Asia Sri Lanka
Hiriketiya
A horseshoe bay in the palms.
BEST WAVES THIS MONTH
Where to surf in March.
March is a turning point. Northern storms start easing but still deliver, and the first Southern Ocean pulses wake up Central America and Indonesia. Crowds thin in Europe once school holidays pass, and shoulder prices start to appear.
59 of our 108 destinations list March in their suggested season; 25 of those usually have water at 25°C or warmer.
BEGINNER
Refine this list ↗Learning in March.
Size ranges a learner can use, and a season that suits it.
Asia 
Americas La Libertad, El Salvador
El Tunco
Surf, sunsets and the rock that named a town.
Americas Costa Rica
Santa Teresa
Jungle, sunsets and consistent peaks.
| Place | Offshore swell | Water | Wetsuit | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiriketiya | 1.1 m · 10 s · SE | 29°C | Boardshorts | 20 km/h E |
| El Tunco | 1.1 m · 13 s · S | 29°C | Boardshorts | 7 km/h NE |
| Santa Teresa | 1.1 m · 13 s · SW | 29°C | Boardshorts | 12 km/h NE |
| Hikkaduwa | 1.1 m · 12 s · S | 29°C | Boardshorts | 9 km/h W |
| Montañita | 1.2 m · 13 s · SW | 27°C | Boardshorts | 7 km/h S |
| Tamarindo | 1.3 m · 13 s · S | 28°C | Boardshorts | 15 km/h NE |
INTERMEDIATE
Refine this list ↗Progressing in March.
More days with real size, without constantly being over your head.
Africa Senegal
Dakar
City surf at the westernmost tip of Africa.
Americas Piura, Peru
Máncora
Warm water and a lively beach town in Peru's north.
Americas Chile
Pichilemu
Long lefts. Cold Pacific.
| Place | Offshore swell | Water | Wetsuit | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakar | 1.7 m · 13 s · NW | 19°C | 2 mm shorty or spring suit | 25 km/h N |
| Máncora | 1.6 m · 14 s · SW | 26°C | Boardshorts | 11 km/h S |
| Pichilemu | 1.6 m · 12 s · SW | 16°C | 3/2 mm full suit | 6 km/h S |
| Mentawai Islands | 1.5 m · 13 s · SW | 30°C | Boardshorts | 13 km/h W |
| Durban | 1.6 m · 10 s · E | 26°C | Boardshorts | 18 km/h NE |
| Tenerife | 1.5 m · 13 s · N | 18°C | 3/2 mm full suit | 8 km/h NE |
ADVANCED
Refine this list ↗Charging in March.
The most days with size and long-period swell.
Europe Portugal
Sagres
The end of the world. Waves in every wind.
Europe Canary Islands, Spain
Fuerteventura
Volcanic reefs. Year-round sun.
Europe Portugal
Nazaré
Home of the biggest waves ever surfed.
| Place | Offshore swell | Water | Wetsuit | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sagres | 2.5 m · 13 s · NW | 15°C | 4/3 mm full suit | 21 km/h N |
| Fuerteventura | 2.5 m · 13 s · N | 19°C | 2 mm shorty or spring suit | 25 km/h NE |
| Nazaré | 2.5 m · 13 s · NW | 14°C | 4/3 mm full suit | 19 km/h NW |
| Margaret River | 2.4 m · 12 s · S | 22°C | Rash vest or 1 mm top | 28 km/h SE |
| Porto & Matosinhos | 2.3 m · 12 s · NW | 14°C | 4/3 mm full suit | 15 km/h NW |
| Madeira | 2.5 m · 13 s · N | 17°C | 3/2 mm full suit | 17 km/h N |
Rankings combine ERA5 open-ocean data (2015–2024) with our suggested seasons. They describe typical months, not this year's surf, and sheltered spots can be much smaller than the figures here. How this works.