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Surf spots for beginners: Basque Country

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.

Hendaye — Grande Plage

Hendaye · beach break · facing NNW · Level: accessible from beginner

Best between 0.6 and 1.5 m at the break; from 2.5 m it is for experts only.
Lifeguard post about 506 m away, per OpenStreetMap; check opening periods with the town hall.
Right now : Right now: breaking waves around 1.0 m (chest high; models 0.7 to 1.5 m), period 10 s, quality good (71/100).

Côte des Basques

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

Best between 0.6 and 1.5 m at the break; from 2.2 m it is for experts only.
Tide: best from low to mid tide.
Watch out for: no beach at high tide, crowds.
No lifeguard post recorded nearby in OpenStreetMap; ask the town hall.
Right now : Right now: breaking waves around 2.7 m (one and a half overhead; models 2.0 to 3.7 m), period 12 s, quality flat (14/100).

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

Erromardie · Lafiténia · Parlementia · Plage du Centre · Erretegia · Ilbarritz · Marbella · Grande Plage · Sables d'Or · Les Cavaliers · La Barre

By area

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

Surf forecast Basque Country today — 13 spots compared