Top Surfing Vacation Destinations

One thing every surfer has in common is the quest for the perfect wave. They will travel the world to find that wave and may never succeed but they’ll have a great time and see some truly beautiful places. If you’re looking for your own perfect wave, you might find it in one of the top ten most popular surfing destinations in the world.

First and foremost on the list is the Gold Coast of Australia. This country is a popular vacation destination but to surfers, it’s nirvana. Gold Coast City is said to have beaches and waves superior to any other location on earth. There are about 43 miles of beaches with four point breaks and the friendly, hospitable Australians will make your surfing vacation one that you’ll never forget.

Fuerteventura, Spain is another fantastic place to search for that wave. Part of the Canary Islands and at the same latitude as Florida and Mexico, Fuerteventura is considered a Mecca for surfers world wide. The water temperatures are consistently between 64-75 degrees Fahrenheit (18C- 24C). October to March is the best time to surf here.

Everyone has heard of California, a great place to surf because of the wave variety which is best in the winter time. If you prefer smaller waves there are spots between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay that you’ll like but for the big ones you will want to go to Malibu, Steamer Lane or Rincon. Take a wet suit, as the water is cold even in the heat of summer. It’s crowded, so be prepared to share the surf with other enthusiasts.

Mentawai Islands, Indonesia is a chain of about seventy islands off the west coast of Sumatra. The four main islands are Siberut, Sipora, North Pagi and South Pagi. These can only be reached by public ferry or by chartering a boat. You’ll see the most impressive swells between June and September but the best time to go is March through October. While you’re there you’ll want to check out Bali, another ideal surfing destination. The swells there come in from Southern Ocean and the waves are consistently around 12’ high. Go from April through November for the best surfing but no matter what time you go it will be very crowded.

Jeffreys Bay, South Africa is about an hour’s drive southwest of Port Elizabeth and is one of the most famous surfing destinations. Go during June, July and August for best results. Jeffreys Bay is well known for its blue flag beaches and for hosting the yearly Billabong Pro WCT at Supertubes in July.

Santa Catarina, Brazil is an island with great beach resorts and consistent waves with a lot of variety. You’ll want to check out Joaquina Beach, one of the best in the country.

Costa Rica is legendary among hardcore surfers, who like its consistent waves. Go between April and October for major swells but be prepared for very bad roads! While you’re in Central America you can travel up the coast to El Savador, popular with surfers because the water isn’t crowded. It boasts swells up to 10’ but it’s very rocky so be sure to take your booties to protect your feet.

Last but not least is Samoa, northeast of Fiji in the Pacific Ocean. There is plenty of swell from every direction all year round and good quality waves. The hospitality of the Polynesian people combined with the warm water makes this truly a surfer’s paradise!