Surf in Galicia, one of the best destinations in Spain

With its 1,500 kilometers of coast, Galicia is dotted with a large number of beaches that allow you to visit different surf spots in a very short time. In addition to its beaches, Galicia offers visitors cliffs, towns, villages with a special charm, and spectacular cuisine. All this makes Galicia a must-visit for surf lovers. Galicia into a mandatory stop for surf lovers.

✓What is the best wave season in Galicia?

The best wave season in Galicia is in Spring and Autumn. If you are wondering when to go surfing in Galicia, we recommend the months of September to February.

✓What are the best surf beaches in Galicia?

It is not easy to establish a ranking of the best beaches for surfing in Galicia . There are many beaches and the Galician coast is extensive. So we will be delighted if you share your preferences for surfing on this wonderful coast with us.

And without further ado, below we tell you what for us are the the 5 best surf spots in Galicia

Surf route through Galicia

THE BEST BEACHES FOR SURFING IN GALICIA

1. Pantín

La Pantín Beach might be the best known on the Galician coast. Partly thanks to the fact that the Pantin Classic Galicia Pro is held there. A qualifying event for the World Surf League circuit. Legendary as it is, Pantín is a beach with waves practically all year round and which withstands a great variety of conditions. However, if you want to enjoy Pantín’s waves in all their splendor, the ideal conditions occur with south wind and west direction groundswell between 1.5 and 2 meters.

There are a couple of surf schools on Pantín Beach. So don’t worry if you don’t have your gear. If you are looking for a surf course in Galicia, any of the schools in the area can inform you about prices and dates.

Photo @Alawa Surf Camp

2. Doñinos

Located near the city of Ferrol, Doñinos is another of the most mythical beaches in Galicia. It is an almost 2-kilometer stretch of fine sand with high-quality waves. Like Pantín, Doñinos beach enjoys very consistent conditions for surfing throughout almost the entire year. If we had to choose a date, we would say that spring and summer are the two best seasons to surf here.

• Wind: West
• Swell: West-Northwest
• Size: 2 meters
• Tide: depends on the depths but better at low tide

3. Razo

Razo beach with its more than 5 kilometers of sand is one of the most well-known surf spots in Galicia. A beach that enjoys its best wave season in autumn. A time when it is favored by south winds and the northwest groundswell.

Razo can boast of having both right and left peaks and working independently of the tide point. Although it is always better to do it at mid-rising tide. Without a doubt, a good place to learn to surf, but also for intermediate and advanced surfers. There are a couple of surf schools on the beach where you can rent equipment.

• Wind: South
• Swell: Northwest
• Size: 2 meters
• Tide: depends on the depths but better at mid-high tide

4. Patos

photo @singlequiver

Patos Beach, very close to Vigo, enjoys a privileged view . From its sand, you can see the Cíes Islands . Being so close to a major city, its peaks are usually quite crowded. On weekdays, it is possible to surf with few people, but on weekends, it is better to look for other alternatives. Like Razo beach, Patos can boast of having both left and right peaks. Although in this case, the left peak works better at Patos.

• Wind: South
• Swell: Northwest
• Size: 2 meters
• Tide: mid tide / high tide

5. Sabón

And we finished the route at Sabón Beach. Sabón is located in the municipality of Arteixo and is a beach that needs a lot of sea, as the breakwater of the port slows down the waves. However, when it works, it is one of the best spots on the Galician coast. There are several peaks that break well with all tides and is suitable for any level.

• Wind: South / southwest
• Swell: Northwest / west
• Size: 2 meters
• Tide: all tides

And to finish, we leave you with a good video titled «Alive / Alive» Galicia which shows us again the beauty and secrets that our coast hides. Sometimes you don’t have to go far to find good waves.

✓ What wetsuit should I wear for surfing in Galicia?

The water in Galicia is cold both in summer and winter. It will surely surprise many of you what we are going to say next, but in Galicia you will need a 4/3mm wetsuit even in summer. In Winter, full kit. 4/3 mm or 5/4/3 mm wetsuit with booties , gloves and hooded vest .

From January to March, the water temperature is around 12 degrees. The water temperature can even reach 10°C on the coldest days.

≫ Our recommendation is the Hurley Advantage Plus 5/3 with built-in hood.

If you travel to Galicia from April to May, the water temperature is somewhat more pleasant and rises to 13 degrees. Even so, if you don’t want to feel cold, we continue with the same wetsuit recommendations. 4/3 or even 5/4 depending on the outside temperature.

≫ Our recommendation is an Advantage Plus 4/3mm.

If you travel to Galicia in Summer, we recommend a good 3 mm wetsuit. Ideally sealed and with fleece lining because the water is still cold compared to other areas in the Cantabrian Sea.

≫ Our recommendation is the Hurley Max 3/2 mm.

If you have doubts about which wetsuit to buy, contact us or visit our wetsuit chooser.

✓ What surfboard should I take on my surf trip to Galicia?

It will depend on the month you travel. If you travel to Galicia between September and December, it is best to get a board suitable for the most challenging conditions. This time of year, in addition to being the most consistent in waves, requires a certain level to enter the water. Don’t miss our post on the 5 best surfboards for winter .

Any of these 5 models is a good choice as a shortboard for this area of the Cantabrian Sea where the waves usually have strength and shape during the winter. Before traveling, we advise you to check the wave forecasts for those days and based on the report, choose the most suitable board. These are for us the 5 best wave forecast applications where you can check the forecasts.

If you travel to Galicia between September and March, we will give you the same board type recommendation as we do for a Surf Trip to the Basque Country . If, on the other hand, you plan to surf in Galicia in summer, things change. June, July, and August are the months of the year with the least wave consistency. Therefore, we recommend a longboard , a mini-malibu or an epoxy softboard. Like Mick Fanning’s foamies, to have that extra volume that the waves demand at this time. On the Costa da Morte, there are very good beaches to get started on longboarding.

✓ History and origins of surfing in Galicia

And we end with this beautiful documentary from the Ocean Surf Museum that tells the history and origins of surfing in Galicia. You will be able to meet the first Galician surfers and how they got their first boards thanks to the work of Jesús Busto and Vicente Irisarri.

✓ Surf trip along the Cantabrian coast

And if after reading this, you are eager to continue exploring the Cantabrian coastline, do not miss our surf travel guides. Cantabria , Asturias , Basque Country , France , Hossegor, Biarritz …

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