Intermediate: Erromardie (Fair, 1.1 m, cross-shore around 12:00), Marinella (Fair, 1.1 m, cross-onshore around 09:00), Bidart (Plage du Centre) (Fair, 0.9 m, cross-shore around 09:00)
Beginners: Biarritz Grande Plage (Fair, 1.0 m, cross-onshore around 09:00), Marinella (Fair, 1.1 m, cross-onshore around 09:00)
Forecast updated 20 Oct, 01:03 UTC.
The spots
Lafitenia · reef break, advanced, best on W/NW swell with SE/ESE wind, mid tide. Right-hand reef and point below the Lafitenia cliffs between Guéthary and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, known for longer rides on a solid swell. Coordinates are only approximate…
Cenitz · reef break, advanced, best on WSW/W/WNW swell with E/ESE/SE wind, mid tide. A reef at Guéthary that is works at mid tide on west swell with an east-southeast wind. Pretty mellow, but local etiquette applies.
Parlementia · reef break, advanced, best on W/NW swell with SE/ESE wind, mid to high tide. Big-wave right-hand reef off Guéthary village that only wakes up on large swells and then peels a long way. Locals dominate the lineup when it is firing.
Erromardie · point break, intermediate, best on WNW/NW/NNW swell with ESE/SE/SSE wind, all tides. A point break at Saint-Jean-de-Luz that takes northwest swell with a southeast wind. Often crowded.
Bidart (Plage du Centre) · beach break, intermediate, best on W/WNW swell with SE/ESE wind, all tides. Beach in front of Bidart village with sand peaks between rocky patches, working across the tide. Sheltered somewhat by the cliffs from some winds.
Socoa · beach break, advanced, best on WNW/NW/NNW swell with SE/SSE/S wind, high tide. A sheltered left by the jetty in Ciboure that works around high tide on northwest swell with south-southeast wind. Shorebreak and rocks are hazards.
Marbella (Ilbarritz) · reef break, advanced, best on WSW/W/WNW swell with ENE/E/ESE wind, all tides. A reef break at Ilbarritz that works at all tides on west swell with an east wind. Rocks and small crowds.
Côte des Basques · beach break, beginner, best on W/WNW swell with E wind, low tide. Long, gentle wave below the cliffs of Biarritz, regarded as the birthplace of surfing in Europe. Only usable at low tide because the beach is covered at high water.
Biarritz Grande Plage · beach break, beginner, best on WSW/W/WNW swell with ENE/E/ESE wind, all tides. The main beach in Biarritz works on west swell with an east wind, and the busy lineup suits learners as well as locals. Mind the rocks at the sides.
VVF · beach break, intermediate, best on WSW/W/WNW swell with ENE/E/ESE wind, low tide. Anglet beach near the Chambre d'Amour that works works around low tide on west swell with an east wind. Crowds in the water can be heavy.
Les Sables d'Or · beach break, intermediate, best on WSW/W swell with ESE/E wind, all tides. Anglet beach breaks between groynes, with sandbar peaks on both sides of the lines of rock. A busy local spot with a surf school scene.
Marinella · beach break, beginner, best on W/WNW swell with E/ESE wind, all tides. Anglet beach protected a little from southwest winds by the headland, holding sand-bottom peaks across the tide. Popular with learners and longboarders, so it fills up…
When to surf in Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Best months for intermediate surfers: February to March, September to October. For beginners: April to June, September to November. The water goes from about 13 °C in February (5/4 mm hooded) to 24 °C in July (Boardshorts / rash vest). Best-known spots: Biarritz Grande Plage. 3 of the 12 spots suit beginners, such as Côte des Basques, Biarritz Grande Plage, Marinella.
Days per month at the best third of the 12 spots for each level, from three years of wave and wind model data.
Questions
What are the best surf spots in Saint-Jean-de-Luz?
The best-known are Biarritz Grande Plage, Parlementia, Côte des Basques, Marinella. In all, 12 spots lie within 12 km: 7 beach breaks, 4 reef breaks, 1 point break.
Where can beginners surf in Saint-Jean-de-Luz?
Côte des Basques, Biarritz Grande Plage, Marinella: sandy, more forgiving spots. Surf them on small days, ideally with a lesson or near the lifeguards.
When is the best time to surf in Saint-Jean-de-Luz?
For intermediate surfers February to March, September to October. For beginners April to June, September to November.
What wetsuit do I need to surf in Saint-Jean-de-Luz?
The sea goes from about 13 °C in February (5/4 mm hooded) to 24 °C in July (Boardshorts / rash vest).