Gisborne with Young Nicks Head on the horizon under a blue skyOceania
New Zealand

Gisborne

Sunrise surf at the far east.

◷ Dec–AprBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Surfers waiting for waves at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, CaliforniaAmericas
USA

Santa Cruz

Cold water, point breaks, deep surf history.

◷ Sep–NovIntermediate · Advanced
Surfers and a breaking wave at Zuma Beach in MalibuAmericas
USA

Malibu

The right-hand wave that defined a coast.

◷ Jun–OctBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse rising above sea oats on the Outer Banks beachAmericas
USA

Outer Banks

Barrier islands, storm swell and sandbars.

◷ Sep–NovBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Windsurfer riding a wave at Hookipa Beach Park on MauiAmericas
USA

Maui

Winter north shores, summer south shores.

◷ Nov–MarBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Cerritos Beach near Todos Santos with breaking waves and desert hillsAmericas
Mexico

Todos Santos

Desert town, Pacific waves, an hour from Cabo.

◷ Oct–AprBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Domes Beach in Rincon, Puerto Rico, with the dome beside the coastAmericas
Puerto Rico

Rincón

Caribbean warmth with real winter swell.

◷ Nov–MarBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Kitesurfers on Kite Beach at Cabarete, Dominican RepublicAmericas
Dominican Republic

Cabarete

Wind sports capital with a reef wave next door.

◷ Nov–AprBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Palm-fringed beach and forested headland at Itacaré, BahiaAmericas
Brazil

Itacaré

Rainforest on one side, surf on the other.

◷ Year-roundBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced
Playa Malabrigo near Chicama under a blue skyAmericas
Peru

Chicama

A left that goes the distance.

◷ Apr–OctIntermediate · Advanced
Forested coast and beach at Dominical, Costa RicaAmericas
Costa Rica

Dominical

A river-mouth beach break with jungle behind.

◷ May–OctBeginner · Intermediate · Advanced