Surfing is one of the world’s most popular sports. It is enjoyed by people everywhere, from the choppy shores of Cornwall to Melbourne’s Gold Coast. When winter comes around, and water temperatures fall below freezing in Europe and the Americas, many surfers either have to go abroad to surf or have to skip surfing for an entire season. For passionate surfers, this isn’t an option.
There are lots of fantastic winter surfing destinations waiting to be found. This article outlines what they are so that you can add them to your bucket list and go surfing this winter:
A Word of Warning
Even in the world’s warmest countries, temperatures can still get dangerously low in the winter months. If you are going to go surfing in a cold country, you must dress appropriately. You need to invest in a few winter wetsuits so that your body temperature doesn’t drop too low. If it does get too low, then you could suffer from hypothermia, which can be fatal. Ensure that you’re prepared for the climate you’re surfing in, and always check the local temperature before heading to the beach.
Morocco
Morocco is a very popular tourist destination. Most people visit the country for its architecture and Berber culture, but those in the know visit its beaches. Morocco’s beaches are award-winning. They are frequented by surfers from around the world during the winter months.
When the rest of the world is freezing, Morocco’s temperature is still warm, perfect for hitting the waves. Travelling to Morocco is usually very affordable, too, and they are lots of budget airlines that fly directly to the country. Instead of staying in a hotel, you can stay in Riyadh, which is also very affordable.
Bali
Bali is another popular surfing destination, although it can be expensive to get there. If money is no object, then Bali should definitely be on your bucket list and Bali’s fantastic for surfing at any time of year.
Most prefer visiting during the wet season, when the wind blows from the northwest, producing fantastic waves. In addition, if you visit during the rainy season, you will be able to get airline tickets and your hotel for less. There will also be fewer people there. Bali’s most popular surfing destination is its east coast.
Portugal
Portugal’s temperature can be mild in the winter months, but that doesn’t stop it from being a fantastic surfing destination. Like Morocco, travelling to Portugal is very affordable [provided that you’re travelling from somewhere in Europe, if you’re coming from Asia or the Americas, this might not be the case].
There are hundreds of beaches in Portugal popular with surfers, some of the most famous being Buarcos Beach and Cabedelo Beach. The food in Portugal is also delicious, so make sure to sample the local cuisine when you’re there after you finish surfing.
Australia
Australia is world-renowned for its beaches, and surfing is one of the country’s most popular sports. There are too many beaches to mention when it comes to Australia. A few of the most popular include Angourie Point, Bells Beach; Main Break; The Point; Aussie Pipe, and Kirra Beach. Water temperatures are cool in winter, but the temperature is still warm, which means you can still surf in shorts or bikinis. If you are concerned about the cold, you can always wear a winter bodysuit, as we suggested previously. Make sure to check the local water temperature before you go surfing to safeguard against hypothermia.
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are a top-rated surfing destination, which becomes alive with surfers in the winter months. The islands are located in Europe, off the coast of Africa. With that said, the Canary Islands are popular year-round. There isn’t technically a best’ time to visit the place for surfing, though some claim that October to March is the best time to visit. Because the Canary Islands are located in Europe, the winter months are the best time to visit. Hotels and airlines offer cheaper packages. La Izquieta is the most popular surf spot in the Canary Islands.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a great place to escape when it’s cold outside, and you want to surf. Costa Rica doesn’t only have award-winning beaches, but it has a surf culture. There is a massive community of expatriate surfers located in Costa Rica, and sometimes you can find entire towns and villages of them. If you want to meet other surfers and have fun with like-minded people, Costa Rica is the place to go. Not only is the weather beautiful in Costa Rica, but so is the culture, the food, and the people.
Philippines
The Philippines is a beautiful archipelago located in the Pacific Ocean. The island nation is renowned for its food, culture, and most of all, its beaches. Like Costa Rica, the Philippines has a huge surfing community. When temperatures drop in parts of Asia and the Americas, thousands of tourists head to the Philippines to soak up the sun and enjoy the beaches. When you are in the Philippines, then make sure to sample the local cuisine. Sinigang is one of the nation’s most popular dishes that are sure to warm you up after a long day splashing around in the ocean.
Hawaii
It would be wrong to make a list of surfing destinations without including Hawaii. For people from the Americas, Hawaii is a very popular winter surfing destination. The temperatures are beautiful, the people are warm and welcoming, and the beaches are award-winning. As with the Philippines and Costa Rica, Hawaii has a vast surfing culture with expatriates and locals. There are far too many beaches in Hawaii to mention, so if you are considering visiting there, make sure that you do your research and ask around. There are lots of lists compiling the islands’ best beaches online.
If you want to go surfing this winter, hopefully, we’ve helped give you some ideas or at least a little inspirt5ion, to get out there and live your best life.
Jessica Alexander
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