8 places to surf in the Basque Country
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Here is a recap of some of the most representative waves of the Basque coast!
Mundaka
The jewel in the crown of European surfing. A wonder of nature that owes its formation to the mouth of the Urdaibai estuary 12 kilometers long from the river Oca (Oiz mountain / 1036 m). The left tube that every surfer dreams of with the World Class seal.
The 246 kilometers of waves
distributed between Gipuzkoa
and Bizkaia make any surfer's
teeth grow long at the mere
thought of it.
Sopela
It is the busiest surfing area of the metropolitan area of Bilbao (Bizkaia) and one of those that offers more possibilities with a multitude of peaks and a regular operation in all tides. Oriented to the open sea, it easily receives swells, which allows surfing practically all year round. Among its best known peaks are: El Pasillo, El Peñón, La Salvaje (Barinatxe), La Reserva, Sope Orilla or Sope Atrás.
Zarautz
The beach of Zarautz (Gipuzkoa) is another of the flagships of Basque surfing. Cradle of great surfers like Aritz Aranburu, Axi Muniain, Indar Unanue or Ibon Amatriain, this Gipuzkoan town is one of the talent factories par excellence of national surfing. Its beach of more than 2.5 kilometers of extension concentrates a multitude of sand peaks suitable for all levels. Its excellent orientation (NNW) makes it surfable almost all year round.
Meñakoz
Meñakoz is in the municipality of Barrika (Bizkaia). Its beach barely reaches 400 meters in length, but its waves are very big. Indeed, Meñakoz is one of the most renowned spots in the Basque Country. It holds a lot of sea and breaks on rocky bottom, just in front of the cliff. It is generally surfed from the right, although sometimes you can also catch some lefts. Only suitable for experienced surfers.
The Zurriola
It is the busiest beach in Donosti (Gipuzkoa). It is located in the neighborhood of Gros and, given its location, is the most surfing of the city. It has several surfable peaks depending on the tide and swell. The left of Sagues is perhaps one of the highest quality and where the surfers are concentrated more level. Being an urban beach is usually very crowded and complicated parking.
Roka puta
In front of the road that goes from Zumaia to Getaria (Gipuzkoa), we find Roka Puta, very close to Zarautz. A powerful, violent, massive, powerful, dangerous wave... A spot that has given epic sessions and frequented only by the most gutsy surfers in the area.
The Galea
Another of the big wave spots par excellence. It is located under the cliffs of La Galea at the bottom of the Abra de la ria de Bilbao (Bizkaia), where a huge right breaks, when there is a lot of sea, which drags a lot of water. The wave breaks on a rocky bed and changes its morphology as it advances, giving rise to a bowl and a tube of enormous proportions. Its course often ends on the same rocks, which does not allow failures and makes it very dangerous. It is the annual scene of the prestigious big wave championship Punta Galea Challenge.
Bakio
It is one of the longest beaches in Bizkaia. Although its main value is the constancy of its waves throughout the year due to its orientation (N-NW). It offers a multitude of peaks with fast, maneuverable rights and lefts and sometimes tubular sections. A spot to have fun.
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