Forecasts › Surf spots for beginners, French Atlantic coast

Surf spots for beginners: Landes

The spots below are rated "accessible from beginner level" in our reference data: sandy beaches with generally gentle waves. Nothing replaces a lesson and the lifeguards' eyes.

Capbreton — Le Santocha

Capbreton · beach break · facing WNW · Level: accessible from beginner

Best between 0.7 and 1.8 m at the break; from 2.8 m it is for experts only.
Tide: best from low to mid tide.
Watch out for: jetty, rip currents.
Lifeguard post about 101 m away, per OpenStreetMap; check opening periods with the town hall.
Right now : Right now: breaking waves around 3.0 m (one and a half overhead; models 2.2 to 4.0 m), period 12 s, quality flat (14/100).

Vieux-Boucau

Vieux-Boucau-les-Bains · beach break · facing W · Level: accessible from beginner

Best between 0.7 and 2 m at the break; from 2.8 m it is for experts only.
Tide: best from mid to high tide.
Watch out for: rip currents.
Lifeguard post about 327 m away, per OpenStreetMap; check opening periods with the town hall.
Right now : Right now: breaking waves around 2.6 m (one and a half overhead; models 1.9 to 3.5 m), period 10 s, quality poor (25/100).

Moliets

Moliets-et-Maa · beach break · facing WNW · Level: accessible from beginner

Best between 0.7 and 2 m at the break; from 2.8 m it is for experts only.
Tide: best from mid to high tide.
Watch out for: rip currents.
Lifeguard post about 490 m away, per OpenStreetMap; check opening periods with the town hall.
Right now : Right now: breaking waves around 2.6 m (one and a half overhead; models 2.0 to 3.5 m), period 10 s, quality poor (24/100).

Mimizan-Plage

Mimizan · beach break · facing W · Level: accessible from beginner

Best between 0.7 and 2 m at the break; from 2.8 m it is for experts only.
Tide: best from mid to high tide.
Watch out for: rip currents.
Lifeguard post about 298 m away, per OpenStreetMap; check opening periods with the town hall.
Right now : Right now: breaking waves around 2.3 m (overhead; models 1.7 to 3.2 m), period 10 s, quality fair (44/100).

Biscarrosse-Plage

Biscarrosse · beach break · facing W · Level: accessible from beginner

Best between 0.7 and 2 m at the break; from 2.8 m it is for experts only.
Tide: best from mid to high tide.
Watch out for: rip currents.
Lifeguard post about 370 m away (summer), per OpenStreetMap; check opening periods with the town hall.
Right now : Right now: breaking waves around 2.4 m (overhead; models 1.7 to 3.3 m), period 10 s, quality fair (38/100).

How they are chosen

Minimum level "beginner" in the spot reference, moderate ideal size, known hazards shown next to each spot. These parameters are editorial and not validated locally: always check on site.

Safety for a first session

Surf in the supervised area, between the flags, when posts are open; look for rip channels before going in; take a first lesson with a supervised surf school and never go out alone when the tide is rising.

Read before getting in the water : Water safety · Spotting rip channels · How to read a surf forecast

Other spots in the area, more technical

Le Métro · Ondres-Plage · La Piste · La Nord · La Gravière · Les Culs Nus · Les Estagnots · Les Bourdaines · Le Penon · Saint-Girons-Plage · Cap de l'Homy · Contis-Plage

By area

Basque Country · Landes · Gironde · Charente-Maritime · Vendée · Brittany

Surf forecast Landes today — 17 spots compared